Loss in the Backyard Pool: The Great Australian Leveller

Abstract

The advent of the second string to the ‘Great Australian Dream’ — ‘The Backyard Pool’ can be considered a major contributor to drowning: the major cause of death in children over one year of age in Australia. As these children, drowned and near drowned, find their way to our Accident and Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units in ever increasing numbers, medical social workers must find the compassion and skills to help their families — as they struggle to come to terms with such a tragedy. In this paper I will look at the issues involved: — It's Unnatural, It's Unexpected, It's Unnecessary and It's Unacceptable, that children should die by drowning. I will then share the experiences of four families I have been privileged to work with, and conclude by outlining the social worker's role in this area.