Keep Watch at Public Pools Program
Royal Life Saving have maintained and developed the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation (the GSPO) since 1992. The GSPO is a set of detailed specifications and recommendations establishing best practice design and operations of aquatic locations nationwide.
Under a variety of legal standards and frameworks, facility designers, owners and operators are charged with the responsibility of ensuring public and worker health and safety arising from the business and/or undertaking of aquatic facilities and their activities.
Although published by Royal Life Saving, the GSPO represents the collective opinion of the aquatic industry across Australia, through an extensive and consultative development and review process undertaken by the National Aquatic Industry Committee (NAIC). As such, the GSPO is written and authorised for industry by industry – leveraging a formal network of collaborators both nationally and internationally.
All aquatic facility designers, owners and operators are strongly recommended to access and have an understanding of the GSPO in order to meet their obligations under the respective state and/or territory health and safety legislation.
All About Aquatics (Int) Ltd Pty has access to the GSPO in its operation of pools and meet their obligations for the management of Quilpie Shire Council facilities.”
Royal Life Saving is targeting high-risk areas for toddler drowning deaths such as public pools.
Key risk factors include:
- A lack of active supervision by parents or carers of children
- A lack of swimming and water safety skills
With lack of direct supervision by a parent or carer believed to be a contributing factor in 70% of all drowning deaths at public pools, the Keep Watch at Public Pools program aims to eliminate all drowning deaths and reduce the number of near drowning incidents at these facilities.
What is active supervision at Public Pools?
Active supervision at public pools consists of four key elements:
Be Prepared: Ensure you have everything you need before getting into the water, such as towels and dry clothes.
Be Close: Always be within arms’ reach of your child.
All of Your Attention: Focus all of your attention on your child and get into the pool and talk and play with them.
All of the Time: You should never leave your child alone in the water, nor should they be left in the care of an older child or with the assumption that your responsibility diminishes due to the presence of lifeguards.
The Keep Watch program is proudly supported by the Australian Government.
