People should continue to help keep kids safe around water on residential properties as the region experiences high heat temperatures this summer.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) and Life Saving Victoria regional leaders joined Surf Coast Shire Council to urge people to ensure backyard pools and spas are equipped with certified safety barriers.
AV senior team manager Andrew Kimberley said 92 children aged 4 or younger drowned in swimming pools between 2014 and 2024, with 37 per cent of deaths occurring between December and February.
“Drowning in home pools often occurs silently and without warning after accidental falls, with children aged under 4 most at risk,” she said.
“Always supervise children near water. Ensure your pool fence is secure, with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and learn CPR in case of an emergency.”
Mayor Mike Bodsworth said there were more than 2500 known pools in the Surf Coast Shire and that “tragic history” showed that carelessness around safety barriers and gates could cost young lives.
“We want pool and spa owners to be proud of their safe and certified barriers, and the bottom line remains, always supervise children near water,” he said.
“The state government regulations are in place for that reason, and the responsibility sits with owners to register their pools and spas with council and meet the safety barrier requirements.”
All pool and spa owners are required by law to have a barrier compliance certificate issued every four years by a private inspector to maintain safety standards.
Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/PoolsSpas or call 5261 0600 for more information about pool registrations and barrier certifications.
