Safety First 

Children are adventurous and enjoy exploring their environments. They are often attracted to water but have little understanding of the danger that it poses. The physical build of young children also places them at risk as they are ‘top heavy’ and prone to falling into water due to a lack of balance.

Drowning can occur quickly and silently - 20 seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a toddler to drown.

It’s not only large bodies of water, such as pools and the beach that put children at risk; baths, ponds, buckets, eskies, pet’s drinking bowls and other small bodies of water are also drowning hazards.

Eyes on the prize (the kiddies). Prepare for the unexpected. ALWAYS keep watch.
 
Portable Pools Safety Checklist (courtesy of royallifesaving.com.au)

• Check with your local council for fencing requirements 
• Make sure you always actively supervise children within arm’s reach whenever they are in or around water 
  
• Never rely on older children to supervise younger children, no matter how confident you are in their ability 
  
• For smaller pools ensure that they are emptied and put away after use
  
• When not in use, store the pool securely out of reach of young children
  
• Ensure the pool cannot fill with rain water or water from sprinklers
  
• Don’t exceed the number of adults or children the pool can safely hold 
  

Be Informed

• Download and read the KidSafe drowning prevention fact sheet here.
• Download the Royal Life Saving Australia Portable swimming pool Fact sheet here. 
• For full details and facts please refer to the following websites KidSafe Australia and the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia 

Other Safety Tips

• Never run, jump or dive into the pool 
• Beware of slippery surfaces entering the pool 
• Always drain the water immediately after use 
• Always pack the pool away as soon as not in use - store this carefully and out of reach of children
• Store the pool carefully and out of reach of children a deflated pool can be a suffocation risk
• If using an electric pump, always inflate away from water.