Pool owners urged to check fences as new figures reveal increase in drownings

New research shows that 87 per cent of pool owners are planning a pool party this summer, but over half haven’t performed proper checks on their pool fences.
Aussie icon and Founder of Kids Alive, Laurie Lawrence, says as we break into summer it’s important that pool fences are up to scratch.
“63 kids drowned in the year 2000 when we started pushing the Kids Alive message,” he said on 6PR Afternoons.
“We got it down to 12, then COVID hit and it was all down hill, and then bang … kids around the home and not able to go swimming lessons (it went) up 108 per cent the drownings for the under fives.
“And the gate’s the weakest link, that’s where they mainly get in, they pull a chair over, lift up the latch and get in that way.”
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