RipGuard was designed in Australia, specifically crafted to withstand Australian conditions. Our high-quality components have been meticulously sourced from trusted vendors worldwide.
RipGuard® is specifically designed to endure Australia’s harsh beach or any aquatic environments.
Our unique Buoyancy Tube fabric is heavier and more durable than standard Personal Flotation Devices, allowing it to withstand rocks and sharp obstacles common around Australian beaches.
The Manual Inflator we use is approved in accordance with the ISO12402-7 standard and the Oral Inflator Valve is made from a heavy-duty TPU plastic, engineered to resist damage from direct sunlight, heat, saltwater, and chlorine exposure.
Our RipGuard® CO₂ Cylinders are galvanised for enhanced saltwater and chlorine resistance and undergo 100% level checks.
Furthermore, our RipGuard® CO₂ Cylinders come equipped with a standardised puncture cap to ensure consistent and dependable performance.
Acknowledgement and statistics source provided by Royal Life Saving Society - Australia ("RLSSA") Australia 2024 Drowning Report 323 people drowned in Australian waterways (such as oceans and rivers). 83 were from overseas (This is a new statistic) 82% of drowning deaths were male. 40% were over the age of 45 years. 33% were swimming and recreating. You can download the full copy of the 2024 report here.
Australia 2023 Drowning Report 281 people drowned in Australian waterways (such as oceans and rivers). 77% of drowning deaths were male. 57% were over the age of 45 years. 33% were swimming and recreating. You can download the full copy of the 2023 report here.
Introduction - Drowning in Australia: A Growing Crisis
The latest RLSSA data reveals a worrying upward trend in fatal drownings across Australia, a trend that demands urgent attention. In the 12 months to June 2024, there were 323 drowning deaths in Australian waterways, compared to 281 in the 2022–23 period.
That jump represents a notable increase in absolute numbers, and alarmingly, the increase comes despite decades of water safety work, highlighting emerging vulnerabilities across demographics and communities. For 2023–24, 82% of drownings were male, and 40% of those who drowned were over 45 years of age. Meanwhile, about one quarter of those who drowned, 83 individuals, were born overseas, a first for publicly reported statistics.
Why is drowning rising again?
Several contributing pressures help explain this shift:
Changing population and migration patterns.
With a growing number of people born overseas now living in Australia, many come from countries or communities where swimming and water safety are not part of everyday life. A lack of familiarity with aquatic conditions, combined with limited access to culturally appropriate swimming or water safety education, increases risk among new arrivals.
Barriers to swimming and water safety education.
For many families, especially in lower income or regional areas, the cost, availability and convenience of swimming lessons can be prohibitive. Without regular lessons, swimming ability and confidence remain low, leading to heightened risk over a lifetime. Experts warn this could have long term consequences for water safety across generations.
Demographic shifts and older, more active adults.
The 2024 report notes that adults 65 years or older accounted for a record proportion of drowning deaths. As older Australians stay active through boating, fishing, swimming and travel, age related health conditions, medication impacts or reduced physical ability may lead to overestimating swimming capacity.
Increased exposure to waterways and higher risk aquatic settings.
Warmer climates, changing leisure patterns and increased travel mean more people are spending time in oceans, rivers and lakes. Many drownings occur away from patrolled areas, where limited signage or lifesaving services significantly increases danger.
These factors, individually and combined, help explain why drowning is no longer consistently declining but rising again. The 2024 figures should serve as a stark wake up call. Water safety requires renewed investment, broader access to swimming education and targeted prevention strategies to protect all Australians.
We are currently in the design phase and negotiating with GPS service providers to offer our customers an affordable micro GPS solution.
