It’s time to help save a life

With summer less than two months away, Kidsafe Victoria has joined forces with Olympic champion Matt Welsh, urging pool and spa owners to check their pool barriers.

The call comes as Kidsafe launches its annual ‘Safe Barrier Save Lives’ campaign, with the latest figures from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s (RLSSA) National Drowning Report showing that in 2021/22, 17 Australian toddlers drowned.

Swimming pools were the leading location where these incidents occurred, accounting for 35 per cent of all toddler drowning deaths.

As an Olympic swimming champion and father of six, Matt Welsh knows the benefits of growing up around water and learning to swim as a child, but he also acknowledges the risks pools and spas can pose without child safety strategies in place.

“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.

Toddler drowning rates dropped 29 per cent compared to 2020/21, but General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, Jason Chambers, said that drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death for Australian children under five.

“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,” Mr Chambers said.

In addition to maintaining safety barriers, Mr Chambers said active adult supervision, water awareness/swim classes for kids, and knowledge of CPR/first aid for parents and carers were crucial in keeping children safe in and around water.

Though safety barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of children drowning, evidence suggests many drowning deaths involve barriers that are faulty, haven’t been maintained, or are non-compliant with Australian standards – highlighting the importance of checking safety barriers regularly.

Chris Samartzis, CEO of the Master Pool Builders Association of Australia (MPBAA), said barrier checks are an important part of a regular routine for all pool and spa owners.

“Adding a pool or spa to your home provides endless fun and healthy activity for any family. Pool barriers are constantly exposed to the extremes of weather, so it’s important to regularly check for any rust, loose or missing bolts, and general wear and tear,” he said.

For more information on the campaign and pool and spa safety, visit the Kidsafe Victoria website at www.kidsafevic.com.au

The top five issues with pool and spa barriers identified by Kidsafe Victoria are:

– 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,and

– climbable objects near the pool barrier such as barbeques and outdoor furniture.