Be a superhero to your kids, says new council pool campaign
The City of Canterbury Bankstown has launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging parents and carers to be their child’s superhero this summer, by activating their "super-vision" when visiting leisure and aquatic centres.
The campaign is focused on ensuring parents know they are primarily responsible for their child’s safety when at a local pool, and reiterating the role of lifeguards.
“Lifeguards are an important safety feature at our centres, but they do not replace the close and active supervision of parents/guardians,” says City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour.
“Not all superheroes wear capes and that is what we want to try and emphasise with this campaign, that parents and carers play a vital role in protecting their children from drowning.
“We want kids to know they will be kept safe because they have their own “superhero” looking out for them at all times.”
Startling statistics
Asfour says the startling statistics around drowning was a large factor in kick-starting the campaign.
“It only takes seconds for a child to drown. Not one minute, not ten minutes, seconds,” he says.
“According to the Royal Life Saving Society, drowning is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five, and a lack of direct supervision by a parent of carer is believed to be a contributing factor in 70 per cent of all drowning deaths at public pools.”
Over the past 25 years, 965 children under the age of five have died from drowning.
“That’s 965 lives gone in a flash, and thousands more family and friends’ lives ruined,” he said.
Getting involved
In order to prevent these harrowing statistics rising, Asfour is hoping the community will play their part in this campaign.
“It’s a great campaign, which we hope will encourage parents/guardians and their children to have some fun with – while staying swim smart and swim safe of course,” he says.
“You will see life-size superhero cut-outs at our leisure and aquatic centres for parents and children to have their photo taken with, and we will be giving away 300 limited edition red towels with the “Super Vision” theme.
“To get your hands on one of these towels, all you have to do is like our City of Canterbury Bankstown Leisure and Aquatics Facebook page and share our hashtag #KeepMeSafe video.”
Council’s “Super Vision” campaign complements its Keep Watch @ Public Pools Policy, which is:
- For 0-5 year olds and non-swimmers, a parent or guardian must be in the water at all times (within arm’s reach) of the child;
- For 6-10 year olds, a parent should be close enough to make eye contact with the child; and
- For 11-14 year olds, a parent must regularly check on their child by physically going to the point where they are in or around the water.
For more information on Council’s Leisure and Aquatic Supervision campaign, go to cb.city/leisure.
