Sadly backyard pool drownings happen all year round. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in very young children in NSW.
That’s why Royal Life Saving New South Wales and the NSW Government are working together on the ‘Be Pool Safe’ campaign.
The Blue Mountains Gazette has teamed up with this campaign to raise critical awareness.
Our newspaper is giving you the chance to win some great prize packs valued at $120.
Each special prize pack includes a CPR Pool Chart, a Resuscitation Pocket Mask and First Aid Kit.
The message is simple. If you are buying, selling or leasing a property that has a swimming pool or spa, laws have changed. From April 29, you must have either a relevant occupation certificate; a certificate of compliance; or a certificate of non-compliance issued from the NSW Swimming Pool Register.
It’s a critical item you have to have by law. All the details can be found at swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au.
David Macallister from Royal Life Saving NSW and Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole, said it is vital people realise up to 95 per cent of pools fail their inspection first time. Most of the issues are to do with fencing or pool gates.
It is very concerning to know that Royal Life Saving estimates, if the NSW community simply ensured pool gates closed properly in the first place, we would immediately halve the number of young people who drown.
Mr Toole said figures show in the past 13 years in NSW there have been 83 deaths in backyard swimming pools and a further 80 children have suffered neurological damage because of immersion in a pool.
The whole point is, people need to realise if you are selling, buying or leasing a property with a swimming pool, laws have changed. Get all the full details immediately by visiting swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au
Mr Macallister said we can all work together to create a change for the better and to stop tragedies happening. To try and win one of our special prize packs, write your name, address and daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and send it to Life Saving Competition, BMG, 274 Macquarie Road, Springwood 2777. Entries close XXXXXX
