How to stay safe
If you are holding a children's pool party, there are some important things to consider. It is helpful to establish some rules for the party (eg, no running, no pushing) and discuss these with the children before they are allowed to enter the water. The children at the party will not be familiar with your pool, so explain the layout of the pool to them.
A designated child supervisor is needed, possibly more than one if there is a large group of children present. The supervisor should wear a Keep Watch ‘Designated Child Supervisor’ hat. If the supervisor needs to leave the pool area for any reason, the hat must be passed onto another adult who will then assume responsibility for supervising the children.
Different children have different swimming abilities. Make sure you understand who the swimmers and non-swimmers are within the group.
An emergency plan should be in place in case a child gets into difficulty. This involves:
- Calling 000
- Starting CPR
- Supervision of the other children
Related links and resources
- NSW Child Drowning Report: A 15-year analysis of causal factors for drowning of children under 5 years in private swimming pools 2002/03-2016/17
- Causes of distraction leading to supervision lapses in cases of fatal drowning of children 0 to 4 years in Australia: A 15‐year review
Other links
- Keep Watch campaign page
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- Backyard pool image with children
