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Have a ‘pool person’ for safe swim

Catherine MasseyBusselton Dunsborough Times
Abigail-Jayne Carse sporting the ‘Responsible Pool Person’ hat to manage water safety with no distractions.
Camera IconAbigail-Jayne Carse sporting the ‘Responsible Pool Person’ hat to manage water safety with no distractions.

With 39 water-related deaths in Australia this summer, Busselton residents have been urged to adopt a new safety measure.

The new campaign by Poolwerx urges people to nominate a “responsible pool person” at every poolside event this summer to manage water safety with no distractions.

The campaign has emerged after one in five parents admitted to being distracted by their phone when supervising young swimmers.

Former Olympic swim coach Laurie Lawrence backed the campaign and said it was important never to be complacent around the pool.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the number of swimming lessons young children have participated in ... causing their confidence in and around the water to drop,” he said.

People can collect a free “Responsible Pool Person” hat from Poolwerx stores to pledge safety as the No.1 priority around the pool.

“With 248 Australian lives tragically lost in 2020 due to drowning, we all need to be diligent in keeping our pools safer this summer,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Poolwerx’s Responsible Pool Person campaign helps ensure someone is always supervising, without any distractions.”

Poolwerx’s top pool safety tips include nominating a responsible pool person, ensuring the pool is safe and secure, reducing distractions, and maintaining water health.

Poolwerx chief executive John O’Brien said drowning was still the No.1 cause of preventable death in children under five.

“It takes just a few seconds for something tragic to occur,” Mr O’Brien said.

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