Almost half (49%) of Australian pool owners are unsure if their pool gate would pass a safety inspection, with new research revealing widespread complacency as the peak drowning season approaches.
The latest MagnaLatch® Pool Safety Report shows a worrying decline in vigilance, with close to three quarters (70%) of pool owners admitting they hadn’t checked their pool gate in the past six months or more and over a third (33%) of pool owners do not remember when they had last gained a recent safety compliance certificate.
Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and Check Your Pool Gate Month Ambassador, stresses that the findings show too many Australians are putting lives at risk through inaction and misplaced confidence.
“This report is a real wake-up call,” says Laurie. “We’ve made significant progress in drowning prevention over the years, but we can’t afford to relax. Pool gates save lives yet too many people assume theirs is working fine without ever checking. That kind of complacency is dangerous.”
A comprehensive pool safety checklist is available at www.checkyourpoolgate.com.au, offering essential tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for all.