Lifeguards are not babysitters!: Watch Around Water launches new website

With the continued development of the Watch Around Water initiative in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, the program has launched a new website.

According to a Watch Around Water statement, with the "potential to eventually become a truly national program there was a need for a stand-alone website.

"With the involvement of the Recreation SA, Life Saving Victoria, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria and of course LIWA Aquatics and Royal Life Saving Society - Western Australia, the project has now been completed.

"The potential for the site is enormous and will lead to a great communication method for program users to post their problems, solutions and ideas for the ongoing development of Watch Around Water."

The program also has a Watch Around Water Facebook page.

On the website it states "supervision of young children at aquatic facilities has been an issue of concern among the aquatics industry for many years. There is often a misconception by parents that the supervision of young children is the sole responsibility of lifeguards. Lifeguards are not babysitters!

"Watch Around Water is an industry driven program that contributes significantly to ensuring the safety and reducing risk in public swimming pools. It provides a consistent message in line with best practice to the public about effective supervision of young children at public pools and demonstrates that the aquatics industry is organised and takes their responsibility for patron safety seriously."

It promotes the following safe supervision policies (minimum standard):

• Children under 5 years must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible adult over 16 years of age and supervised at arm's reach at all times.
• Children under 10 years must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible adult over 16 years and supervised at all times.

While Watch Around Water expands, confusion arises within the industry over its two programs covering supervision of young children at aquatic facilities. For some years Watch Around Water (backed by LIWA Aquatics and Royal Life Saving Society - Western Australia) has been in competition with the Royal Life Saving Society Australia's Keep Watch @ Public Pools program.

For more information go to www.watcharoundwater.org.au 

17th August 2011 - WA LAUNCHES SWIMMING POOL WATER OPTIMISATION CALCULATOR 

31st May 2011 - RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION IN AUSTRALIAN CHILD DROWNINGS

27th May 2011 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND VICTORIA BACK WA’S WATCH AROUND WATER CAMPAIGN

23rd May 2011 - NT DROWNING HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR WATCH AROUND WATER 

11th November 2009 - DROWNING SPARKS CALL FOR NATIONAL WATER SAFETY PROGRAM 

17th April 2009 - HORROR WEEK LEADS TO WATER SAFETY PLEA