SWIMMING POOL SAFETY
Swimming Pool Safety
It is the swimming pool owner’s responsibility to ensure that their swimming pool is safe for toddlers and young children. The law states that it is also the occupier of the residence’s responsibility AND the supplier of the professional providing the swimming pool safety solution. It is obviously also the parent or guardians’ responsibility to safeguard against their toddler drowning.
Beware of playdates where there is an unprotected pool. Pool drowning is silent and often occurs during mealtimes or times when adults are distracted and assume someone else is supervising the young child. Whilst there is no substitute for adult supervision, a swimming pool fence with a self-closing gate is the most user-friendly primary barrier of protection. Pool Safety Covers are sometimes not fitted immediately after using the pool and often result in dangerous window periods of time.
Safeguarding your child can be best accomplished in 4 primary ways. We recommend multiple layers of protection. This is recommended to ensure such that if a child were to circumvent any one layer of protection, others are there to back it up.
ABCs of Pool Safety:
4 Ways To Prevent Paediatric Drowning:
1. Adult supervision: This is the primary barrier of protection to keep toddlers and young children safe around swimming pools. This is always the most important step and required no matter what additional safety precautions are taken.
There is no substitute for adult supervision!
2. Barriers of protection: A pool fence with a self-closing gate is the most “user-friendly” barrier of protection against paediatric drownings. Solid safety pool covers, or pool nets offer another safe barrier of protection when fitted BUT because of the time, effort and discipline required to remove and re-fit pool covers, the pool does not get used as frequently (toddlers takes longer to learn how to swim) and there may be dangerous window periods of time when the pool is open and unsafe.
3. CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: All Moms and Dads who live in a home with toddlers and a swimming pool, are encouraged to do a CPR course.
4. Swimming lessons: After 6 months of age, your child’s immune system could be developed enough to start short (15 minute) swimming lessons. Infants loose heat a lot faster than adults, so ensure your swim schools pool water is warm (30 – 32 degrees Celsius). The pool water must also be clean; properly chlorinated to reduce the risk of infection. Consider taking a 5L bottle of fresh warm water to rinse you babies after their swimming lessons.
Protect A Child Pool Safety Fences
Protect-A-Child Fencing is engineered with child safety in mind. When properly installed under tension, our mesh fabric won’t allow children, pets or toys to pass underneath the fence. The climb resistant mesh is safe for unsteady toddlers who may fall against it. Protect-A-Child removable pool fencing is backed by a full 5-year warranty. While there is no substitute for adult supervision, our pool fence system is designed to provide the pool owner with peace of mind and added pool safety.