The arrival of summer makes beaches, rivers, lakes and pools around the country a popular destination for families trying to escape the worst of the heat or simply have fun.
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An alarming increase in drownings nationally raise questions about Australia's approach to water safety. Swimming skills and knowledge should improve with every generation. The increase in fatal drownings so far this summer, 42 deaths in December compared to 30 in the same month last year, indicates this isn't the case.
There are many warning signs showing the ACT is at risk of having its own drowning tragedies. Without action, hindsight will make these all too clear. The territory doesn't have to get to that point.
Several reports and statistics should have shocked Canberra into action. Together, they show the city isn't equipped to prevent drownings.
Royal Life Saving ACT has said the ACT government was putting lives at risk by not heeding advice to create more consistent backyard swimming pool legislation and enact a central registry of all pools.
Unlike Queensland and NSW, the ACT government does not know how many swimming pools there are in total in Canberra. Older pools certified under less stringent safety requirements do not have to be brought up to modern standards, although the government has said it will develop a scheme to bring all pools up to the same standards.
Until then, there are pools in the ACT not required to have fencing or certain building standards, depending on the time they were built. The government needs full vision of the safety of private pools in Canberra first. There should be no delay in bringing them to the same standards.
Canberra children are not strong swimmers, according to other statistics. Fewer than one in 10 of its primary school kids can swim to the national water safety benchmark. The standard is set for pupils at the end of primary school, but the fact is that the vast majority of those under high school age aren't able to swim to the level advised by the Australian Water Safety Council.
There are some encouraging signs the problem is being taken seriously, as the number of primary school students taking part in swim safety programs increases.
Swim lessons are expensive and families are time poor. There are some levers the government can pull to improve children's swimming skills. More subsidies for lessons and safety programs would be a start.
If Canberra is to lift the number of kids attending swim and water safety lessons, the ACT government could be contributing more.
Authorities also need to look at the groups most vulnerable to drowning and target them. Considering the number of people drowning while attempting rescues, messages about the dangers of this altruism need broadcasting.
Beyond a point, there's not much the government can do further to prevent drownings. Swimming is simply a vital skill in Australia. Protecting people from its risks needs awareness among parents. However, a willingness among governments to help prepare kids for a life near the water will go a long way.
