Prevent child drowning this summer - its time to check swimming pool fences

With summer on the way, now is the time to check home swimming pool safety says the North Shore City Council.

Council environmental protection team leader Warwick Robertson says that nationwide, about five young children drown in family swimming pools and spa pools each year – and another 40 suffer permanent brain damage as a result of a near-drowning.

He says that many families forget about pool safety during the winter months.

Fences can fall into disrepair, gate latches fail, or pot plants or piles of firewood or other materials can enable children to climb the pool fence.

“These problems can cause a huge risk to children’s safety, and they are mostly easily fixed,” says Mr Robertson. “A few minute’s work now can save parents from a lifetime of heartache.”

Mr Robertson says that serious thought must be given to the design of pool fencing.

Most children less than five years of age drown or nearly drown by entering a pool from their home through the side of the pool that directly faces the house, with no intervening fence.

Most children were last seen in the home, but were out of eye contact for only a moment, and the immersion was silent, with no screams or splashing to alert the parents.

This chilling information from water safety research underlines the need for pools to be completely surrounded by a child-proof fence which prevents access from the house or yard. Four-sided fencing has been shown to halve the number of pool accidents.

Mr Robertson says that even when parents are aware that their children are in the pool, drownings sometimes occur when the caregiver’s attention is momentarily distracted.

“Actively supervising your children in the swimming pool is the best ever prevention against drowning.”

Mr Robertson says that North Shore City Councils’ environmental protection officers are more than happy to meet pool owners on site to assist with any questions regarding swimming pool safety fences, gates and house door issues. They will visit a property after hours if that is the only time available to the owner.

The council strongly advises homeowners to discuss pool safety fencing requirements before they install a pool.

There is a checklist of pool fencing requirements on the council website www.northshorecity.govt.nz under “swimming pool fencing.” Alternatively, householders can phone the council Actionline on 09 486 8600 and ask for the Environmental Protection Officer for their area. Householders can also do a pool safety check with the online interactive poster.