As Auckland heats up and families race to unbox their temporary backyard pools, Auckland Council is urging whānau to keep safety front of mind, especially when young children are around water.
The call comes in the wake of a recent tragedy involving a toddler who drowned in a temporary above-ground pool. Auckland Council’s Team Leader Swimming Pools Compliance, Wayne Daniel, says the loss is a heartbreaking reminder that toddlers are curious and will wander.
“When a drowning ‘statistic’ turns out to be someone you know, the impact is life changing. That’s why it’s so important for parents and caregivers to keep watch of their children when playing near water, within sight and reach, without distraction,” says Daniel.
Daniel says the council has more than 32,700 registered pools that his teams inspect, however they are seeing a huge increase in temporary pop-up pools that people tend not to register.
“This is because they are cheap and readily available. They are easy to set and forget and pose the same safety risks for drowning as permanent pools. A toddler can drown in just 40cm of water and it can happen so quickly. People don’t tend to realise just how little it takes.”
Under the Building Act, any pool that holds 40cm of water or more is legally required to have a barrier or fence to prevent unsupervised access. Portable pools over 1.2m high don’t need a full fence, but they must have a barrier around the entry point.
As well as making sure your swimming pool is compliant, Daniels says the most important thing people can do is supervise young children around pools.
“For little ones, that means being in the water with them, watching them and keeping them safe.”
“Even if you don’t have young children yourself, don’t be complacent. You never know who will be visiting your property.”
To help our tamariki stay safe follow these simple tips:
- stay close to children when they’re playing in or near water
- check fencing and gates are in good condition and that entry to the pool is properly restricted
- make sure fences are 1.2m high, gates are self-latching and self-closing, and the latch height is 1.5m above ground
- eyes on; don’t get distracted by your phone, visitors or chores
- never prop pool gates open
- check gate latches are working and remove climbable objects
- empty small portable pools when not in use
- never leave ladders against portable pools or spas.
For more information on pool safety, visit the Auckland Council website.
