As the weather heats up and Aucklanders turn to backyard pools to stay cool, the council is once again urging pool-owners to stay vigilant to keep our tamariki safe.
Whether you’ve got an in-ground pool or you’ve popped up a portable for the summer, the rules are the same: if the pool can hold more than 40 cm of water, entry to the pool must be restricted. That means having an appropriate barrier or fence to stop young children entering the pool on their own.
The Council’s Swimming Pools Compliance Team Leader, Stuart Airs, says too many pools around Auckland do not have adequate fencing in place.
“In the past year, 27 per cent of home pools visited by the council failed their safety inspections — most often due to faulty gates that do not self-close and latch. Other common reasons for failure include items pushed up against the fence that could assist children to climb over.”
He says portable pools, which are increasingly popular and generally not registered with the council, are also a safety risk.
“Portable pools are cheap, easy to set up and make an exciting present for kids to unwrap on Christmas day. Unfortunately, they pose a real safety risk for drownings, as people tend to leave them full for long periods of time with unrestricted access.
“Even though owners might be good about taking ladders away most of the time, they only need to forget one time for a tragic accident to occur.”
Under the Building Act, portable pools and spas that are over 1.2m high don’t need a fence around the entire pool, but they do require a barrier around the entry point.
Portable pool with entry point restricted.
Stuart says that if people notice neighbours have portable pools unrestricted access they should report it to the council who can pay a visit and ensure appropriate barriers are put in place.
“It might feel like overkill to report your neighbour’s pop-up pool to the council, but it could end up saving a life.”
Remember, no amount of fencing is a substitute for adult supervision. Children should be watched closely at all times when playing in or near the water, and babies and toddlers should be kept within arms’ reach.
Here are some more top tips:
-
Stay close to children when playing around water.
-
Eyes on! Don’t get distracted.
-
Never prop pool gates open.
-
Check your gate latches are working.
-
Empty small portable pools when not in use.
-
Never leave ladders propped against portable pools and spas.
For more information on pool safety visit the Auckland Council website.
