Did you know drowning is one of the leading causes of death for Australian children under 5 years of age

Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of death for Australian children under 5 years of age. Statistics from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s National Drowning Report show that in 2016/17, toddler drowning incidents increased by 32%. During this period, 29 Australian children aged 0-4 years drowned. The majority of these drowning incidents (45%) occurred in backyard swimming pools.

While safety barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning incidents, evidence suggests that a large number of drowning deaths are the result of barriers that are faulty, or non-compliant with Australian standards.

Check your pool barrier is set for the Christmas holidays. It only takes a few minutes and it could save lives. And if you don’t have a pool, tell someone who does! All you need is a tape measure, the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s checklist and 15 minutes.