Making your pool 'cool'

It’s that time of year. The weather is warming up (slowly but surely) and it’s the perfect time to enjoy some time lazing by the beach or the pool.

Portable pools are often a popular Christmas present - easily dismantled at the end of summer, or taken with us when we move.

They’re also a far cheaper alternative to a below ground option and will still keep the kids entertained for hours!

But, did you know that there are safety regulations for inflatable or portable pools, just like there is for below ground pools?

Tips to make your pool SAFE

All bodies of water pose a safety risk, particularly to our young ones who are curious and often inexperienced in water safety.

Water doesn’t have to be deep for an incident to occur.

The Make it SAFE campaign has been developed by Royal Life Saving and various consumer affairs agencies across the country.

The campaign provides a simple checklist to help make your pool safe.

Supervise – as soon as the pool is full, make sure you are actively watching any child in the pool, at all times.

Act – Educate yourself on how to treat a child in the event of a drowning incident, including CPR procedures.

Fence – ensure any pool (including portable ones) deeper than 300mm is fenced.

Empty – empty water, deflate and store pools when they’re not being used.

What to think about when buying a portable pool

If the pool is deeper than 300mm, you’re legally required to have fencing around it to keep it secure and safe not only for your children, but any others that may be visiting over the summer period.

In WA, consumer laws also require all portable pools come with a warning label. If the pool you have purchased did not come with a warning label this should be reported to Consumer Protection.

More information on these regulations and appropriate fencing can be found via the City of Busselton website. The Department of Commerce also have a great fact sheet on rules for portable pools.

For more information on making your portable pool safe, you can also check out the sources below.

Sources:

Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety, updated 20 October 2016, Department of Commerce, Rules for Pools and Spas. 27 November 2018, https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/rules-pools-and-spas

Don't Duck Out, Make it Safe. A guide for Portable Pool buyers. Australian Consumer Law & Royal Life Saving Australia. 26 November 2018, http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/atoms/files/dont-duck-out-portable-pools.pdf