Safety first near the spa pool

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 20

Safety first near the spa pool

Water fascinates young children. It becomes a mag: net and eagerly they will lean forward to touch. Their head becomes too heavy for their body and they tumble forward, in a. perfect somersault. There is no splash and no cry for help because the child ddes; riot ' 'realise the immediate -’danger. Many child dfownings occur in . this manner quickly and with little noise. . The. old adage “prevention is better than cure" applies to water, safety. Children I ', can be .'taught water confidence and to enjoy playing in water. Many young babies are now taken into the swimming pool with their parents and learn the basic skill of floating. This does not mean the child is safe alone in the water and there should beconstant adult supervision. Adhering to these principles is fine, but; unfortunately,' pool owners must ‘ also take the responsibility ; . for other children -in . the j neighbourhood. The firm of Duncan Grey/ Ltd,, has been in the pool industry for’the last 14 years.v'

This experience has led to a company policy of demanding that intending spa or pool owners install adequate fencing. • ■ ’ The managing director, Mr Trevor Ballard, maintains that' the minimum fencing requirement should be 1.8 metres. Although initially;this demand sounds as if the owner ■must barricade the " pool from .sight, .it is. nqi' as imposing as at first considered. “There is not a situation where, with careful planning and attention, the pool cannot be fenced attractively," Mr Ballard says. • Other requirements pool owners should be careful to consider are that the fence cannot be climbed easily and that any gate should be able to be locked. “Locking the gate should be a habit,” according to Mr Ballard. If the gate is merely shut, children can still find their own way in to the pool. Pool owners should not be ''lulled into a false sense of (■security because there is a cover over the pool. . A. pool cover is not a safety coyer.