Parents urged to educate children on the dangers of playing in drains

'Use your brain, don't play in pipes and drains'.

That’s the message to children as wet season rain starts to impact the region.

Stormwater drains are dangerous to play in or walk through, especially those underground.

The danger of drowning or injury is even greater during the wet season.

Residents, especially children, playing in or near flood waters can be quickly swept away, be injured by debris or drown if they become trapped.

Council’s Local Disaster Coordinator Rhys Newman said that what could seem as a little fun, could unfortunately end in injury or drowning.

“Playing in or near stormwater drains can end in tragedy,” he said.

“Parents and carers need to talk to their children about the dangers of playing in drains and flood waters.

“Rapidly rising creeks and drains can carry debris, which can cause injury or knock a person unconscious.

“Drains often have grates at the end and hitting one can again cause injury, knock a person unconscious, or you can get stuck.

“The message is clear, 'Use your brain, don't play in pipes and drains'.”

If it’s flooded forget it

Motorists are being asked to be extra vigilant on the roads following a significant storm, with reports of over 140mm in some areas overnight.

Council crews have been on the road since early this morning clearing debris from roadways and unblocking drains as a result of fast flowing water.

It is timely reminder to residents that: “If it's flooded, forget it”.

Fast flowing water can be dangerous.

In Queensland, driving into floodwater is the number one cause of flood-related deaths.

No matter how experienced a driver you are or what car you drive, once you enter floodwater there is a danger you can lose control.

Water can destroy your vehicle’s motors and the electrics, and it can take as little as 15cm of water for a car to lose traction and be swept away in floodwater.