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Paramedic: My life-saving trick all Aussies should know in summer
With swimming season upon us, a former paramedic has issued an urgent water safety warning to parents - and the simple rule families can implement th…
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Former Paramedic Shares Life-Saving "High Five Rule" to Prevent Child Drownings
Ex-Paramedic Advocates for "High Five Rule" to Prevent Childhood Drownings. A former paramedic, known online as 'Tiny Hearts', has introduced a critical water safety measure, urging parents to implement a "high five" rule with their children before they enter any body of water. The initiative aims to significantly reduce the alarming statistic that 86% of childhood drownings occur when a parent is present, often due to children entering water silently and unnoticed. In a recent video, the ex-paramedic stated, "I'm an ex paramedic and I beg you to teach your kids that they must high five you before going in the water." She elaborated on the rationale behind this simple yet effective strategy, explaining, "little ones silently slip away and enter the water without a parent knowing or watching. This rule means that’s impossible." The video demonstrates the rule with two young children, who are shown extending their hands to an adult for a high five before approaching a swimming pool. The author also specified, "I also say it needs to be me or my husband they high five," reinforcing the need for direct parental supervision. This preventative measure seeks to create a mandatory point of contact and awareness, ensuring that a responsible adult is always conscious of a child's intent to enter the water. Experts in child safety often emphasize active supervision as a cornerstone of drowning prevention, and this "high five rule" provides a tangible and easily teachable method for achieving just that.
