Parents and guardians, such as those in Whittlesea and Hume, are being urged to check their pool and spa barriers in the lead up to warmer months.
Kidsafe Victoria has teamed up with Olympic champion Matt Welsh to launch its annual ‘Safe Barriers Save Lives’ campaign, as figures from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s (RLSSA) National Drowning Report show that in 2021-22, 17 Australian toddlers drowned.
The report indicated that swimming pools were the leading location where these incidents occurred, accounting for 35 per cent of all toddler drowning deaths.
“With the summer months just around the corner and families spending more time in and around water, it’s important to be prepared. By checking that your pool barriers and gates are in good working order, you could save a life,” Mr Welsh said.
“Toddlers are attracted to water, however they don’t yet understand the dangers that it can pose. Toddlers can drown quickly and silently – a split second is all it takes for them to gain unsupervised access to the water area and find themselves in trouble.”
While safety barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning incidents, Kidsafe said many drowning deaths involve barriers that are faulty, have not been maintained, or are non-compliant with Australian standards.
Top 5 issues with pool and spa barriers:
* Gates or doors that are no longer self-closing
* Gates or doors that are no longer self-latching
* Gates that are propped open for convenience – allowing children unsupervised access
* Gaps, holes or spaces in and under the barrier which a child can get through
* Climbable objects near the pool barrier e.g. BBQ’s, outdoor furniture, eskies, trees etc.
