Swimming Pool Safety

The consequences of a small child being able to enter your pool enclosure through a gap in a fence are often tragic and can be prevented by simply taking a few easy measures. More than half of all the children under five years old who drowned in Australia last year died in backyard pools, often because the fence gate wasn't properly secured or toddlers were able to find a way through gaps that emerge as a result of wear-and-tear that home owners either hadn't noticed or had put off repairing.

A special pool safety checklist has been set up by Royal Life Saving for anyone in Australia to download. The checklist urges people to check swimming pool gates, swimming pool fences as well as looking at issues like chemicals around pools, supervision issues, emergency preparation and other matters. The check list can be down loaded from the following website: www.royallifesaving.com.au.

Ownership of a swimming pool provides many hours of pleasure and is a great leisure time activity, but in turn carries a large burden of responsibility to maintain it in a manner fit for persons to use.

It is essential that children are watched at all times by a responsible adult, as many drownings occur in the brief moments when parents are distracted. Never leave children alone in the pool area.

Parents are also encouraged to introduce their children to water safety at an early age and to attend swimming classes.

Parents should also learn resuscitation in case of an emergency.

Keep Watch campaign message

Royal Life Saving is urging parents and carers to Keep Watch of children around water no matter what.

Distractions like answering the phone, attending to another child, or ducking inside to grab something can have tragic consequences if a toddler is left unattended by water.

Actively supervise children around water, check your pool fence and gate, and never prop the pool gate open. Swimming lessons are great, but they are no substitute for active supervision and a pool fence in good working order.

How to keep your pool safe

Whilst sufficient fencing is important in preventing accidental drowning, it is not the only thing you should be doing. You should also do the following:

Swimming Pool Safety

Royal Life Saving NSW Keep Watch 'Summer Partner' 2018/19 Season

Council is proud to be Royal Life Saving NSW Keep Watch 'Summer Partner' for the 2018/19 season. The 2018 National Drowning Report has been released, showing that this year Australia has recorded the lowest ever drowning statistics both nationally and in NSW. These reductions highlight that our drowning prevention strategies are working. However, we must not be complacent as drowning continues to occur across all age groups at all times throughout the year, in a diverse range of aquatic locations.

At a glance here are the key NSW drowning statistics:

2018 National Drowning Report video infographic.

Pool Fencing (Child Resistant Barrier)

The requirements for child-resistant barriers on premises where there is a residential building vary according to when the pool was constructed and where the pool is located.