Those heading to the beach this summer will be happy to hear their local lifesaving club will receive $25,000 for rescue equipment and first-aid and medical supplies.
All 311 Surf Life Saving Australia clubs will be given the money over five years under an $8 million beach-safety equipment fund announced by Minister for Sport Peter Dutton.
"Australians love to go to the beach and it will be a key part of most Australians' plans for this summer," Mr Dutton said.
"However, coastal waters can be hazardous and each year our dedicated lifesavers perform about 12,000 rescues and 32,000 first-aid treatments."
A total of 121 coastal drowning deaths occurred across the country in 2012-13, with nearly half occurring less than a kilometre from a lifesaving club.
However, 64 per cent of the drownings happened outside the summer months, when many lifesaving clubs reduce beach patrols.
In addition to the equipment fund, the government has announced $2 million for public-safety information on coastal hazards such as rip currents and rock fishing and $4 million to assist the Royal Life Saving Society in preventing drownings in inland waterways. It will also continue to provide $1 million a year for water safety and education material targeting about 1.5 million children under the age of four.
The Australian Water Safety Council has committed to reducing drowning deaths by 50 per cent from 2012 to 2020. Its main areas of focus are reducing alcohol-related drownings, the drowning of children younger than five, and rural and remote drownings.
Alcohol consumption was believed to be a factor in 25 to 50 per cent of adolescent and adult drownings between 2002 and 2011.
