ROB BRADLEY
In the last 12 months, 28 Australian children under the age of five have drowned.
Most drowned in or around their own home. The Queensland Government has recently taken the bold move of implementing mandatory pool safety laws that include registering pools and spas and ensuring they meet with safety standards.
The criticism of being a nanny state was expected from some quarters, but I applaud the move.
Following Queensland's lead last February, which was strongly supported by Minister for Sport Mark Arbib, all states and territories agreed to work towards a nationally consistent best practice set of laws which was very pleasing. Royal Life Saving currently deals with eight different sets of legislation ranging from quite stringent to almost non-existent and it is incredibly difficult and confusing for everyone involved - not least the home pool owner. Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria are now very close to best practice but the others have some way to go to reach an acceptable level. Hats off to the South Australian, Tasmanian and ACT governments who have indicated strong support.
The current Australian Water Safety Strategy aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in child drowning by 2020 but we at Royal Life Saving have been striving to achieve a 100 per cent reduction for 15 years. To reach a zero drowning goal we need to put both simple and complex measures in place. Registering a pool and ensuring it is safe, is a simple measure.
If we look at the things we do know, then the solutions, or at least a way forward, often become obvious. And what we do know is that drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children aged one to four across Australia. We also know that 85 per cent of home pools across Australia do not meet current safety standards.
Personal responsibility is well and good if people accept that responsibility. Unfortunately, the danger surrounding pools and fencing can be insidious: what may look safe may be far from it; corrosion, loose bolts, a faulty gate latch and so on, may creep in over a period of time and be unnoticeable to a casual observer. An increasing number of drowning deaths have occurred in recent years in exactly this way - when the parents thought their pool was safe - but it wasn't.
Mandatory compliance checks and the registering of pools and spas followed up by regular maintenance by home pool owners is just a simple way of ensuring the safety of Australian children.
Every year, those of us who own and drive cars undergo vehicle safety inspections and obey road rules, speed limits, seat-belt laws, child seat compliance, stay under .05 BAC, and avoid using our mobile phones while driving. Some would say that's the result of living in a nanny state; others would be glad such laws exist; those perhaps whose personal tragedy might have been avoided if those laws were in place earlier.
Michael and JoAnn Morris from the Samuel Morris Foundation understand. In 2006, their two-year-old son Samuel found his way into the backyard pool of the home they had recently moved into. Samuel pushed against a faulty section of the pool fence which gave way and gave him clear access to the pool. Samuel survived but the once bright, happy and cuddly child now has severe brain injury and disabilities that have destroyed his life.
Is complying with a pool safety check and registering a pool or spa, too much to ask? I don't think it is. But should pool safety be the responsibility of the Government or the responsibility of the pool owner? It is both - this is a community issue. The Government needs to ensure that the right things are being checked and by the right people; the pool owners need also to be vigilant and responsible.
However, with 85 per cent of home pools not meeting current safety standards - some don't even have fences - we need to accept that self-regulation alone doesn't work. Better education surrounding this issue may help, but considering that drowning continues to be a leading cause of death among our youngest children, we need to accept that stringent measures must be put in place.
Earlier this year, Royal Life Saving hosted the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Vietnam. We chose to hold the conference in Vietnam to highlight the massive child drowning numbers in Asia. The number of children that drown in Australia in one year, a country like Bangladesh loses every single day. Most of those countries are in no position to implement anywhere near the safety and education standards surrounding swimming and water safety that we take for granted.
The work and research that Royal Life Saving and its partners have carried out in countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia and China, has irrefutably shown us that simple measures like supervision, the teaching of basic swimming and water safety skills, and placing a barrier between a child and the water, will dramatically decrease the number of child drowning deaths.
Unlike the countries mentioned above, Australia has a real opportunity to eradicate child drowning. If it takes mandatory pool safety legislation to do it, then so be it.
Rob Bradley is the CEO of the Royal Life Saving Society. More information can be found at: www.homepoolsafety.com.au. See Rob's full profile here.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Lighthouse Point boy, 2, in good condition after near-drowning
January 04, 2012|By Juan Ortega, Sun Sentinel
LIGHTHOUSE POINT — A boy who nearly drowned at his home pool was hospitalized in good condition Wednesday, officials said.
The emergency happened about noon Monday when Cole Sinclair, who is almost 3 years old, was with his father at their home in the 2800 block of Northeast 46th Street, Lighthouse Point Police Cmdr. Michael Oh said.
Gregory Sinclair was doing some work around the house when he realized his son had disappeared, Oh said. He found his son in the pool, "jumped in and started yelling for help," Oh said. Neighbors heard Sinclair and came to help as the father performed CPR on the child, Oh said.
Fire Rescue Chief David Donzella said, "The father was absolutely instrumental in saving his son's life with CPR."
Firefighter/paramedics arrived, helped stabilize Cole's airway and established an IV, Donzella said. During the emergency, the boy hadn't regained consciousness, but did start making attempts to breathe, Donzella said.
LIGHTHOUSE POINT — A boy who nearly drowned at his home pool was hospitalized in good condition Wednesday, officials said.
The emergency happened about noon Monday when Cole Sinclair, who is almost 3 years old, was with his father at their home in the 2800 block of Northeast 46th Street, Lighthouse Point Police Cmdr. Michael Oh said.
Gregory Sinclair was doing some work around the house when he realized his son had disappeared, Oh said. He found his son in the pool, "jumped in and started yelling for help," Oh said. Neighbors heard Sinclair and came to help as the father performed CPR on the child, Oh said.
Fire Rescue Chief David Donzella said, "The father was absolutely instrumental in saving his son's life with CPR."
Firefighter/paramedics arrived, helped stabilize Cole's airway and established an IV, Donzella said. During the emergency, the boy hadn't regained consciousness, but did start making attempts to breathe, Donzella said.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Keeping Kids Safe With the Nanny
By Heather Borden Herve
January 1, 2012
A recent arrest of a Wilton nanny for 'risk of injury to minors' in her care puts a sharp focus on how to protect your children when you can't be there.
“Hello Mrs. Herve? This is the Wilton Police Department. We have your children here.”
Thankfully, that’s a call I’ve never actually received, but according to recent news reports, one local mother did hear something that must have sounded very much like that.
According to police, on Dec. 22 at the CVS in Wilton, a woman identified as Tammy Lindquist, 48, of Norwalk, was arrested on charges of risk of injury to minors after she possibly abused -- verbally and physically -- two children, ages 2 and 5, that she’d been hired to care for. Allegedly, she yelled at the children, calling them “little bastards,” and was said to have grabbed one of the children by the neck, according to police reports of witness accounts.
“Based on witness statements and statements made by the children, Mrs. Lindquist was placed in custody and the parents and DCF [Dept. of Children and Families] were notified. There were no signs of physical injuries to the two children,” police reports state.
Police charged the accused with risk of injury to a minor and released her on a promise to appear in court.
Picturing what it’s like to be in that mom’s place, it’s nothing short of a nightmare. I imagine the parents must have thought they’d done all they could do to find someone to protect and take the best possible care of their children, and suddenly an awful scenario had come true instead.
I don’t know who the family was and I don’t know what steps they originally took in finding their sitter. But it got me thinking that it might be worth a discussion with some experts about how you go about finding the safest childcare situation possible.
This doesn’t mean that the family involved in the situation above didn’t do their best. In fact, I’m not making any judgments about their situation. But I wanted to take a look at things parents can do when they’re searching for safe childcare.
How do you protect your kids from this kind of situation? Whether you’re leaving your child with a high school babysitter, a professional nanny, or anyone who isn’t you…as a parent, what steps can you take to make sure the person who cares for your child when you aren’t there is safe with your child?
So I talked with two women well-equipped to speak on the subject: Alison Rhodes, who as the Safety Mom is an expert on safety, wellness and healthy living for children and families; and Loralyn Cropper, the senior community counselor and team leader for Au Pair in America in Wilton and Weston. They both have blogged for Patch and had great advice.
This sounds like the ultimate horror story. Imagine what that felt like, getting that call from the police…especially if you think you might have done everything to keep them safe?
Alison Rhodes: You assume you’ve made the right decision, you’ve entrusted this person with your family. Gosh only knows, it could be an isolated incident with a babysitter, where they’re just stretched to the limit. You need to keep an eye and observe your babysitter. Do they seem stressed all of a sudden? Something could be going on in their life -- they could be having some physical issue. Who knows? But it really is so important to just be aware and keep having conversations.
As a person who trains au pairs and who screens and prepares host families, what is the advice you give to make that relationship the safest, best possible one?
Loralyn Cropper: The key thing is that it’s a trusting relationship—you’re entrusting your children, your most precious beings to someone to take care of them. So it’s very different than hiring someone to do your yard work. It encompasses a lot of trust. So it’s very important that you do your own background checks and screening -- be diligent in calling references. Really review the paperwork -- what kind of childcare experience have they had? That’s key in telling if they can handle the job.
How does a parent do a background check?
AR: Most experts would tell you -- do your own background checks yourself. You can Google and find out how. You do need to ask for their Social Security numbers and driver’s license to do a check. There’s a lot of good ways to glean information. Check the National Registry for Sexual Predators database. Google their name, and see what comes up. Social network profiles -- look at what they’re posting on Facebook, especially [high school] babysitters.
Is it an invasion of privacy, to look at their Facebook page or things like that? Especially if it’s a teen -- I’m sorry, I want to know what they’re doing! I want to know what they’re posting. Because if they’re driving my child around, I want to know what’s going on.
Get the references. Ask those tough questions.
What are good questions to ask when you’re interviewing a candidate?
LC: Give a hypothetical scenario and see what the response is to “How would you handle this?” For example, “My 2-year-old won’t eat her peas, and the 6-month-old is crying, what would you do in that situation?” Give scenarios that actually, physically happen in your house, and you see how they would respond. If you like their answers, that gives you a sign to their level of maturity and how they think and how they can handle an emergency situation. It’s really important to run through scenarios that potentially could happen and if that matches with what you would do.
The other thing is, what is the style of the childcare provider, and does it match with what kind of family you are? Are you a huggy, affectionate kind of family? Do you have a lot of humor and tell a lot of jokes? Or if you want someone very gentle, more nurturing. You want to find someone who fits into the style of your family, that can come out in an interview.
What about once you’ve hired a nanny -- how should you establish what you want?
AR: This is unlike any other employee or supplier or job -- this is someone who is watching your kids. It’s a very personal thing. You often get involved personally with this employee. So it’s very difficult to maintain a typical employer/employee relationship because they are watching your children.
But in a certain degree, you have to. You have to set expectations and discuss. ‘What do you consider appropriate discipline? Is it time-outs? What is it?’ Because of cultural or age differences, they may have a completely different idea. Just as you would with any other employment issue, you need to lay out an entire expectation list -- how you expect each situation to be handled, and then do a check-in, every 30 days or so.
LC: Another tip -- do not overuse your childcare provider. With a structured program, like the au pair program, they are only allowed to work 45 hours per week. No person can spend 24 hours a day working and not get a break. So if you have needs that are well over 45 hours a week, you might consider hiring two childcare providers, so that people are given a break. Really stick to a structured program, childcare providers really do need breaks.
When you do have a nanny or au pair that lives in your house, it’s a different level of relationship. They’re not leaving at 5 o’clock; they might be having dinner with you, and celebrating family events, and becoming very much a part of the family. Either way, you’ve got to establish a relationship with your childcare provider.
Are there preventative things you can do to see what’s happening when you’re not at home?
LC: If your nanny is dropping the children off at school or preschool, talk to the teachers, ask what they see. Talk to other mothers -- do they see if the children are getting dropped off on time, are they holding hands through the parking lot? Other parents can give you feedback when you can’t be there.
AR: If you’re at work, ask your friends to stop by every now and then, and have a couple of surprise visits. You can absolutely use a nanny cam, or monitoring services. But you also need to look for changes in your child: if they’re not saying something to you, all of the sudden are they scared, do they get quiet. Really pay attention, really observe and see what’s going on with your child.
What about positive steps for good childcare training? What kind of information should employers provide to childcare providers to make the situation the safest possible?
LC: Safety training -- CPR training is very important. If you can share any books about child raising that you’ve used, I tell parents they should share that with the au pair. If you have any allergy issues, you need to run through the steps with precautions -- even for playdates, as your child might not have an allergy but they have a friend who does, and it might be on your nanny’s watch. That, and any other medical concern, has to be addressed beforehand.
How can you talk to your kids about it?
AR: The most important thing is to empower your kids: whether they’re two, whether they’re seven, they need to understand that no matter what a child care provider says to them (or anyone for that matter), if they feel uncomfortable, if they feel something’s not right, they need to come and tell you. Even if they’re being told something like, “Don’t say anything to mommy,” they need to understand, and be reminded, “Tell mom, tell dad if something is happening that doesn’t feel comfortable to you.”
There’s a fine line of how you talk to a really young child—a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old—without scaring them. Even if you know your own child and what they’re capable of understanding, how do you talk to them without making them afraid of the person who will be taking care of them?
AR: I mean, look at what happened at Penn State. One of the things that’s changed since you and I were younger, we were always taught, Have respect for adults. Unfortunately, in this day and age, you almost have to tell your child, “If it doesn’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to do what an adult says. You have to go with what feels comfortable and safe.”
There are a lot of good books out there -- one is by Jill Starishevsky, she is a prosecutor in the sex offender’s office in New York City. She wrote a book, My Body Belongs to Me, which is really at a younger level. It’s really important to start introducing those things really young, because unfortunately it happens. We do need to tell children, “If something doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to listen to a coach; you don’t have to listen to a nanny. If it doesn’t feel right, you say, ‘No!’”
This story of what happened in Wilton, it’s interesting that someone stepped in to report what they saw.
AR: That’s the other important thing -- and this goes for bullying and everything -- that we as bystanders and observers need to get involved. So many times you see people saying, “Oh that’s their problem, I’m not going to get involved.” We have to get involved. It’s our job as neighbors and community members, to take an interest and understand, if you see something, do something.
It seems so important to find the right person -- in some way, they’re the person who’s in your place when you can’t be there. They’re not a parent but they’re there when you can’t be.
LC: But at the same time it’s important to say that no one can take your place. You need to be very diligent and take precautions because no one can ever take your place.
About this column: Trying to find meaning and connections in issues and events for the people of lower Fairfield County.
Related Topics: Parenting
January 1, 2012
A recent arrest of a Wilton nanny for 'risk of injury to minors' in her care puts a sharp focus on how to protect your children when you can't be there.
“Hello Mrs. Herve? This is the Wilton Police Department. We have your children here.”
Thankfully, that’s a call I’ve never actually received, but according to recent news reports, one local mother did hear something that must have sounded very much like that.
According to police, on Dec. 22 at the CVS in Wilton, a woman identified as Tammy Lindquist, 48, of Norwalk, was arrested on charges of risk of injury to minors after she possibly abused -- verbally and physically -- two children, ages 2 and 5, that she’d been hired to care for. Allegedly, she yelled at the children, calling them “little bastards,” and was said to have grabbed one of the children by the neck, according to police reports of witness accounts.
“Based on witness statements and statements made by the children, Mrs. Lindquist was placed in custody and the parents and DCF [Dept. of Children and Families] were notified. There were no signs of physical injuries to the two children,” police reports state.
Police charged the accused with risk of injury to a minor and released her on a promise to appear in court.
Picturing what it’s like to be in that mom’s place, it’s nothing short of a nightmare. I imagine the parents must have thought they’d done all they could do to find someone to protect and take the best possible care of their children, and suddenly an awful scenario had come true instead.
I don’t know who the family was and I don’t know what steps they originally took in finding their sitter. But it got me thinking that it might be worth a discussion with some experts about how you go about finding the safest childcare situation possible.
This doesn’t mean that the family involved in the situation above didn’t do their best. In fact, I’m not making any judgments about their situation. But I wanted to take a look at things parents can do when they’re searching for safe childcare.
How do you protect your kids from this kind of situation? Whether you’re leaving your child with a high school babysitter, a professional nanny, or anyone who isn’t you…as a parent, what steps can you take to make sure the person who cares for your child when you aren’t there is safe with your child?
So I talked with two women well-equipped to speak on the subject: Alison Rhodes, who as the Safety Mom is an expert on safety, wellness and healthy living for children and families; and Loralyn Cropper, the senior community counselor and team leader for Au Pair in America in Wilton and Weston. They both have blogged for Patch and had great advice.
This sounds like the ultimate horror story. Imagine what that felt like, getting that call from the police…especially if you think you might have done everything to keep them safe?
Alison Rhodes: You assume you’ve made the right decision, you’ve entrusted this person with your family. Gosh only knows, it could be an isolated incident with a babysitter, where they’re just stretched to the limit. You need to keep an eye and observe your babysitter. Do they seem stressed all of a sudden? Something could be going on in their life -- they could be having some physical issue. Who knows? But it really is so important to just be aware and keep having conversations.
As a person who trains au pairs and who screens and prepares host families, what is the advice you give to make that relationship the safest, best possible one?
Loralyn Cropper: The key thing is that it’s a trusting relationship—you’re entrusting your children, your most precious beings to someone to take care of them. So it’s very different than hiring someone to do your yard work. It encompasses a lot of trust. So it’s very important that you do your own background checks and screening -- be diligent in calling references. Really review the paperwork -- what kind of childcare experience have they had? That’s key in telling if they can handle the job.
How does a parent do a background check?
AR: Most experts would tell you -- do your own background checks yourself. You can Google and find out how. You do need to ask for their Social Security numbers and driver’s license to do a check. There’s a lot of good ways to glean information. Check the National Registry for Sexual Predators database. Google their name, and see what comes up. Social network profiles -- look at what they’re posting on Facebook, especially [high school] babysitters.
Is it an invasion of privacy, to look at their Facebook page or things like that? Especially if it’s a teen -- I’m sorry, I want to know what they’re doing! I want to know what they’re posting. Because if they’re driving my child around, I want to know what’s going on.
Get the references. Ask those tough questions.
What are good questions to ask when you’re interviewing a candidate?
LC: Give a hypothetical scenario and see what the response is to “How would you handle this?” For example, “My 2-year-old won’t eat her peas, and the 6-month-old is crying, what would you do in that situation?” Give scenarios that actually, physically happen in your house, and you see how they would respond. If you like their answers, that gives you a sign to their level of maturity and how they think and how they can handle an emergency situation. It’s really important to run through scenarios that potentially could happen and if that matches with what you would do.
The other thing is, what is the style of the childcare provider, and does it match with what kind of family you are? Are you a huggy, affectionate kind of family? Do you have a lot of humor and tell a lot of jokes? Or if you want someone very gentle, more nurturing. You want to find someone who fits into the style of your family, that can come out in an interview.
What about once you’ve hired a nanny -- how should you establish what you want?
AR: This is unlike any other employee or supplier or job -- this is someone who is watching your kids. It’s a very personal thing. You often get involved personally with this employee. So it’s very difficult to maintain a typical employer/employee relationship because they are watching your children.
But in a certain degree, you have to. You have to set expectations and discuss. ‘What do you consider appropriate discipline? Is it time-outs? What is it?’ Because of cultural or age differences, they may have a completely different idea. Just as you would with any other employment issue, you need to lay out an entire expectation list -- how you expect each situation to be handled, and then do a check-in, every 30 days or so.
LC: Another tip -- do not overuse your childcare provider. With a structured program, like the au pair program, they are only allowed to work 45 hours per week. No person can spend 24 hours a day working and not get a break. So if you have needs that are well over 45 hours a week, you might consider hiring two childcare providers, so that people are given a break. Really stick to a structured program, childcare providers really do need breaks.
When you do have a nanny or au pair that lives in your house, it’s a different level of relationship. They’re not leaving at 5 o’clock; they might be having dinner with you, and celebrating family events, and becoming very much a part of the family. Either way, you’ve got to establish a relationship with your childcare provider.
Are there preventative things you can do to see what’s happening when you’re not at home?
LC: If your nanny is dropping the children off at school or preschool, talk to the teachers, ask what they see. Talk to other mothers -- do they see if the children are getting dropped off on time, are they holding hands through the parking lot? Other parents can give you feedback when you can’t be there.
AR: If you’re at work, ask your friends to stop by every now and then, and have a couple of surprise visits. You can absolutely use a nanny cam, or monitoring services. But you also need to look for changes in your child: if they’re not saying something to you, all of the sudden are they scared, do they get quiet. Really pay attention, really observe and see what’s going on with your child.
What about positive steps for good childcare training? What kind of information should employers provide to childcare providers to make the situation the safest possible?
LC: Safety training -- CPR training is very important. If you can share any books about child raising that you’ve used, I tell parents they should share that with the au pair. If you have any allergy issues, you need to run through the steps with precautions -- even for playdates, as your child might not have an allergy but they have a friend who does, and it might be on your nanny’s watch. That, and any other medical concern, has to be addressed beforehand.
How can you talk to your kids about it?
AR: The most important thing is to empower your kids: whether they’re two, whether they’re seven, they need to understand that no matter what a child care provider says to them (or anyone for that matter), if they feel uncomfortable, if they feel something’s not right, they need to come and tell you. Even if they’re being told something like, “Don’t say anything to mommy,” they need to understand, and be reminded, “Tell mom, tell dad if something is happening that doesn’t feel comfortable to you.”
There’s a fine line of how you talk to a really young child—a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old—without scaring them. Even if you know your own child and what they’re capable of understanding, how do you talk to them without making them afraid of the person who will be taking care of them?
AR: I mean, look at what happened at Penn State. One of the things that’s changed since you and I were younger, we were always taught, Have respect for adults. Unfortunately, in this day and age, you almost have to tell your child, “If it doesn’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to do what an adult says. You have to go with what feels comfortable and safe.”
There are a lot of good books out there -- one is by Jill Starishevsky, she is a prosecutor in the sex offender’s office in New York City. She wrote a book, My Body Belongs to Me, which is really at a younger level. It’s really important to start introducing those things really young, because unfortunately it happens. We do need to tell children, “If something doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to listen to a coach; you don’t have to listen to a nanny. If it doesn’t feel right, you say, ‘No!’”
This story of what happened in Wilton, it’s interesting that someone stepped in to report what they saw.
AR: That’s the other important thing -- and this goes for bullying and everything -- that we as bystanders and observers need to get involved. So many times you see people saying, “Oh that’s their problem, I’m not going to get involved.” We have to get involved. It’s our job as neighbors and community members, to take an interest and understand, if you see something, do something.
It seems so important to find the right person -- in some way, they’re the person who’s in your place when you can’t be there. They’re not a parent but they’re there when you can’t be.
LC: But at the same time it’s important to say that no one can take your place. You need to be very diligent and take precautions because no one can ever take your place.
About this column: Trying to find meaning and connections in issues and events for the people of lower Fairfield County.
Related Topics: Parenting
Monday, January 2, 2012
Pool Fence Fracas
BY MARIO CHRISTODOULOU
31 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
Wollongong City Council has threatened Mangerton grandfather Peter Abba with a $1.1 million fine after accusing him of having an unsafe pool, despite it being surrounded by a 1.5m fence with two locked gates.
Earlier this week, a Stanwell Tops family went public with their own threat from council - a $1.1million fine if their cubby house was not pulled down.
Mr Abba, a pharmacist, thought he was doing the right thing when he responded to a request from council to inspect his home in Mangerton in November 2010.
But what followed was an expensive battle over the safety of a pool, which would have required a toddler to break through two security gates and scale a 1.5m brush fence to enter.
He was later told the fence was a fire hazard, despite it being hemmed in by towering gum trees and a nearby highly combustible turpentine, with which the council took no issue.
Mr Abba said he spent about $4000 commissioning planning reports to fight the charge and replacing the surface of the brush fence with a thin veneer.
"This is absolute bureaucracy gone mad," he said.
"Anybody being aware of the situation and looking at the scene would have to understand how frustrated I was."
A council spokesman said he "rejects the allegation of harassment".
"Council has a duty to ensure that all pool owners comply with the swimming pool [legislation]," he said.
"The fines outlined in the letter to the resident are applied by the courts if there is a case, not by council."
Mr Abba said he had gone to great lengths to make his pool safe after his granddaughter was left critically ill after a horrific poolside accident in 2003.
His fence ranges in height from 1.5 to 1.8m, well above the 1.2m legal minimum height.
Despite this Mr Abba said he was told the fence was still dangerous because toddlers could clamber over it, gaining purchase on the embedded fastening wires.
He decided to fight the claim and commissioned a planning consultant to review the council's ruling.
31 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
Wollongong City Council has threatened Mangerton grandfather Peter Abba with a $1.1 million fine after accusing him of having an unsafe pool, despite it being surrounded by a 1.5m fence with two locked gates.
Earlier this week, a Stanwell Tops family went public with their own threat from council - a $1.1million fine if their cubby house was not pulled down.
Mr Abba, a pharmacist, thought he was doing the right thing when he responded to a request from council to inspect his home in Mangerton in November 2010.
But what followed was an expensive battle over the safety of a pool, which would have required a toddler to break through two security gates and scale a 1.5m brush fence to enter.
He was later told the fence was a fire hazard, despite it being hemmed in by towering gum trees and a nearby highly combustible turpentine, with which the council took no issue.
Mr Abba said he spent about $4000 commissioning planning reports to fight the charge and replacing the surface of the brush fence with a thin veneer.
"This is absolute bureaucracy gone mad," he said.
"Anybody being aware of the situation and looking at the scene would have to understand how frustrated I was."
A council spokesman said he "rejects the allegation of harassment".
"Council has a duty to ensure that all pool owners comply with the swimming pool [legislation]," he said.
"The fines outlined in the letter to the resident are applied by the courts if there is a case, not by council."
Mr Abba said he had gone to great lengths to make his pool safe after his granddaughter was left critically ill after a horrific poolside accident in 2003.
His fence ranges in height from 1.5 to 1.8m, well above the 1.2m legal minimum height.
Despite this Mr Abba said he was told the fence was still dangerous because toddlers could clamber over it, gaining purchase on the embedded fastening wires.
He decided to fight the claim and commissioned a planning consultant to review the council's ruling.
Protect your pets with pool safety
BREE FULLER
30 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
Fido in floaties?
Bizarre as it sounds, it may be a good way to save your pooch from an untimely demise.
It is just one of the many ways to prevent pets from accidentally drowning this summer, according to Crown Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Kevin Calleja.
Each summer Dr Calleja sees a number of pet drownings, but he said the toll could be a lot higher because most drownings happen in home pools and go unreported.
All pets, particularly dogs, should be treated like children when it comes to water safety, he said.
‘‘Dogs like swimming but you have to view them like little kids - you don’t leave them unsupervised,’’ he said.
‘‘Pools should be child-proof, but they really should be dog-proof as well because a lot of drownings happen when dogs fall in and it’s not so much that they can’t swim, it’s they can’t get out.
‘‘If no-one knows that they’re in the pool, they eventually tire out and unfortunately they die.’’
Other animals can simply fall in pools accidentally or jump in out of curiosity, so it is best to secure the pool.
Dr Calleja said common sense should also apply when owners introduce their dog to water for the first time or take them for a swim at the beach.
‘‘If you’re introducing your dog to the water for the first time, do it in a controlled way so they can touch their feet on the ground - don’t just sort of throw them in the pool because they might not swim or they might develop a phobia of the water,’’ he said.
‘‘If they’re going out into the surf don’t take them somewhere where it’s rough, or where there are rips.’’
A dog life jacket - a buoyant harness that fits around a dog’s chest - is another safety option, particularly if the dog is not a strong swimmer.
Dr Calleja said animals should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if they ingest water.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/protect-your-pets-with-pool-safety/2406278.aspx
30 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
Fido in floaties?
Bizarre as it sounds, it may be a good way to save your pooch from an untimely demise.
It is just one of the many ways to prevent pets from accidentally drowning this summer, according to Crown Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Kevin Calleja.
Each summer Dr Calleja sees a number of pet drownings, but he said the toll could be a lot higher because most drownings happen in home pools and go unreported.
All pets, particularly dogs, should be treated like children when it comes to water safety, he said.
‘‘Dogs like swimming but you have to view them like little kids - you don’t leave them unsupervised,’’ he said.
‘‘Pools should be child-proof, but they really should be dog-proof as well because a lot of drownings happen when dogs fall in and it’s not so much that they can’t swim, it’s they can’t get out.
‘‘If no-one knows that they’re in the pool, they eventually tire out and unfortunately they die.’’
Other animals can simply fall in pools accidentally or jump in out of curiosity, so it is best to secure the pool.
Dr Calleja said common sense should also apply when owners introduce their dog to water for the first time or take them for a swim at the beach.
‘‘If you’re introducing your dog to the water for the first time, do it in a controlled way so they can touch their feet on the ground - don’t just sort of throw them in the pool because they might not swim or they might develop a phobia of the water,’’ he said.
‘‘If they’re going out into the surf don’t take them somewhere where it’s rough, or where there are rips.’’
A dog life jacket - a buoyant harness that fits around a dog’s chest - is another safety option, particularly if the dog is not a strong swimmer.
Dr Calleja said animals should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if they ingest water.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/protect-your-pets-with-pool-safety/2406278.aspx
Alternative Uses for Swimming Pool Fencing Systems
Baby Guard's Pool Fencing system can be used for much more than just protecting your children from the pool. They can also be installed on sea walls, around gardens or vineyards, in the garage to protect vehicles or even to keep pets contained in a certain area.
Protecting Vehicles
Do you park your Car/Truck/SUV/RV/Camper in the driveway? Do you have children? Accidents happen involving parked vehicles. Whether it's from an out of control basketball, swing of a baseball bat or a misguided bicycle and before you know it, there goes the window. Most car repairs for dings, dents, window replacements, etc will end up costing you more than putting up a fence to protect your vehicle from these hazards.
Baby Guard Fencing has the answer by installing one of our safety fences. Extremely easy to set up and even easier to take down, plus they give your car protection from many of our children's little mishaps.
Pet Detainment
Family dogs are quite common. They live with us, eat with us, and sleep with us. For most people they are part of the family. But even with this special bond, we need boundaries and special zones for our dogs. Areas where they are free to run, play, dig, and take care of their needs away from valuables and expensive landscaping.
Baby Guard Fences have the strength and durability to keep your pet detained. Our high quality mesh can withstand most dog bites and pulls. Our fencing is also available in many different colors and styles which will look 100% better than most dog pens or crates. Click here to view available colors/styles.
Docks & Sea Walls
Sea walls can be extremely dangerous. The drop off is very far and in most cases there is no way back up. You can solve this problem by installing a Baby Guard Safety fence on your sea wall.
Baby Guard Fencing proposes setting up a child safety fence along your sea wall. This added protection will give you the peace of mind and allow your children to play in your backyard worry free.
Protecting Vehicles
Do you park your Car/Truck/SUV/RV/Camper in the driveway? Do you have children? Accidents happen involving parked vehicles. Whether it's from an out of control basketball, swing of a baseball bat or a misguided bicycle and before you know it, there goes the window. Most car repairs for dings, dents, window replacements, etc will end up costing you more than putting up a fence to protect your vehicle from these hazards.
Baby Guard Fencing has the answer by installing one of our safety fences. Extremely easy to set up and even easier to take down, plus they give your car protection from many of our children's little mishaps.
Pet Detainment
Family dogs are quite common. They live with us, eat with us, and sleep with us. For most people they are part of the family. But even with this special bond, we need boundaries and special zones for our dogs. Areas where they are free to run, play, dig, and take care of their needs away from valuables and expensive landscaping.
Baby Guard Fences have the strength and durability to keep your pet detained. Our high quality mesh can withstand most dog bites and pulls. Our fencing is also available in many different colors and styles which will look 100% better than most dog pens or crates. Click here to view available colors/styles.
Docks & Sea Walls
Sea walls can be extremely dangerous. The drop off is very far and in most cases there is no way back up. You can solve this problem by installing a Baby Guard Safety fence on your sea wall.
Baby Guard Fencing proposes setting up a child safety fence along your sea wall. This added protection will give you the peace of mind and allow your children to play in your backyard worry free.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Pool Safety Tips for a Safe and Happy Winter
A swimming pool is a great addition to any home and adds hours of fun. Spending time together as a family, the health benefits and value a pool adds to a home are sometimes overlooked and underestimated. Pool safety is something that should be top of mind and Hawaiian Pool Builders offers some winter safety advice.
ShareThis Email PDF Print
Toledo, OH (PRWEB) December 15, 2011
Now that the colder temperatures have arrived many people forget about pool and spa safety. Before the snow hits, it’s important to check several items to prepare for the cold winter months ahead.
Hawaiian Pool Builders offers these swimming pool and spa safety tips:
1. Check all the straps around the perimeter of the pool. Straps should be tight and not tangled. If any straps are loose, tighten them up to insure even tension. If these are not tightened, small children might be able to crawl under the cover. It would be next to impossible to see someone that was physically under the cover.
2. A pool or spa cover is an essential piece of safety equipment. Inspect the cover for rips or tears. With a few inches of snow on the cover a child OR adult could unexpectedly walk on the cover and exaggerate the tear, subsequently falling though.
3. Make sure all the breakers to your pool equipment are turned off from the main breaker panel. No need to worry about a child accidently turning on your pump with no water circulation.
4. Inspect fences surrounding the pool to ensure locks and latches are working properly. Though it’s winter, it’s important to be sure unsupervised children are not able to access the pool while playing in the back yard.
These common sense steps take only a few minutes to complete. The time spent inspecting your swimming pool to ensure winter safety can provide great peace of mind.
Hawaiian Pool Builders designs, installs and services swimming pools from its headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. Winter is a great time to start pool research and meet with a team of professionals to guarantee a spot on the spring construction schedule.
ShareThis Email PDF Print
Toledo, OH (PRWEB) December 15, 2011
Now that the colder temperatures have arrived many people forget about pool and spa safety. Before the snow hits, it’s important to check several items to prepare for the cold winter months ahead.
Hawaiian Pool Builders offers these swimming pool and spa safety tips:
1. Check all the straps around the perimeter of the pool. Straps should be tight and not tangled. If any straps are loose, tighten them up to insure even tension. If these are not tightened, small children might be able to crawl under the cover. It would be next to impossible to see someone that was physically under the cover.
2. A pool or spa cover is an essential piece of safety equipment. Inspect the cover for rips or tears. With a few inches of snow on the cover a child OR adult could unexpectedly walk on the cover and exaggerate the tear, subsequently falling though.
3. Make sure all the breakers to your pool equipment are turned off from the main breaker panel. No need to worry about a child accidently turning on your pump with no water circulation.
4. Inspect fences surrounding the pool to ensure locks and latches are working properly. Though it’s winter, it’s important to be sure unsupervised children are not able to access the pool while playing in the back yard.
These common sense steps take only a few minutes to complete. The time spent inspecting your swimming pool to ensure winter safety can provide great peace of mind.
Hawaiian Pool Builders designs, installs and services swimming pools from its headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. Winter is a great time to start pool research and meet with a team of professionals to guarantee a spot on the spring construction schedule.
The smallest pool can pose a hazard
14 Dec, 2011 01:00 AM
HEALTH authorities are warning parents about the dangers of inflatable pools in the lead up to hot summer weather.
A new US study has found that inflatable pools can be more dangerous than large pools because they do not have fences and are often not emptied.
Camden Council acting development and health director Jeremy Swan said even inflatable pools sometimes required a fence.
"Under the Swimming Pools Fences Act, anything that can be filled to a depth of 300 millilitres or more requires a swimming pool fence," Mr Swan said.
The council was not able to police whether inflatable pool owners were following the law, he said, but he knew of only one child drowning in the past 10 years.
The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network has reported a steady increase in drowning incidents over the past couple of years.
There is no Australian data on drowning in inflatable pools at this time.
Kellie Wilson from the trauma service at Sydney Children's Hospital said drowning was a leading cause of death among children under the age of five.
"Any unattended amount of water can be a danger to young inquisitive children, from a half empty bucket of water, to a backyard swimming pool," she said. "We urge parents to closely supervise their children at all times, learn basic CPR and teach children how to swim from a young age."
Monday, December 12, 2011
Pool Fence Warning
POOL and spa owners have been reminded to stay aware of safety requirements to prevent backyard drownings.
Moonee Valley Mayor Jim Cusack, speaking as part of a council awareness campaign, said barriers must be installed for pools with a water capacity of 30cm or more.
“Pools and spas are for fun people of all ages during warm summer days, and most of all, children love the water,” Cr Cusack said.
“However, owning a pool or spa brings with it legal responsibilities to ensure that the required safety standards are met.”
Safety barriers include fences, walls, gates, locks, latches, bolts and fly screens and must be unable to be climbed.
Life Saving Victoria data showed there were no drownings in Moonee Valley in the 2010-11 year.
There was one drowning the previous year.
Life Saving Victoria manager of research and injury prevention Dr Bernadette Matthews said it was also important to think about water safety when going away for summer holidays.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Pool safety is vital
06/Dec/2011
CHILDREN accidentally drowning in home swimming pools can be prevented.
There is an easy and not expensive way to stop the unnecessary death of children through drowning.
In 1962, I built a large swimming pool in my new home in Applecross.
We had a young family and I was determined they would learn to swim at a young age. It was easy – we bought a few kids life jackets.
Our family got used to the idea very quickly – no life jacket and you are not allowed inside the pool fence.
This was a strict rule applied to visitors’ children as well.
Our kids could swim well and truly before they went to school, as did a lot of our friends’ kids.
As we had one of the first private pools in Applecross, a lot of the local kids learnt to swim in it with a life jacket.
Our daughter, later in life, applied the same practice with her kids and visitors’ children with her pool.
One of the factors in deciding to build a pool – to have our kids swim at an early age – was that my wife lost her brother in a drowning accident when he was just nine.
Needless to say, neither my wife nor her brother could swim.
Another thing I believe in is to follow the belief of our great swimming coach Laurie Lawrence and teach your kids to swim when they are babies.
Even if you do not have children and have a pool, go out and buy a couple of children’s life jackets.
If my letter saves one life, the time I have taken to write it makes life worthwhile.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Pool safety is vital
12/05/2011
Comments:
CHILDREN accidentally drowning in home swimming pools can be prevented.
There is an easy and not expensive way to stop the unnecessary death of children through drowning.
In 1962, I built a large swimming pool in my new home in Applecross.
We had a young family and I was determined they would learn to swim at a young age. It was easy – we bought a few kids life jackets.
Our family got used to the idea very quickly – no life jacket and you are not allowed inside the pool fence.
This was a strict rule applied to visitors’ children as well.
Our kids could swim well and truly before they went to school, as did a lot of our friends’ kids.
As we had one of the first private pools in Applecross, a lot of the local kids learnt to swim in it with a life jacket.
Our daughter, later in life, applied the same practice with her kids and visitors’ children with her pool.
One of the factors in deciding to build a pool – to have our kids swim at an early age – was that my wife lost her brother in a drowning accident when he was just nine.
Needless to say, neither my wife nor her brother could swim.
Another thing I believe in is to follow the belief of our great swimming coach Laurie Lawrence and teach your kids to swim when they are babies.
Even if you do not have children and have a pool, go out and buy a couple of children’s life jackets.
If my letter saves one life, the time I have taken to write it makes life worthwhile.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Two-year-old boy drowns in swimming pool after wandering off as his parents attended engagement party.
Last updated at 6:58 PM on 1st December 2011
A mother and father today told of their devastation after their two-year-old son wandered off from a family engagement party and drowned in a swimming pool.
Toddler Ryan Pearman was a beautiful, happy child, his distraught parents said after the inquest in Oxford.
The toddler, of St Albans in Hertfordshire, was found face down in the water and airlifted to hospital, but he died later that day.
Bride-to-be Jane Pearman told the coroner she screamed in horror when she found her cousin's son in a next-door neighbour's pool in Sonning Common, Oxfordshire.
His father Chris said the family were 'just as devastated as we were on that day. It is something we will never get over.'
Miss Pearson told the inquest she had been saying goodbye to guests when Mr Pearman had come to the front door and asked she had seen Ryan.
She said: 'I walked up into next door's garden and could see there was a pool of water on the top of the cover of the swimming pool, which had not been there when I had spoken to Margaret (the owner of the house) earlier in the day.
'I lifted up the cover about half a metre and saw Ryan. I must have shouted or screamed at that point. I went straight in and got him out.'
Her family rushed to join her and Ryan was given CPR until paramedics arrived.
The boy was found in the pool on Sunday July 31. He was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but could not be revived and was certified dead at 7.30pm.
The party of 40 adults and 10 children was hosted by Ryan's great-uncle and aunt, John and Diana Pearman, to celebrate their daughter Jane's engagement.
Ryan had been supervised throughout the day, his devastated father told the inquest.
The father of three agreed with coroner Nicholas Gardiner that it had been a case of 'both parents thinking the other was looking after him.'
He added: 'Ryan had been a few steps in front of me going into the garden and my wife thought he was with me.
'He was a very active youngster. He had played hide and seek and swing ball. The last time I saw him was with Ben (Ryan's brother), having a drink.'
The inquest heard Ryan wandered off when some of the family were playing cricket in a nearby field and other adults were inside the house.
We are just as devastated as we were on that day. It is something we will never get over. Ryan was a very happy child. He lived life to the full.
- CHRIS PEARMAN
- CHRIS PEARMAN
Ryan had squeezed through some fence posts at the end of the garden and wandered up a country track to next door's house, the inquest was told.
The death was not being treated as suspicious, Detective Constable Rick Josey of Thames Valley Police told the coroner.
A post-mortem examination into Ryan's death showed he had drowned.
Dr Steve Gould told the inquest that the youngster had fluid on his lungs.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Gardiner said: 'The swimming pool proved irresistibly tempting for a two-year-old child.
'It was unfortunate the pool was unguarded.'
Mr Pearman and wife Siobhan described their son as a 'beautiful, happy, loving and funny little boy.'
They said: 'He was nearing his third birthday when he died. The middle of our three boys, he was always at the centre of everything that happened. He had the ability to always make us smile and we are so proud of him and miss him terribly.
'Until this tragic event we did not realise how dangerous some of the commonly used pool covers can be. Some pool covers give the impression of being solid - especially to a child - but in fact are not.
We hope that what happened to our much-loved son Ryan will draw attention to this so that other people learn from it and hopefully similar tragedies can be avoided in the future.
'The Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board will be including a message about swimming pool safety in the Safe in the Sun campaign they are running in the Spring.
'In memory of our son we will also be pushing for UK legislation to introduce safety measures, for instance fencing or child-safe pool covers for all in-ground pools.
'We do not want any other child to lose their life in this way.
'We would like to thank the staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the Air Ambulance service who tried so hard to save Ryan's life.
'The Air Ambulance gave Ryan the best chance he had. As a family we are fundraising for the Hertfordshire and Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Services in support of their good work.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068746/Two-year-old-boy-drowns-swimming-pool-wandering-parents-attended-engagement-party.html#ixzz1fOCUuKVD
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Is Your Swimming Pool Safe Year-round?
Marianna- Local water safety officials are warning homeowners about pool safety after two Florida toddlers lost their lives this week in separate drowning incidents.
Posted: 5:29 PM Nov 29, 2011Reporter: Bryan Anderson
Email Address: Bryan.Anderson@wjhg.com
Marianna- Chipola College Aquatics Director Rance Massengill said his heart goes out to the two separate families in Florida who lost toddlers to pool drownings Monday.
"We hate to hear it and we're thinking about those families," said Massengill.
According to authorities, both children fell into their families' pools, without anyone noticing.
"Drowing of children four and under is a very serious thing in the United States," said Massengill.
Massengill, who's been a water safety expert for years, said there are ways to stop these types of tragedies.
"The entire perimeter of the pool should be fenced off if you're trying to keep people out," said Massengill.
He also said pool covers can be effective but they must be weighed down. If someone does fall in the water, you must act fast.
"In a child that cannot swim, they'll be unconscious in less than one minute," said Massengill.
Massengill recommended throwing the victim a flotation device, only jumping in yourself if you have the proper training. Regardless, Massengill told News Channel 7 it should never come to that point.
"Having proper supervision at all times is the key to it," said Massengill.
Safety experts said kids can drown in as little as a few inches of water.
Source: http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Is_Your_Swimming_Pool_Safe_Year-round_134712988.html
Monday, November 28, 2011
Safety barrier regulations explained in time for summer pool safety
by Infolink
Backyard pool safety continues to be a prevalent issue this summer with many pool owners still unaware of safety barrier regulations, and drowning still one of the most common causes of preventable death for children under 5 years of age in Australia.
Essentially, any excavation or structure with the capacity to hold a body of water greater than 300mm, used principally for swimming, wading or paddling, requires a safety barrier. This may include in-ground swimming pools, indoor pools, above-ground pools, jacuzzis, spas, inflatable pools and hot tubs, and excludes fish ponds, bird baths and dams (any structure that is not capable of containing a depth of water greater than 300mm).
The Swimming Pools Act 1992, Swimming Pools Regulation 2008, the Australian Standards 1926.1, Australian Standards 2610.1, and Australian Standards 2610.2 all express that requirements for child-resistant barriers vary according to the location of the pool and when it was built.
Local councils are responsible for enforcing the following regulations and can issue on the spot fines for certain failures to comply:
- If constructed before August 1, 1990, access to the swimming pool from the house must be restricted at all times. Any doors or windows which form part of the pool yard must be kept closed and locked at all times
- Pools built after August 1, 1990 and before July 1, 2010 must be surrounded by a fence which separates the pool from the house. Exemptions apply depending on the size of the property
- With the introduction of the Building Code of Australia 2010, all pools built after July 1, 2010 must be surrounded by a fence which separates the pool from the house. No exemptions apply
Not even a fully compliant barrier system can be considered childproof and proper adult supervision is the key to ensuring the safety of children around a swimming pool or spa area. However, enforcing a consistent inspection system can go along way to preventing injury or death:
- Maintain safety components of gates, doors and windows, including self-closers, latches, flyscreens, catches, and bolts
- Ensure there are no chairs, boxes, pool pumps, tree branches, pot plants, or other objects near the fence that could be used to climb over
- All fences (especially timber paling fences) should be in good repair and non-climbable
- Ensure all gates and doors that provide access to the swimming pool or spa are closed at all times, except when entering or leaving the area
- Neighbours’ properties adjoining a swimming pool should be inspected for potential hazards or climbable objects (where applicable)
28.11.2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
New safety measures at Harpenden Swimming Pool
St Albans City and District Council has installed an underwater camera safety system at Harpenden Swimming Pool as part of ongoing measures to help improve pool safety.
The operation and safety of all Council-owned pools is regularly looked at and it has been decided that to improve systems a PoolView Drowning Prevention System will be installed. This devise is designed to help reduce the risk of injury and drowning.
This technology is in use in many public swimming pools around the country and is gradually becoming a standard pool safety measure. The system uses an underwater camera to relay images to a monitor attached to the lifeguards' chair. It helps the lifeguards to provide an even better service while on poolside and will give swimmers additional peace of mind.
The lifeguards' monitor displays eight underwater views allowing them to observe the full water volume within the pool as part of their normal lifeguarding procedures. As is standard practice, images are protected and managed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
Councillor Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sport, Leisure and Heritage at St Albans City and District Council, said: "As a council, we take the safety and security of our customers very seriously and this new system will help improve safety at Harpenden Swimming Pool by enabling the lifeguards to monitor activity within the pool effectively."
Scott Machen, Contract Manager, at Leisure Connection, the company which manages Harpenden Swimming Pool on behalf of the Council, said: "This new system will give the lifeguards extra visibility on what is happening in the pool and will help them protect customers from any risk of injury or drowning."
A similar pool system will also be installed at the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre which is due to be completed in late 2012.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Swimming Pool Safety Tips!
Water and Swimming Pool Safety Tips
Parents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened, one thing was the same for all these parents: The three tragic seconds that claimed their child's life slid by silently, without warning, and can never be brought back.
Here are steps you can take for guarding children in and around water:
Protection:
- Use layers of barrier protection between children and water to warn and impede:
- A non-climbable four-foot fence that separates the pool/spa from the residence. Opening should be no more than four inches wide so children cannot squeeze through the spaces.
- Self-closing and self-latching fence gates, side gates and doors leading to the pool/spa area, with latches above a child's reach (54 inches high). Gates should open outward.
- Alarms on doors and windows leading to the water, installed about five feet above ground level so that a child cannot reach them.
In addition to these protective devices, routinely follow these practices:
- Maintain all safety devices to ensure they are in good working order.
- Secure and lock all doors, windows and gates leading to the pool/spa area when not in use.
- Drain standing water from pool/spa covers. Remove covers completely before using the pool/spa and replace them immediately after use.
- Never leave toys in or around the pool/spa and place items which can be used for climbing (tables, chairs, planters) away from fences.
For hundreds of other tips, please visit the source by clicking here. http://www.babyguardfence.com/water_safety.php
Friday, November 18, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Comments: 1 reader has left a comment