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The region's medical practices were encouraged to put up displays promoting the ‘Safety Begins at Home' message for Safety NZ Week, which ran last week. Each practice could then have their display judged as part of a competition.

Richmond Health Centre won for its water safety display and Maryan Street will present them with their award today.

"Richmond Health Centre put a huge amount of effort into their display, involving  children and everyone at the centre. They went the extra mile and won support from SwimMagic Swim School based at the ASB Aquatic Centre and Water Safety NZ for their display. That was impressive," Maryan Street said.

"With Nelson's sunny outdoor lifestyle, water safety is a big issue for the region. Beaches, rivers and lakes pose obvious dangers to unsupervised children - but at home, pools, spas and even baths are also a significant cause of drownings.

"ACC data shows 258 Nelson-Bays people were injured in or on the water including drowning and nearly drowning last year - 110 of them were children or young people.

"Forty percent of under-fives who drown, drown at home, and for babies under one year old, that's usually in the bath.  So the message for all parents is to always supervise your children, fence your pools and spa pools, and teach your children to swim as soon as they are old enough. Children drown quickly and quietly, so adult supervision is critical," Maryan Street said.

"I am delighted Richmond Health Centre has recognised water safety as a local issue and has promoted drowning prevention messages to patients," she said.

Local ACC Injury Prevention Consultant Mark Preston-Thomas said ACC decided to run the "Safety Begins at Home" competition through GPs' practices because they are the ideal place to promote safety tips.

"People who have already been injured are very receptive to information on how to avoid further injuries. Also, our statistics show that people who've had an injury are more likely to be injured again. Given that many injured people go to the doctor to get fixed up, it's an opportune time to attract their attention."

Mr Preston-Thomas said he was extremely pleased with the support Nelson-Bays medical centres showed for the Safety NZ Week competition.

Maryan Street will present Richmond Health Centre with their prize at 10.40am today (Friday), at the Centre at 40A Oxford St, Richmond.

ACC's top tips to keep safe around water:

Pools

• Always keep young children in your care within arm's reach whenever in a swimming pool or spa pool

• Always keep the lids of spa pools securely locked when not in use

Rivers

• Always supervise children around water
• Never swim alone
• Don't dive into the water unless you are sure it is deep enough and there are no hidden rocks or logs. Remember, the river bed can shift and what was once a deep hole may have filled in

In boats

• Weather - check the latest marine forecast and tides before you go out
• Life jackets - take the correct sized life jacket for each person on board and wear them
• Communications equipment - always carry two types of working communications equipment. If you can't contact the rescue services, they can't rescue you
• Avoid alcohol whenever on the water.

Bath and showers

• Never leave small children alone in a bath or shower - if you need to leave the bathroom, take them with you
• Ignore the phone or doorbell if they ring
• Plan to be able to give the child in the bath or shower your full attention at bath time. If you have other children, make sure they're organised first.
• Never leave two children playing in the bath - young children cannot recognise danger
• Always maintain hand contact with children younger than 12 months and don't rely on bath aids to hold your child up.

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