Supervision: key to swimming pool safety
Supervision is the key to swimming pool safety for children.
When your child is in or around swimming pools, spas or other bodies of water, supervision means:
- watching your child constantly, not just glancing towards the water occasionally
- staying within arm’s reach if your child is young or not a strong swimmer
- staying close to the water if your child can swim
- being ready to get in if there’s an emergency
- taking your child with you if you leave the pool area, even for a moment.
It’s recommended that you do a first aid course every 3 years and update your CPR skills every year. If there’s a swimming pool emergency, first aid and CPR skills can keep a child alive until an ambulance arrives.
Swimming pool fences: requirements
By law in all states and territories, all private swimming pools or spas that are 30 cm deep or deeper must have a safety fence around them.
All pool fences must meet Australian Standard 1926 (AS 1926) safety requirements.
You can check with your local council for details on specific requirements in your state or territory, including inspection and certification requirements.
You’ll need a building permit before you start putting a pool fence in place.
Fences are required for:
- in-ground swimming pools
- above-ground swimming pools
- portable pools
- indoor swimming pools
- bathing and wading pools
- jacuzzis
- hot tubs
- spas.
A safe pool fence:
- is at least 1.2 m high
- is strong, secure and well maintained
- has a self-closing, self-latching, child-resistant gate – the latch must be more than 1.5 m above the ground
- has no vertical gaps more than 100 mm apart
- has horizontal bars at least 900 mm apart.
Pool fences work only when you use them correctly. To ensure your pool fence remains effective, follow these guidelines:
- Fit and maintain correct safety devices to any gates, doors and windows that can be used to access the pool. These devices include self-closing or self-latching devices or permanent locks.
- Keep the pool gate shut so children can’t get through without you, and never prop it open.
- Maintain, repair or replace the safety latch if it isn’t working properly – for example, if it no longer self-latches.
- Clear the area of any items that children could use to climb the pool fence – for example, pot plants, boxes, chairs, BBQs and so on.
In most states and territories, you’re legally required to put up a resuscitation CPR chart in your swimming pool area. Even if it isn’t a legal requirement in your state or territory, it’s a good idea because the chart will remind you of what to do in an emergency. Make sure you can see it from anywhere in the pool area. You can also check out our illustrated guides to CPR for babies and CPR for children and teenagers.
How to keep your child safe around swimming pools
Here are extra precautions to keep your child safe around water:
- Get your child familiar with water and water safety by taking them to lessons at the local pool from a young age. Children are never too old to have lessons.
- Always watch small children around paddling pools. Take the water out of your paddling pool immediately after your child has finished playing and store the pool away.
- Make sure any water mats, lifesaver rings, inflatable vests and water wings meet the relevant Australian Standard. Always watch your child when they’re wearing a flotation device. Flotation devices aren’t designed to prevent drowning.
Neighbours’ pools can be a danger to your child. If your neighbour’s pool isn’t properly fenced, it might be worth letting them know about relevant safety regulations. Keep an eye on your child to make sure they don’t make unsupervised visits, and tell your child about the dangers of swimming without an adult.
Public swimming pool safety
Even in a supervised public pool, never take your eyes off your child. Lifeguards provide supervision for all pool users, but you provide the personal supervision your young child needs. Keep your child within reach at all times while in the water.
When you’re at a public pool, the following pointers can help your child stay safe:
- Explain to your child that everyone has to obey the lifeguards’ directions.
- Explain that your child should follow the pool rules, even if other children don’t.
- Be aware of other people in the water, particularly when it’s crowded.
- Watch out for young children.