Welcome to the August edition of Kidsafe Victoria’s e-news. This month we have some information on the proposed pool and spa regulatory changes and how you can provide input, button battery safety, our home safety hub and the most recent product recalls. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook for regular safety tips and updates – happy reading and stay safe!

Proposed new pool and spa regulations open for public comment

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has prepared draft Regulations for changes to Victoria’s pool and spa barrier laws.

Backyard pools are the most common location where toddler drowning incidents occur. While pool and spa barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning incidents, evidence suggests that a large number of drowning deaths are the result of barriers that are faulty, or non-compliant with Australian standards.

The proposed Regulations, which are expected to commence on the 1st of December, will introduce a mandatory register for all pools and spas in Victoria, as well as a requirement for all pool and spa barriers to be inspected once every three years, with the aim of improving compliance with safety barrier requirements to reduce drowning incidents.

The public consultation period is an opportunity for anyone interested to have their say on the proposed Regulations before they are finalised. Submissions can be made on the website by clicking here. Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 6 September 2019.

Now is the time for a button battery check in your home.

Did you know that in Australia, around 20 children a week present to emergency departments with a button battery related injury? That’s over 1,000 children every year.

If ingested, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat where saliva immediately triggers an electrical current which causes a chemical reaction that can burn the oesophagus in as little as two hours, causing severe life-threatening injuries and in some cases death.

Over 58 million button batteries are sold in Australia every year – they are found in many common household items such as remote controls, calculators, bathroom scales, car keys, toys, watches, talking books/cards, flashing novelty items, hearing aids and flameless candles.

September is a time when the Victorian Poisons Information Centre see a spike in calls relating to the powerful coin sized batteries. Kidsafe Victoria is urging all parents, carers and family members to conduct regular button battery audits of areas in and around their homes and put in place measures to reduce the risk of children accessing and ingesting these batteries.

The ACCC has established a Button Battery Taskforce to investigate ways to reduce risk to the Australian community, particularly children, of button batteries. The ACCC will be providing a Draft Recommendation to government by the end of 2019, with a Final Recommendation to be made in 2020.

The issues paper and information on the consultation process is available on the Product Safety Australia website.  Consultation will close on 30 September, 2019.

For more information on the dangers posed by button batteries and what you can do to reduce the risk, please click here.

Come see our Home Safety Hub!

Located in our Community Support Centre at the Monash Children’s Hospital (next to reception), our Home Safety Hub has all of your home safety needs covered. The hub includes a range of free resources, interactive displays, videos for adults and kids and safety products to help you reduce the risk posed by common injury hazards in your home.

If you are in the area,  drop in and say hello! Our friendly team is always happy to have a chat and answer any of your child safety questions.

The Home Safety Hub is proudly sponsored by our friends at RACV.

Product Recalls

Hallie & Moo – Dummy Clip/Chain

The dummy chain length does not meet the specifications of the Australian standard. The product may get caught around an infant/child’s throat and pose a strangulation hazard. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to Hallie and Moo for a full refund. For further information, please click here.

Ozsale Pty Ltd — Sweet & Soft 5 Piece Cardigan Set, Sweet & Soft 2 Pack Pants, Sweet & Soft Pyjamas and Sweet & Soft Children’s Bath Robes

The garments do not carry the fire hazard information label as required by the mandatory standard. Parents and carers may not be aware of the fire hazard which may pose a potential fire risk to the wearer. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Ozsale to receive a full refund and $20 credit. For further information, please click here.

Price Down Gallery Pty Ltd — Bubs Gallery Travel Cot

The safety markings are not satisfactory and are missing required information about the locking procedures. Missing information may lead to incorrect assembly of the cot and create a risk of injury to small children. Consumers should contact Bubs Gallery to arrange for a permanent safety sticker, containing the assembly and locking procedures. For further information, please click here.