water safety around home pools

For children aged under 5 years old, home swimming pools are the leading location for drowning.

Did You Know?
In Australia,   ALL   private swimming pools or spas that can hold 30cm of water or more  must legally have a safety barrier around them.  

Royal Life Saving Society’s Keep Watch Advice:
1.    Supervise:   All your attention, all of the time
2.    Restrict Access:   Ensure there is an adequate barrier between the water and your child
3.  Water Awareness: Enrol in swim lessons to gain familiarity and water confidence
4.    Resuscitate:   Learn the life saving skills of CPR

If you have ensured that your pool gate is properly closed (remember to NEVER prop it open) and nobody is using the pool, the dangers have been removed, right?

Actually, there is more that you can do to keep everyone safer. 

Colourful pool toys  when left in the pool or around it become temptations for little ones who may try to get through or over the fence to reach the toys. Make sure that all pool toys are safely stored out of sight when not in use.

Author:   Keirsten Sortwell -  mother of 3 and   aquatic educator for over 30 years