AS THE warm weather continues there is a temptation for many people to buy a cheap, inflatable pool for their children to cool down in.
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But, Bathurst Regional Council has warned the community that inflatable pools carry the same dangers as an in-ground swimming pool, and must be fenced according to regulations.
And, with NSW recording the largest number of drowning deaths (100) in the country, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned.
Bathurst mayor Gary Rush said fencing regulations are in place for good reason, given that children can drown in just a few centimetres of water, and he urged anyone who knew of an unfenced pool to contact council immediately.
Cr Rush said the Swimming Pool Act applies to any pool or spa capable of being filled with water to a depth greater than 30 centimetres. And, steep fines exist for those failing to comply.
“Potential fines are $550 for not fencing a pool,” he said.
‘Children under five accounted for over half of the reported near-drownings,’ Rod Thornberry, owner of Poolwerx Bathurst.
Rod Thornberry, owner of Poolwerx Bathurst, and a staunch supporter of water safety, said recent figures released by the Royal Life Saving Society revealed 59 people had drowned in Australia since the start of December 2015, a worrying 16 per cent increase on last year’s figures.
The report comes in the lead up to the introduction of new legislation on April 29 that requires pool owners in NSW to produce a current swimming pool compliance certificate before they sell or lease their property.
Fines of up to $5500 can apply for non-compliance.
Mr Thornberry said he welcomed the new legislation which he believes would go a long way to increasing safety compliancy and potentially save the lives of some of the most vulnerable.
“The statistic that worries me most from the Royal Life Saving Society report is the number of near-drownings of children,” he said.
“Children under the age of five accounted for well over half of the reported near-drownings in home swimming pools.”
“We urge parents to familiarise themselves with the Kids Alive Do The Five program that Poolwerx has been supporting since 2013.
“The ultimate aim is to prevent drowning incidents from happening in the first place, but it’s also vital for parents to know how to respond in an emergency situation.”
