Swim safe this summer with Poolwerx' checklist

Poolwerx is promoting its Summer Safety Checklist to help Australians remain safe around water this summer.

The simple three-step system encourages pool-goers to secure their gates and fences; learn vital swimming skills, CPR, and emergency action plans; and watch your friends’ and family’s back while around water.

CEO Nic Brill says that even if it appears to be common knowledge, the easy protocols should be revisited and memorised to help put an end to preventable backyard drownings, especially as Royal Life Saving figures show 29 people drowned in a pool over the past 12 months.

“Spending time by the water is part of the fabric of our Australian summers, so we need to ensure that everyone, not just parents with young children, are setting themselves up for a joyful end to the year, not a tragic one,” he says.

“One in seven Australians live in a house with a swimming pool or spa, so it’s crucial that we stop and educate ourselves on how to safely enjoy these pastimes as we head into the swimming season.

“It’s not just children who are at risk around water–recent stats show us that adults, particularly those aged over 45, accounted for almost 60 per cent of drownings—so this checklist provides steps towards a safer summer for all Australians.”

A recent study has revealed there is a 17 per cent greater risk of drowning during heatwaves, with swimming and bathing-related incidents showing a particularly alarming 28 per cent increase compared to non-heatwave days.

Caption: Poolwerx ambassador Libby Trickett