Fence your swimming pool or spa - Safety barriers are the single most effective structure to prevent your child from drowning. Kidsafe recommends that you install an isolation fence around your pool or spa - This means a fence that completely surrounds your pool or spa to isolate it from your house and child's play area. Check the safety barrier regularly - All fences, gates and locks should be checked regularly to ensure that they are working correctly. Remove all climbable objects - Any object that your child could use to climb over the pool fence or gate, including tree limbs, bicycles, chairs or rubbish bins, should be immediately removed. There is no substitute for adult supervision of children.
Children drown quickly and silently - even in as little as five centimetres of water.
Do not expect older children to look after your toddlers, especially near water. When supervising your child, ensure that you have an uninterrupted view of the pool or spa area. If you must leave the area for any reason, take your child with you. Never leave your child unattended or in the care of an older child in the bath. Take your child with you if you have to answer the door or the telephone.