Portable pools can pose a safety risk, especially for children under the age of five. Even in a small portable pool with very little water, it only takes seconds for a child to drown.
Inflatable and portable pools can present a danger as they are not usually fenced and may not be completely emptied after use. Pool fencing laws apply to pools, including portable pools 300mm deep or more.
Drowning can occur when adults are distracted (for instance, using handheld electronic devices, answering a phone call or hanging out the laundry), or mistakenly thinking someone else is supervising their child.
Adults should always actively supervise children from within arm's reach when they are in and around the water. You should not rely on older children to supervise younger children, no matter how confident you are about their ability to supervise the younger child.
Make It Safe
Royal Life Saving and consumer affairs agencies across Australia have developed the Make It Safe campaign to help you be aware of the dangers and follow some simple safety steps, like active supervision of kids in and around portable pools. Two portable pool safety fact sheets have been developed to help consumers be aware of the dangers and enjoy their pools safely.
Safety Standards
Mandatory standard have been introduced to address the safety risks and ultimately protect consumers.