Ensuring safe use of school pools
As our state’s premier water safety education service provider Royal Life Saving Society WA is determined to ensure safe participation of all community members in aquatic activities. With around 65
schools in WA having a swimming pool on site it is vitally important that water safety standards are maintained at these venues in order to safeguard children and adults accessing these facilities.
Over the past 12 months Royal Life Saving has been expanding its work in the school sector, already forging a strong partnership with Subiaco Primary School in the running and maintenance of its pool, and more recently also partnering with Hollywood Primary School in Nedlands to ensure the safety of the pool on that campus.
After consultation with the P&C Pool Committee at Hollywood it was decided that the Committee, along with parents and community members should attend a pool safety induction at the start of the school year to ensure that all those attending understood basic water safety, first aid and CPR practices. Two events were held, on Saturday 28th of January and Wednesday 1st February, with Royal Life Saving Society WA Aquatic and First Aid Trainers providing invaluable advice, education and training to 45 attendees across the two sessions.
Participants were taught principles to stay safe on the pool deck, water rescue techniques, CPR and first aid skills to be prepared to respond in case of an emergency in and around their pool facility. This pool safety induction is planned to become an annual event, giving all school community members; including staff, students and parents, greater confidence that the school’s pool can be safely enjoyed by all.
Royal Life Saving Society WA hopes to forge relationships with more schools with pools across metro and regional areas in WA, to help build a greater understanding of the importance of risk planning and water safety inductions for community members and pool users. Our goal is to see more people within the school community armed with vital skills and education to be able to respond appropriately in case of an emergency situation. We also want to ensure school pools are properly operated to avoid the likelihood of future emergency situations.
With its wealth of knowledge and experience in pool management, water safety, first aid and swimming education the Royal Life Saving Society WA boasts an extensive range of services to schools with pools, making the long term running of these pools far more cost and time effective, while ensuring safety standards are maintained to the highest possible level.
If you’d like to know more about how Royal Life Saving Society WA can assist your local school please click the link below to find out more and complete an enquiry form.
Images on this page courtesy of 9 year old Harrison Churchill, Hollywood Primary student.