Keep kids safe around water this summer

Published on 15 December 2023

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that drowning is the number one cause of death in one, two and three-year-old children. You can do your part to put an end to these preventable tragedies by always keeping watch around swimming pools this summer.

Kids can’t help themselves around water, so you need to remain vigilant and always keep watch over children around pools and bodies of water. If you own a pool or spa, make sure your barriers are secure, well maintained, and compliant with the current legal requirements.

This advice may be simple, but it saves children’s lives. Prepare for the unexpected and keep our kids safe this summer.

‘Nothing is as effective at preventing the drowning and near-drowning of children as making sure that kids are under adult supervision at all times around water,’ said Nick Moon, Coordinator Building Certification at Snowy Monaro Regional Council.

‘We all know that kids can slip away unnoticed and that your concentration can lapse – especially during the busy holiday period. But it’s important to remember that tragedy can strike in an instant. A compliant barrier for your pool or spa is critical to protect children, and will help stop child drownings.’

Snowy Monaro Regional Council is reminding residents about the importance of compliant pool and spa barriers.

Standards and regulations have changed significantly over time. Thanks to these updates – based on the latest evidence and research – modern barriers are the safest yet. By ensuring your barrier meets current specifications, you are doing your part to prevent young children from drowning in backyard pools and spas.

Between 2002 and 2022, 549 children aged 0 to 4 years drowned in Australia. 222 of these deaths, equating to 40% of the total number of drownings in children under five, were infants aged one. Most occurred in residential pools due to a lack of, or lapse in, active adult supervision. For every toddler drowning death, approximately eight children are admitted to hospital as a result of non-fatal drowning.

Learn what you can do to help and how to meet your responsibilities under the Swimming Pools Act. Visit Council’s website to download Keep Watch guides and resources and the Home Swimming Pool Safety Checklist, with these resources from Royal Life Saving NSW giving you the information you need to protect kids from drowning, and to make your pool or spa as safe as possible.

Visit https://qrco.de/SMRCsafepools today, or visit your nearest Council office to receive a free copy of these resources.

Contact Council’s Building Certification team for advice and information about residential pools and spas, or with any questions. Contact the team today by email at council@snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au or phone 1300 345 345.

Figures and statistics cited are sourced from 2019 Australian Bureau of Statistics data, by way of Royal Life Saving Australia.