Water safety
Child drownings in Queensland swimming pools are the most common cause of non-accidental death for children aged 1–4 years. Drownings can occur in places other than the backyard swimming pool—at aquatic centres and water parks, irrigation channels, dams, rivers, creeks, streams, drains, spas, water fountains, fish ponds, and at the beach. For very young children, drownings can also occur in bathtubs, buckets, eskies, inflatable pools and pet bowls.
Children need to be continuously and actively supervised when they are in, on or around the water. For children under 5 years, and for older children who cannot swim, they need to be within (and stay within) arm’s length of an adult who is actively supervising them. If you leave the pool area, take the child with you. You should also:
- check regularly that pool safety gates continue to self-close and latch securely
- check for water dangers in your surroundings, such as open drains
- empty inflatable pools, buckets, eskies and other items that contain water, and place away from reach
- ensure that when a child first comes to your home, you teach them water safety rules and enforce ‘go and no-go’ zones
- establish a child-safe play area, particularly if you live in a rural environment
- arrange designated adult supervisors when there are a group of children in or near water areas, to ensure that at least 1 adult has eyes on children at all times
- talk to your Child Safety Officer about the child’s enrolment in a water familiarisation or swim program
- talk to your agency support worker about attending the carer training module on ‘Water safety: Keeping our children safe in and around water’.
Pool safety
All pools and spas in Queensland must be fenced and registered on the pool safety register. If your pool isn’t registered you can be fined. Register your pool or spa online or by phoning the Queensland Building and Construction Commission on 139 333.
Find out more about pool safety requirements and pool safety tips.
Beach safety
Find information on swimming between the flags and what do you if you’re caught in a rip.