All cool in the pool

By Justin Robertson
PARENTS supervise, lifeguards save lives.
That’s the motto Cardinia Life are pushing as they rolled out their Watch Around Water campaign last week.
The new water safety program means children under five years old must be constantly supervised and remain within arms reach of a parent or guardian; children under 13 years of age have to be accompanied to the pool and parents must have a clear view of the child.
Operations director Ian Jenkins said safety of the kids that use the pool is of high priority.
A pilot program launched by Life Saving Victoria in 2008, operated in 15 registered aquatic facilities throughout Victoria for a 12-month period. Manager surveys were collated during that time and an evaluation report found “supervision” was the key factor in preventing young children drowning.
According to Lifesaving Victoria there is an average of one drowning death in Victoria per year.
“Personally, I find this concerning when you consider this is purely in aquatic facilities which have qualified lifeguards,” Mr Jenkins said.
“It indicates the importance of the parents providing personal supervision.”
Between 1997 and 2003 there was nine drown-ing deaths in public facilities in Victoria, with most of these involving child-ren younger than 12 years of age.
Research has indicated that 142 injuries occur per 100,000 pool visits.
“Parents need to understand that lifeguards provide professional supervision and parents provide personal supervision,” he said.