Royal Life Saving Australia has launched a campaign in response to research showing 1932 men have drowned in Australia in the last decade, with one in four drownings related to alcohol.
Men are four times more likely to drown than women, with males accounting for 80 per cent of all drowning deaths.
Royal Life Saving’s Don’t Let Your Mates Drink and Drown campaign is urging men to look out for each other, and to avoid alcohol consumption before and during swimming, boating and fishing in order to prevent further lives being list from drowning.
“The culture of drinking around water means men are at a greater risk of drowning,” Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch said.
“We all know that men are prone to taking unnecessary risks and over-estimating their abilities, but after a few drinks this can be life threatening.”
One quarter of men were drunk and swimming when they drowned, while a further 22 per cent were drunk whilst on a boat or when using a watercraft.
The Don’t Let your Mates Drink and Drown campaign targets men aged over 34, as research shows they are at a higher risk of drinking and drowning than teenagers or young men.
“The campaign encourages men to look out for their mates by avoiding alcohol around water, and keeping them out of trouble by pulling them into line if they’ve been drinking and decide to take the boat for a spin,” Mr Leaversuch said.
The campaign will remind men of the risks of drinking and drowning through social media advertising, radio and TV community service announcements, print advertising, and localised activities and events, urging men to look out for their mates safety.
For more informaiton on the campaign, visit royallifesaving.com.au
