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.<\/p>\n
The call comes as Kidsafe launches its annual \u2018Safe Barrier Save Lives\u2019 campaign, with the latest figures from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia\u2019s (RLSSA) National Drowning Report showing that in 2021\/22, 17 Australian toddlers drowned.<\/p>\n
Swimming pools were the leading location where these incidents occurred, accounting for 35 per cent of all toddler drowning deaths.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the summer months just around the corner, and families spending more time in and around water, it\u2019s important to be prepared. By checking that your pool barriers and gates are in good working order, you could save a life,\u201d Mr Welsh said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cToddlers are attracted to water; however, they don\u2019t yet understand the dangers that it can pose. Toddlers can drown quickly and silently \u2013 a split second is all it takes for them to gain unsupervised access to the water area and find themselves in trouble,\u201d Mr Chambers said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Though safety barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of children drowning, evidence suggests many drowning deaths involve barriers that are faulty, haven\u2019t been maintained, or are non-compliant with Australian standards \u2013 highlighting the importance of checking safety barriers regularly.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdding 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\u2019s important to regularly check for any rust, loose or missing bolts, and general wear and tear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For more information on the campaign and pool and spa safety, visit the Kidsafe Victoria website at www.kidsafevic.com.au<\/p>\n