Families are letting their guard down around pools when on holiday, a new safety report shows.
While 87 percent of parents worry about pool safety at holiday rentals, they admitted supervision fell short during vacations, according to the MagnaLatch Pool Safety Report.
Laurie Lawrence, Kids Alive founder and Check Your Pool Gate Month ambassador, urged parents to maintain strict supervision, even while on holiday.
“Holidays are a time for joy, not tragedy,” he said.
“Whenever children are in a pool, active supervision is a must – this means being within arm’s reach of the kids.”
Twenty-one percent of families reported experiencing a pool-related emergency, with 87 percent of these incidents involving children.
The main causes cited for these emergencies highlighted critical lapses in supervision and gate security. The leading cause, accounting for 53 percent of incidents, was children being left unsupervised momentarily, such as when an adult left to grab a towel.
Another 33 percent were due to pools being unsupervised, and a further 28 percent of incidents were the result of gates being left propped open.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the data showing parents let their guard down during vacations, assuming safety measures are in place,” Laurie said.
The report also revealed that nearly 20 percent of pool owners neglected essential safety updates for five or more years, and 14 percent of pool owners lacked safety features like lockable gate latches.
Eight percent had never updated their safety features.
“These findings are particularly concerning given the 16 percent increase in drownings last year,” Laurie said.
“Summer is not the time to be complacent; it is the peak drowning season and all precautions need to be taken.
“Regular checks, being a minimum of once a year, should be mandatory for all pool owners, and immediate repairs to fix gates, latches, or hinges are non-negotiable.
“A secure pool gate is one of the first lines of defence and it needs to be at its most secure.
“Safe gates save lives.”
He urged families to prioritise pool safety at home and while traveling.
A comprehensive pool safety checklist is available at www.checkyourpoolgate.com.au, offering essential tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer.
