Warm Weather Warning

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29th October 2010, 05:16pm - Views: 1080





Misc Miscellaneous NSW Commission For Children & Young People 1 image

Misc Miscellaneous NSW Commission For Children & Young People 2 image


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Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010

Tel: 02 9286 7276  Fax 02 9286 7267 





















MEDIA RELEASE





29th October 2010


Warm weather warning 


The NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People and Convener of the Child Death

Review Team Ms Megan Mitchell has called for greater community vigilance around

children and backyard swimming pools with the onset of warmer weather in NSW.


The alert follows yesterday’s tabling of the Child Death Review Team 2009 Annual Report

which revealed that seven children drowned in private swimming pools - five incidents

involved either faulty or inappropriate pool fencing, or pool gates being propped open. 

 

“While child deaths overall have been reduced in NSW there remains strong concern about

the number of swimming pool drownings,” Ms Mitchell said.

 

“Seven children drowned in private swimming pools in 2009 with five of the deaths

concerning young children accessing the pool without the knowledge of their carer. 


“There were also issues with the barriers around the pool including faulty pool gate latches,

the absence of pool fencing or inappropriate fencing; or pool gates being propped open. 

 

“These child deaths were preventable and the Child Death Review Team, along with others,

has consistently drawn attention to this issue.  


“In the last three years alone, 22 children have drowned in NSW swimming pools, where

pool fences and pool gates were inadequate.


“That’s a lot of preventable child deaths and the Team has previously recommended  that

local authorities should inspect all swimming pools in their area and monitor compliance

with pool safety legislation. 


“While the Swimming Pools Act 1992 was amended in December last year, the Team has

recommended in yesterday’s annual report that the NSW Government provide local

councils with adequate resources to enable monitoring and compliance against the

requirements of the legislation. 


“Pool fencing provides an environmental barrier but active adult supervision is also

needed,” Ms Mitchell said. 


The Child Death Review Team is an independent panel of experts that investigates the

systemic causes of child deaths in NSW and makes recommendations to prevent or reduce

these deaths.


Media contact:  

Michelle Neathercote

02 9286 7282 or 0413 456 080







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