Make a Splash this Summer with Proper Pool Safety

A swimming pool can provide children with hours of entertainment over the warmer months and also keeps them active. A concern for most parents with smaller toddler aged children is their safety around a pool or spa. Each year in Australia there are a number of near drownings or fatalities with children aged one to 14 years. A child can drown in as little as 20 seconds and the toddler age bracket are at a higher risk.

Teaching children how to swim and play safely around water is very important along with constant adult supervision. So how do you ensure your pool and surrounds are secure for the coming months of Summer.

We’ve put together some quick tips for your family to follow to assist with pool safety:

1. Check the pool fence and gate – make sure your pool fence is sturdy all the way around and the pool gate locks automatically. Australia now has strict standards (AS1926) in place when it comes to residential pool fences to ensure the safety of your children.

Here are a few of them:

  • The pool fence must not be less than 1.2m high all the way around.
  • The pool fence must have a Non-Climbable Zone (NCZ) of 900mm on the outside of pool fence all the way around.
  • There are to be no trees, shrubs, BBQs, pot plants, toys, ladders or chairs within the NCZ area.
  • The gap at the bottom of the pool fence must be a maximum of 100mm.
  • The pool gate must have a self-closing and latching device which automatically closes the gate and prevents it be opened again without being manually released.
  • Pool Gate alarm – Lockliv Corporation who created bucklemeup® are currently developing a new product that will consist of a wireless latching mechanism alert solution which will be suitable for pool gates. Each time your pool gate is unlatched or opened a signal via an audible alarm will be sent to your smartphone. This product will offer parents an affordable solution to keep your children safe.

2. Always have active supervision – never take your eyes of toddlers or children around water, you need constant visual contact at all times. Even if your child is a confident swimmer, still supervise them.

3. Do not leave older siblings – (under 16 years of age) to supervise younger children. A child under five must be within arm’s reach at all times, children under 10 must be in clear visible sight at all times.

4. Learn CPR – have a resuscitation chart clearly displayed in your pool area. If you’re a parent of toddler or young children, undertake a resuscitation program which can be done at your local surf club, Australian Red Cross or St John Ambulance for a small fee. Remember to dial 000 first and have an Ambulance Service person on the line while you are providing resuscitation to the child. Those first few minutes can be the difference between life and death.

For more information about water safety visit the following websites:

Westmead Children Hospital
Kids Health – CPR Training