Make your backyard safe and save lives!

National Check Your Pool Gate Month

Backyards pose a major risk to little ones this summer with research revealing 45% of pool owners are unaware if their pool fence and gate complies with Australian fencing standards. *

87% of all swimming pool drowning deaths of children under 5 occur in backyard pools**, so the need to reduce the risk factor by ensuring gates and fences are secure is imperative.

Check Your Pool Gate Month starts on December 1 and as a long-term partner of D&D Technologies, the makers of the Aussie made MagnaLatch®, Kids Alive is calling on all pool owners to be more diligent and conduct a safety check today.

It is easy to do and only takes 5 minutes to check your gate complies. Visit www.checkyourpoolgate.com.au and download the Sense Of Summer guide. This provides you with all the safety knowhow for your fence and gate, but also some great ideas for having more fun with the family this Christmas. Think craft, cooking, games and more!

Check Your Pool Gate Month is all part of a concerted effort to reduce pool drowning in the most vulnerable under-fives by creating safer backyard swimming pools and making it harder for children to gain access.

12 little ones lost their lives last year, 50% in backyard pools and we believe more can be done to prevent these statistics and get closer to our goal of zero drownings.

D&D Technologies did some research and a third (34%) of pool owners claimed they had never checked the safety of their gate and fence, along with 42% unaware of the correct fence safety gate hardware to be utilised.

Visit checkyourpoolgate.com.au .

D&D Technologies’ safety checklist for pool gates

• Gate should open outwards, away from the pool
• Latch release knob should be at least 1500mm above ground level
• Gate must be self-closing and self-latching
• Gate hinges should be rust-free and bind-free
• Gate should carry reliable, tension-adjustable hinges
• Latch must be adjustable for height and width.
• Hinges must be adjustable for closing tension.
• Latch cannot be key locked in the “open” position
• Latch cannot be disengaged using implements
• Gate latch cannot be shaken or jolted open
• Gate will shut securely from any open angle or force
• Gate complies with all Australian Standards for pool safety

*Royal Life Saving Australia – National Drowning Report 2020

**Royal Life Saving Australia – NSW Child Drowning Report: A 15-year analysis of causal factors for drowning of children under 5 years in private swimming pools 2002/03-2016/17