Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month ambassador Laurie Lawrence wants to keep Kids Alive

An iconic Townsville swim coach has expressed alarm after a quarter of families admitted their children had gained unsupervised access to their pools.

Iconic former Townsville swimming coach Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and ambassador of Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month. The former Wallaby has represented Australia in World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games as a swim coach. Picture: Supplied

An iconic Townsville swimming coach has expressed alarm at a new report that shows that nearly a quarter of Australian families had admitted that their children had gained unsupervised access to their pools.

Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and ambassador of Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month, said that of major concern was the fact that nearly a third of families have experienced a pool-related injury or emergency.

He stressed the importance of constant supervision and pool-gate maintenance ahead of the start of peak drowning season.

“I was shocked to discover nearly half of parents have left children unattended in the pool to complete quick chores,” he said.

The world-class former swim coach and Australian rugby representative said it was a no-brainer that leaving a child unsupervised significantly increased the risk of accidents.

“Supervision is a drowning prevention method that parents really can’t overlook,” he said.

“These statistics are a stark reminder of the dangers of complacency in pool safety.”

The new report released as part of Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month, a partnership between D&D Technologies and Kids Alive, underscores the need for increased pool safety with 55 per cent of pool owners admitting to propping open their pool gates when children are in the pool or during social gatherings.

It also reveals 20 per cent of parents let their children swim unsupervised, and a quarter of families admit their children have gained unsupervised access to their pools.

Iconic former Townsville swimming coach Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and ambassador of Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month. He says he was shocked to discover nearly half of parents left children unattended in the pool to complete quick chores. Picture: Supplied

Mr Lawrence said that adding to the concerns, close to a third of pool owners had faced issues with pool gates not closing properly with nearly half of those families taking more than a month to fix the “critical safety issue”.

“Ensuring that pool gates function correctly and are never left open can be the difference between safety and tragedy,” he said.

“Regular checks and immediate repairs are non-negotiable: A pool gate should never be propped open under any circumstance.”

Daughter Emma Lawrence, operations director of Kids Alive, said she was concerned about the number of children gaining access to pools unsupervised.

“A quarter of families said there was an incident of children accessing their pools unsupervised, yet 30 per cent of pool owners did not have the highest safety standards in place; with no lock or alarm on the pool gate,” she said.

“With nearly a third of families already experiencing a pool-related injury or emergency it is understandable parents are worried.”

In 2022, 16 children aged under five years drowned.

Queensland mum Deb Herde said a “child drowning is something that never leaves you”.

“There is no panic or big splashes to warn you something is wrong,” she said.

“It is all over before anyone realises a child is missing.”

She said that when she was younger a neighbour lost their young child after a gate was propped open at a party.

“That dread and pain the family went through has never left me.

“A family is changed forever by such a traumatic event.”

Iconic former Townsville swimming coach Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and ambassador of Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month. He has stressed the importance of constant supervision and pool-gate maintenance as the summer party season approaches. Picture: Supplied

Common pool gate requirements:

• Pool fencing Standards, Codes and Regulations vary from region to region. Before installing pool gates and fences check with the local authorities in your area to ensure that you comply with local requirements

• Pool gates and fences should be made with the most durable materials. They should be sturdy and free from damage, cracks or holes that might exist within the structure

• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and open outward, away from the pool

• Gates and fences should be at least 1.2m above the ground-fixing surface, and the gate latch release mechanism should be at least 1.5m above the ground-fixing surface

• Pool gates and fences should not present footholds or climbing opportunities to children under 5 years. Vertical or horizontal air gaps between the pickets, balusters, palings and glass panels should not exceed 100mm at any point

• Latches cannot be opened using implements, shaken/jolted open or key locked in the “open” position and latched from any position, including from resting on the latching mechanism

• Never prop open a pool gate. Make sure the gate latch remains in proper alignment in order for it to latch securely when the gate closes every time

Originally published as Check-Your-Pool-Gate Month ambassador Laurie Lawrence wants to keep Kids Alive