Safe pools

There are more than 300,000 residential pools in Queensland. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children aged under five in Queensland. It’s important to ensure all pools are safe.

Follow the ABC of pool safety

Always supervise your toddlers near a pool.

Begin swimming lessons for your toddlers.

Close the pool gate and keep your fence maintained.

The importance of fencing

Approximately six toddlers drown in Queensland swimming pools every year. Almost all swimming pool drownings are preventable.

In the decade from 1992 - 2001, 73 children aged under five years drowned in residential swimming pools in Queensland.

• 21% drowned because the pool was not fenced
• 46% drowned because they gained access through the fence (that is, the gate was defective, or the gate was propped open)
• 13% drowned because they gained access through defective house doors (in three-sided fencing permitted for pools approved prior to 1991)

For information on pool fencing laws or enforcement in your neighbourhood, contact your local council.