ECEC services encouraged to keep safe around water as weather warms up

The South Australian government has issued a warning about the importance of water safety, particularly around portable water sources such as troughs and portable pools. 

While the warning was specifically for parents, relating to portable pools which may have been gifted for Christmas, it is a pertinent reminder for early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals also. 

Children aged from birth to four years of age represented the highest number of swimming pool drowning deaths in the last 20 years, Jake Culkin from Royal Life Saving SA said. 

Portable pools and other water sources can pose a significant risk for young children, given that children can drown in a small amount of water and that it only takes a few seconds to do so.

Children should never be left unattended around water, and providers and parents are encouraged to follow the SAFE principle:

* Supervise – always stay within arm’s reach of a child while there’s water in the pool

* Act – learn CPR and be emergency ready

* Fence – fence off any pool that’s more than 30 centimetres in depth

* Empty – empty the pool after use and store safely.

More information on pool safety and other safety tips for summer can be found here.