Make your child's safety a winner and use Melbourne Cup Day to check the pool gate is the message from Archicentre and Kidsafe Victoria.

Earlier this year the Royal Life Saving Society forecast an increase in toddler drowning by 20%.

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and Kidsafe Victoria said, Pool Gate Week which should commence on Melbourne Cup Day each year would provide an annual focus for all pool owners and visitors with toddlers to have the safety message reinforced at the beginning of warmer weather.

Professor Mark Stokes, President Kidsafe Victoria and Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre said, Pool Gate Week should be used to focus national attention on pool fencing maintenance and pool safety procedures including parental supervision.

In a joint statement the two organisations said pool safety for children is a constant issue for families with pools 365 days a year and unfortunately people can become complacent about the family pool and the danger it represents, especially to toddlers who drown quickly and silently.

We believe a national approach should be taken to this issue with State and Federal Governments pooling resources to create an ongoing national program throughout the year with Pool Gate Week as a major focus on pool gate and fencing maintenance.

Mr Caulfield said that Archicentre carries out up to twenty thousand pre-purchase housing inspections every year and pool safety fencing and efficient pool gate operation is only one part of the story.  The deadly practice of stacking objects next to pool fences where children can climb over into the pool area is a situation all pool owners need to prevent.

"Visitors with toddlers to homes that have pools should ensure that they are under constant supervision and cannot get near the swimming pool.

"Home owners should constantly monitor the safety conditions around their swimming pools to ensure the fencing and pool safety gates are operating correctly," Mr Caulfield said.

Pool Safety Information available from our factsheet on watersafety