Be careful around pools – especially portable ones – this summer

AMA (NSW) President, Dr Kean-Seng Lim, is encouraging parents to make sure their kids are safe around pools this summer.

“People with in-ground or above-ground pools in their backyards are generally pretty good about having them fenced off and ensuring they know CPR.

“But a lot of people don’t know that you also need to be extremely careful with portable pools.

“Children can drown in very small amounts of water – as little as 5 cm is enough.

“And any portable pool that can be filled with 30 cm of water requires to be fenced off on all four sides.

“A 30cm or deeper portable pool also needs a CPR sign displayed nearby.

“If you don’t know CPR and either have an existing pool or have recently purchased a portable pool for your kids, make sure you learn it.

“Children playing in and around water should always have appropriate supervision and pool fences need to remain securely locked.

“It’s really important, no matter the size of your pool, if it needs to be fenced off, you need to make sure the gate doesn’t get left propped open.

“Drowning prevention is vital and keeping the gate securely locked is the best place to start,” Dr Lim said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955