Supervise Your Child Near Water

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Supervision is a key action in preventing children under 5 years of age from drowning. Many drowning deaths and incidents happen in those few seconds while you are not actively supervising your child.

The homeowner is responsible for installing a safety barrier to a pool or spa regardless of whether they have children or not. Safety barriers play a major role in preventing drowning in backyard pools and spas.

However a safety barrier is not a substitute for supervision.

What is Good Personal Supervision?

Proximity

Always be within arms reach of your child, particularly when they are under 5 years of age. Adequate supervision requires the parent/guardian to accompany the child into the water and remain within arms reach of the child at all times.

Attention

Always keep your attention on your child, particularly if they are under 10 years of age - this is not an occasional glance while reading the newspaper.

Continuity

No matter how old your child is you should check on them on a regular basis. The younger the child the more often you should check and if they are under 5 years of age you should never leave their presence.

What action can I as a parent or carer take?

Never leave a child alone near a pool, spa, bathtub, water-filled bucket, pond or any standing water in which a child's nose and mouth may be submerged (it only takes a few centimetres of water).
Don't rely on swimming lessons, flotation devices or other equipment to make a child "water safe".
Communicate pool safety measures with the babysitter and train them in infant/child CPR.
Consider First Aid Training through St John Ambulance Service Australia or Australian Red Cross.