Pool Safety	Supervision	Resuscitation Skills
	Pool Fencing	Resuscitation Courses
	Water Familiarisation	Order a CPR Notice

Owning a pool is a big responsibility. Although most toddler drownings do not occur in residential swimming pools, it is up to you to ensure all necessary steps are taken to prevent the possibility of a child drowning in your pool or spa.

Whilst a pool fence that complies with the Building Act and any additional local council requirements is mandatory, there are other very important and most effective prevention measures you can use.

 

Drowning is the major cause of accidental death of children under 5 years of age. With this in mind, the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) has identified four key prevention factors that should be used to reduce these statistics. These are:

 

1) Supervision - to ensure that your child is watched at all times.

2) Pool fencing - to prevent your child from entering pool surrounds.

3) Water familiarisation - to enable your child to be familiar and confident at simple tasks that help them keep afloat in water.

4) Resuscitation skills - to increase your ability to assist an unconscious victim therefore providing them with a greater chance of survival.

Supervision

Supervision is the vital key in preventing children under 5 years of age from drowning. There is no substitute for quality supervision.

Quality supervision means keeping your eyes on your child at all times. It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown.

Most infant drownings occur when their supervisor leaves, even for a moment, to answer the phone or open the door. Checking on children every five minutes is not enough. Calling out or listening for them is no substitute for constant visual contact.

Children don't make a sound when they drown.

Pool Fencing

Not all stillwater, beaches and river environments can be fenced. However, the RLSSA believes that a backyard pool should be appropriately fenced.

Pool fencing inhibits unsupervised children from entering the pool surroundings.

A fence acts as a deterrent for exploring children when properly maintained. Owners must ensure that fence locks are childproof and that gates are never propped open.

Encourage neighbours and friends to fence their property to assist in protecting all the children in the local community.

For information about fencing legislation click on the link to the Queensland Government website which provides comprehensive information on all current Queensland legislation.

Water Familiarisation

Water Familiarisation classes build confidence and are an important stepping stone to a more formal learn to swim program when the toddler gets older.

Around the house, bath tubs, buckets and even puddles formed by hose leaks all have the potential to be life threatening to curious toddlers - not just swimming pools. Toddlers who participate in Water Familiarisation classes experience many special techniques which will assist them to remain afloat.

Children who have enough muscular strength to hold their head up can participate in activities designed to encourage them to roll over and attach themselves to something to keep afloat.

The skills experienced may contribute to saving their life. Even though you may supervise your children very carefully, accidents do happen and these abilities may prolong the time you have to respond in an emergency.

Water Familiarisation is an important part of any aquatic safety program.

Resuscitation skills and Life Saving Notice

Take the time to learn CPR, and keep your skills up to date.

Prominently display a resuscitation instruction notice (made of weather-resistant material) near the pool or spa. Such notices are available from your SPASA Member or the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) and must be placed on walls or fences of the enclosure. You can also order your CPR Notice through SPASA.

ORDER YOUR CPR NOTICE HERE!!

 

Along with the pleasure of owning a pool, comes the responsibility for the safety of those using it, especially children.

SPASA and the RLSSA aim to ensure that the community understands the importance of water safety and the four key factor
s involved in the prevention of toddler drowning.

Resuscitation Courses

If a person certified in resuscitation is present at a drowning incident the victim has a 40%* greater chance of survival.

Water is a significant part of the Australian culture. Children are surrounded by water in their day to day lives with baths, pools, dams, creeks, toilets, drains and fish ponds. It is essential for supervisors to be prepared.

To be prepared you need to be able to recall resuscitation procedures for children under 5 years of age.

RLSSA resuscitation courses (and update courses) are held regularly and are affordable.

Course times are designed to suit your needs. RLSSA can conduct courses within your workplace, day care group or other community location. For more information, call the Brisbane Branch of the RLSSA on 07 3823 2823.

* Professor John Peam, University of Queensland