'As a teen, I saved both my siblings from drowning. This is the one thing I want everyone to know.'

Fifteen years ago, on what should have been just a fun day out with my little brother and sister at Moonta Beach in South Australia, I learned just how quickly life can take an unexpected turn. That day, my brother Jesse, nine, and sister Tayla, 10, got into trouble in the water and I had to save them. A sudden rip current came through and we all got caught. I remember the panic setting in and my brother was trying to grab me and my sister was being dragged further away by the current.

I didn't think. I just acted.

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'Float on your back.'

I was 15 and had just finished my Bronze Medallion training. The one piece of advice that stuck with me was — "if you're in trouble, float on your back". This became my siblings' lifeline. I swam out, grabbed Jesse first, and guided him back to shore. I told her the same thing: "Tayla, float on your back. Just hold on. I'll come back for you."

Image: Supplied.

By the time I reached Tayla, she was exhausted. Floating is about survival. It gave Tayla enough energy to hold on until I could bring her back.

Teaching my kids what I know.

Now, as a mum of two to Morgan, 12, and Carmen, 8, I've made water safety a cornerstone of our lives. My kids were learning to float before they could even say the word "float." It's not negotiable. They need to know how to stay safe in the water.

This is also why I became a swim instructor. I wanted to make sure people knew what to do. Knowing how to float and its connection to being a strong swimmer can save a life.

Yet, the reality is shocking: 44 per cent of Australian parents don't think their kids could handle a water emergency. Even worse, 45 per cent of kids were rated to have poor or average floating ability. These stats from the 2024 SWIMSAFER Week Report terrify me because I know how quickly things can go wrong.

Image: Supplied.

Rising drowning stats, and why floating is crucial

In Australia, drowning deaths at beaches have risen by 45 per cent compared to the 10-year average, with rip currents causing more than a third of these tragedies. The ocean doesn't discriminate — it doesn't care if you're an adult or a child. But floating? It can help everyone. Floating gives you time. Time to stay calm. Time to be rescued.

It's heartbreaking that many families miss out on this essential skill because of financial pressures. Rising costs have forced one in four children to stop swimming lessons, while 38 per cent of parents say they have no plans to enrol their kids at all.

The thing about floating is that it's not just a skill — it's a mindset. Floating teaches you to stay calm, control your breathing, and focus on survival. As legendary lifeguard Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins from Float to Survive Australia says, "If you're in trouble, stop, stay calm, and float. It could save your life."

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What every parent needs to know

As a swim instructor, I can't emphasise this enough: teach your kids to float. It doesn't matter if they're in the ocean, a pool, or even a river—floating gives them the best chance of survival in a water emergency.

Hoppo's five steps to survival are a great place to start:

1. Stay calm and control your breathing. Deep breaths help you float.

2. Lay back and relax. Tilt your head to keep it above water.

3. Extend your arms and legs. Spread out for balance.

4. Use active floating. Gentle arm and leg motions keep you steady.

5. Signal for help. Raise one hand to alert others.

Making Safety Accessible to Everyone

We all have a role to play in reducing drownings. I encourage families to prioritise learning to swim as it's the only sport you can do that could also save your life. Without the skills I had learnt about floating and swimming things might have been very different for my family all those years ago. Knowing how to float turned our story into one of survival, not loss.

Feature Image: Supplied.