POOLSAFE

Publicity surrounding an investigation into the drowning of a three-year-old boy at the Waingaro Hot Spring in 2002 has once again highlighted the need for facilities to be ACC PoolSafe accredited.

Recently, Huntley coroner Bob McDermott released his findings after the inquest into the death of Aranui Rawiri.  New Zealand Recreation Association and Water Safety New Zealand were requested by the Police to conduct an investigation into the incident.  Mr McDermott’s recommendations were:

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Court recommends that Waingaro Hot Springs address and meet the criteria to become an accredited PoolSafe facility within three months of the Coroner’s Inquest findings dated 9th day of October 2006.

2. The Waikato District Council review its lease agreement with Mr and Mrs Singh and include a requirement for the Waingaro Hot Springs to attain and maintain ACC PoolSafe Accreditation.

3. That the Government give urgent attention to passing legislation and/or regulations to require public pools to belong to the “PoolSafe” regime.

4. That OSH review their procedures, if they have not already done so, so that there are no serious delays in furnishing their report as has happened in this case and liaise with Water Safety New Zealand in all reported drownings and near drownings.

The ACC PoolSafe Quality Management Scheme (QMS) is an independent assessment of public pools to ensure their operations and facilities are safe. The QMS assessment criteria includes; Supervision standards, Lifeguard qualification and training, Water Quality and Health and Safety. QMS is valid for two years and recognizes a facility’s ability to deliver these services to a national standard.

Click on the link for more information on the ACC PoolSafe QMS

ALWAYS SUPERVISE CHILDREN NEAR WATER ALWAYS!

Summer means outdoors, play and water for New Zealand children. Hopefully all three of those factors don’t combine to produce an unfortunate drowning incident. Read the latest WSNZ editorial for parents and caregivers of small children.

Water is an attraction to children all year round. Children, especially infants and toddlers are drawn to it. Water can mesmerise, as it combines with the reflection of sunlight or with objects that may be floating on the top. Along with it being a fun and enjoyable play experience, it can also be a potentially dangerous and lethal combination when a lack of supervision exists.

Throughout the year, regardless of season, water hazards exist around the home, with the most common found in the form of the bath and home swimming pools. Every year in New Zealand an average of two children drown in the bath, whilst a further four drown in a home swimming pool. The typical and most common denominator with all drownings of small children is a lack of adequate or appropriate supervision from parents and caregivers.

New Zealand does not have a good drowning record. When compared to other countries in the developed world. This is exacerbated when compared directly with the likes of Australia or the USA who’s drowning toll pales into comparison when you consider the fact that New Zealand children drown at twice the rate of these other countries on a per capita basis.

Sadly for parents the loss of a small child to drowning is of course tragic, and fraught with guilt. The decision to leave a small child alone in and around water or in the care of older siblings is a fatal mistake. Even a minute to answer the phone; attend to clothes or dinner can be enough for baby or child to slip away and make their way into or under the water.

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is endeavouring to educate parents or caregivers on the following points to aid in efforts to reduce drowning in New Zealand. This project encompasses a partnership approach and incorporates the expertise of Plunket, Safekids, New Zealand Recreation Association and New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.

• Drowning is silent

• Drowning takes around two minutes

• Drowning can be easily prevented through active and positive approaches to safety and skill development

WSNZ has developed the Under 5 WaterWise project to specifically target the problem of infant, toddler and early childhood drownings in New Zealand.

WSNZ endorses a positive approach to water safety. This includes encouraging parents to become more involved with their children’s aquatic experiences, be it in the bath or at the local swimming pool.

A positive introduction to water is something that all New Zealand children have the opportunity to gain. WSNZ, with the support of ACC and the Todd Foundation have developed education kits for Early Childhood Education Centres and Kohanga Reo to assist children learning about safer play with water. A valuable component of this resource is the take home information for parents.

There should never be questions asked when it comes to child safety, least of all around water. The threat of water hazards both within the home and beyond, need to be constantly managed. Small children have neither the ability nor the knowledge required to make a decision about their own safety. This responsibility lies with the parent or caregiver and can be simply done by:

• Maintaining hand contact at all times while bathing an infant

• Leaving household duties such as cooking, cleaning and answering the phone until bath time is over

• Emptying the bath as soon as the child is out

Important water safety rules need to be cued, promoted, reinforced and discussed where relevant and applicable to ensure additional preventive measures are taken on top of supervision, these may include:

1. Only play with water when parent or caregiver are present

2. Only entering the water with a parent or caregiver

3. Only entering the water whilst wearing appropriate swimming nappies or costumes (swimming pools)

One of the most positive experiences for a child is a simple visit to the local swimming pool with family. The comfort and reassurance that the family bond provides along with trust placed in parent-child relationships mean that a regular trip to the pool can be a valuable bonding tool as well as enhancing confidence and understanding in the water.

By providing a positive aquatic experience from a young age, children are more likely to develop water safety skills that will lead on to learning to swim and thereby ultimately reducing New Zealand’s devastating drowning toll.

For further information contact Water Safety New Zealand by phone on 04 801 9600 or email  wsnz@watersafety.org.nz

A new Standard (released 24 November 2006), will help to prevent children from drowning in swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.

The Standard “Safety barriers for young children around swimming pools, spas and hot tubs” provides clear guidance for the design and construction of safety barriers to restrict young children’s access to swimming pools, says Ian Godfrey, the Chair of the Committee which developed the Standard and Senior Building Advisor at Manukau City Council.

“The Standard sets out the layers of protective barriers such as fences, retaining walls and doors which will help to keep children safe.”

Drowning among one to four year olds is most prevalent in home swimming pools, according to a major report last year, and New Zealand has the highest rate of youth drowning among OECD countries.

Government will be able to consider using the Standard as a replacement for the Schedule in the Fencing of Swimming Pool Act 1987 by way of an amendment to the Act. The Department of Building and Housing administers the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act and it is expected that the Department will make recommendations to Government for amendments to the Act in the near future.

The Standard aims to address the lack of clarity and other outstanding issues in the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987, which does not give clear enough guidelines around construction of safety barriers or permit the ready use of new technologies, says Ian.

“While the fencing of swimming pools is addressed in both the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act and the Building Code, pool owners and territorial authorities wanted clearer directions to achieve compliance with safety obligations. The national Standard will give pool owners a better understanding of their responsibilities to ensure the safety of children,” says Ian.

It is expected that users of the Standard will include pool owners, tenants, architects, designers, pool and spa manufacturers and local authorities.

“We urge all existing and future pool owners, users and members of the pool building industry to make use of this Standard in a bid to reduce drownings of our very youngest New Zealanders,” says Ian.

The pool Standard was jointly funded by the Department of Building and Housing, Water Safety New Zealand and the Accident Compensation Corporation.

The committee which developed the Standard included representatives from: water safety and child safety organisations, Plunket, pool and spa manufacturers, councils, architects, designers, BRANZ (Building Research Association New Zealand) Limited and the Department of Building and Housing.

Expressions of interest are now called for from those wishing to submit abstracts for presenting at the WABC 2007 in Wellington.

The World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) 2007 will be held in at Te Papa in Wellington, 6-8 October 2007. The WABC 2007 presents

The theme of the conference is He Oranga tō te Wai - Water Is Life.

The age range of outcome related material is birth up to 36 months of age. It is expected that all delegates will have an interest/focus on this age group in their practice, research or application.

In 2005, 250 delegates attended the conference in Sweden, all ranging in origin from America, Asia, South America, Africa, Europe and Australasia.

The WABC 2007 will encourage thought, critical thinking and questioning of ones present and future practice within the area of infant and toddler aquatics. WSNZ wishes to display and showcase exemplary practice and thinking in order to achieve the above.

Should you be interested in submitting an abstract for consideration, visit the WABC 2007 website www.wabc2007.org.nz and complete the Expression of Interest form before 31 January 2007.