Victorian pool lifeguards test their skills as city turns blue for World Drowning Prevention Day

More than 20 teams of pool lifeguards from across Victoria competed against each other at the 2024 Pool Lifeguard Challenge at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

The challenge is the largest of its kind and represents an opportunity for pool lifeguards to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of competitive events and scenarios that will put their lifeguarding knowledge, skills and technical expertise to the test.

The event aims to enhance teamwork, sharpen skills and support our pool lifeguards to be rescue-ready in the vital role they play in keeping our community safe.

Fittingly, the competition is running during World Drowning Prevention Day today.

Life Saving Victoria has teamed up with the World Health Organization to raise awareness of the tragic impact drowning has on families and communities, and work with our industry partners across the state to promote solutions that prevent such incidents.

In the 2023-24 financial year, a total of 54 people drowned in Victoria. Of these, more than three quarters were at a coastal or inland waterway. Approximately a third of those who drowned were from culturally and/or linguistically diverse communities.

Globally, there have been more than 2.4 million drowning deaths in the past decade.

Melbourne Town Hall will be lit up blue to mark the day, along with landmarks across Australia and around the world to both remember those who have been lost to drowning, and as a reminder that “anyone can drown, no one should”. 

Life Saving Victoria General Manager – Training and Aquatic Industry Andy Dennis encouraged everyone in the community to heed the message to stay safe in and around water.

“World Drowning Prevention Day is a timely reminder that anyone can drown, but no one should. It’s great to see our pool lifeguards demonstrating their skills here. Whilst it is my hope that no one in our community ever finds themselves needing their help, it’s great to know that they are on duty,” Mr Dennis said.

“There is plenty everyone can do to keep themselves safe including learning basic swimming and water safety skills, wearing a lifejacket when boating, and supervising children at all times when around water.

“By taking simple, sensible steps, we can all take action to help prevent future drowning tragedies.”