BACKYARD WATER SAFETY

Backyard drowning in Australia cause about 100 deaths a year and children between the ages of 1 to 3 are most at risk. It only takes about 5 cm of water to drown a young child so special care should be taken around young children. Check your backyard for water hazards and always empty wading pools and buckets and cover areas such as ponds and water features.

Most drownings occur in a child's own backyard or that of a friend or relative.

	Make shore a pool or spa is fitted with a fence approved to Australian Standards and in good order.
	Always watch your children when they are near water, many drownings occur in fenced pools.
	Never leave pool furniture outside the pool area, or other objects children may use to climb over a fence and get into the pool.
	Every pool fence should have a copy of the Resuscitations Techniques Chart fixed to it in a prominent easy to see location.
	Learning these techniques could help save a child's life.

More information on water safety.