Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death for children under five.

Now is the time, as the summer mercury rises, and the festive season is upon us, for residents to be reminded that safety comes first around pools and spas and to be familiar with the rules and regulations that are there to protect lives.

The City of Greater Geraldton’s Pool Compliance Officer, Vanessa Oliveri, urges pool and spa owners to commit time in the lead up to Christmas/New Year break, to double check they meet compliance requirements.

Ms Oliveri said all pools and spas—including portable, inflatable, and above and below ground—that contain water to a depth of 300mm or greater must have a safety barrier compliant to Australian Standard AS 1926.1-1993, and a permit from the City.

“While the City conducts pool inspections every four years it is the pool owner’s responsibility to maintain the compliance of their safety barrier at all times,” she said.

Aside from restricting access with a compliant physical barrier, other key ways to safeguard lives in home water environments are to supervise and learn resuscitation.

“Supervision is about always supervising your child and giving them your undivided attention. Learning resuscitation gives you a skill for life. A rapid response is the best response in an emergency,” said Ms Oliveri.

Helpful websites are www.lifesavingwa.com.au; www.poolsafety.com.au; www.keepwatch.com.au; www swimandsurvive.com.au; and www.kidsafe.com.au

Rules for Pools and Spas can be downloaded from buildingcommission.wa.gov.au

A free Home Pool Safety ‘app’ provides a helpful checklist, but does not substitute for a pool inspection, or professional compliance assessment.

Contact the City on 9956 6600 or council@cgg.wa.gov.au with any questions.