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Be Pool Safe this summer

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With summer soon approaching, Cessnock City Council has launched a campaign urging residents to Be Pool Safe.

More than 290 people drowned in Australian waterways and backyard pools between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Tragically, deaths among children aged 0-4 years increased by 108% compared with the previous year.

Council’s general manager Lotta Jackson reminded residents it was a requirement for all pools, including portable and inflatable, to be separated from the house and yard by a compliant barricade.

“Pool barriers are there to help protect young children from accessing the area when unsupervised,” she said.

“You must have a four-sided fence around any pool or spa that can be filled with more than 30cm of water.

“This includes inflatable and portable swimming pools – which have a capacity greater than 2,000 litres and require council approval.

“Sadly, 20 seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a child to drown.

“In the end, nothing can replace the constant supervision of children by a responsible adult.”

Here are some other important Be Pool Safe rules for pool owners:

  • Once finished using a portable or inflatable pool, empty and store them;
  • Never prop open pool gates or remove latching devices;
  • Pool fencing must be a minimum of 1.2m high (1.8m if the boundary fence is part of the pool fence);
  • Ensure the fence is not climbable – horizontal rails should be greater than 90cm apart and objects from around the barrier that provide a foothold must be removed;
  • Ensure an up-to-date resuscitation (CPR) chart is visibly located within the pool enclosure and learn how to perform CPR; and
  • All swimming pools must be registered – council may issue fines of $220 for unregistered pools.

For further information regarding pool safety and fencing, visit www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/BePoolSafe

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