It’s school holidays and many people are enjoying a dip in the pool.

And as they escape the heat there are new warnings that accidental drowning is the main cause of death in Australian children under five.

Hannah Chapman reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Former Australian swimming coach Laurie Lawrence created the Kids Alive – Do the Five program to prevent child drownings.

Today, the water safety ambassador joined forces with national pool care franchise PoolWerx to educate pool-owners, parents and kids across the country.

Australia has the highest pool ownership per capita in the world but simple safety measures are still ignored.

John O’Brien, CEO of PoolWerx: “Unfortunately there’s a busload of toddlers drowned in backyard swimming pools every year- kids that aren’t going to be with their families this Christmas.”

Information released by Poolwerx today, revealed that an astonishing two thirds of Aussie pool-owners wouldn’t know how to perform CPR in an emergency. An additional 43% don’t have an updated CPR chart.

Pool-owners should make sure their fence is intact and the gate and latch are in working order.

Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive: “Mate, these things are vital if we’re going to get zero preschool drownings in this country.”

He says although it feels like Summer’s come early, it’s never too early to start pool safety plans.

Hannah Chapman, QUT News.