11/2/26 Older Adults Extreme Heat and Water Safety Warning

11 February 2026

11/2/26

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) is reaching out to older adults, particularly older people from Victoria’s multicultural communities, to help keep them safe around water and in extreme heat conditions. 

In the last decade, 131 people aged 65 years and over drowned in Victoria, accounting for 27 per cent of all drowning fatalities during this period. Over a third (34 per cent) of these older adults were known to have a multicultural background. 

A new multilingual campaign has been launched to provide older adults with vital information on how to “stay safe in the heat, especially around water”. 

The campaign implores older people and their support networks to follow a range of simple steps to stay cool and water safe: 

  • Know your limits: Health conditions, medications and fitness can affect your safety in and around water. 

  • Be prepared: Check the weather, wear a lifejacket, stay between the red and yellow lifesaving flags, where lifeguards can see you. 

  • Plan ahead: Ask your doctor about reducing heat-related risks. 

  • Remember your options: Public swimming pools are safest for cooling off and swimming. 

  • Beaches have dangerous rip currents. If you have problems in the water, stay calm, float, signal for help, and swim parallel to the shore. 

  • Stay hydrated and drink water often. 

Life Saving Victoria Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights Dr Bernadette Matthews said the new campaign was an important step forward in supporting multicultural older adults to safely enjoy Victoria’s beaches, pools and waterways. 

“Older Victorians from multicultural backgrounds face a range of challenges around water safety and extreme heat. These include language barriers, access to safe aquatic environments and health conditions impacted by extreme heat,” Dr. Matthews said. 

“This campaign is aimed at empowering older adults, especially people with multicultural backgrounds, to stay safe in the heat, especially around water.” 

Multilingual campaign materials will be distributed through a range of organisations including those that support multicultural Victorians and seniors. Click here to access the digital stakeholder pack. 

For further information, please contact LSV Media at 9676 6970.