Family Life

pool fencing this summer

eccohardware pool fencing

This is a sponsored post

When I was growing up, one of my fondest memories was playing in the pool with my dad. He would throw us up really high. Really high. We would sit on his shoulders, stand on his shoulders, jump off him and climb on him. My poor Dad, but he loved it too. For my brother and I it was the best fun ever.

We lived in our pool and by our pool in the warmer Sydney months. It was that perfect outdoor setting of the pool, the garden and the alfresco. When we travelled up north for holidays, a pool was always included. Pools were a part of my childhood. A big part.

While Melbourne these days does not offer the most glorious pool weather, tradition is repeating itself. We still travel north for holidays, always being by a pool. We splash, Dadda throws the kids high up in the air, they swim, we swim, we dive and just simply have fun.

It gives me goosebumps every time I hear a tragic story of a little life lost by the pool. Such a joyful and exciting place can also be the most deadly and scariest of places. I get chills. My heart aches. And I would be lying if I told you that I was not forever checking those back doors and pool fencing locks on every holiday house we travel too. Constantly.

It seems so simple.

A report released by the Royal Life Saving Society says 31 children under the age of five died in waterways, pools and bathtubs in the 12 months to July this year.

That is a 50 per cent increase on the previous report.

In half of the 31 cases, children either drowned in an unfenced pool or accessed one because of a faulty or propped-open gate.

This is scary. Too scary.

eccohardware pool fencing

So what can you do to help keep kids safe around water this Summer?

1. Don’t assume that kids that can swim are immune from drowning. Anything can happen around water. Don’t be complacent.

2. Enrol your children into swimming lessons – Come January, both my kids will be having swimming lessons. While the big girl has her lesson (being 3 and a half, she is not assisted by us), with I or my hubby will be in the water with the Little Man.

3. Don’t turn your back for a second. If you didn’t know, children under 2 can drown in a matter of seconds. Seconds.

4. Make water fun and exciting. But help children be aware of their surroundings too.

5. Always check pool gates and locks.

And just remember, pool fences don’t have to be ugly and intrusive. There are phenomenal fences these days that are so classy and modern. Don’t be turned off by this silly reason. Based in Sydney, Ecco Hardware can measure, fit and install the best looking pool fence around. They even do shower screens.

Have fun this summer. But be safe and be aware.

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