New child supervision rules introduced for Orange Aquatic Centre

Orange Aquatic Centre is introducing stronger supervision requirements for parents and carers to address concerns regarding the active supervision of children at the facility.

From tomorrow (1st July), parents and carers must accompany children aged under five in the water and be within arm’s reach at all times, to align with Royal Life Saving Australia's Keep Watch at Public Pools safety program.

Noting that children under five were most at risk of drowning in public pools, Orange City Council’s Sport and Recreation Committee Chair, Councillor Tammy Greenhalgh stated "dDrowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children aged under five and almost half of all injuries recorded at public swimming pools involves children, often because a parent has been distracted.

“A strong commitment to child supervision assists aquatic staff to provide a safe centre for all users and raises awareness of the dangers of distraction for parents and carers.”

While the pool maintains high ratios of lifeguards, Councillor Greenhalgh said they were a backup in case of emergency, not a substitute for parental supervision, adding “in public pools, distractions are everywhere, but your child needs your full attention. Your presence, within arm’s reach, saves lives. Drowning in young children is silent and fast, and can happen in as little as 20 seconds."

Royal Life Saving Australia’s Keep Watch requirements are:

0-5 years old: Be in the water and stay within arm’s reach
6-10 years old: Be close, be prepared and maintain constant visual contact
11-14 years old: Maintain visual contact.