Campaign to reduce child spa pool deaths

By REBECCA WALSH

Child safety groups want councils to get tough on spa pool owners in a drive to cut the number of children drowning each year.

They also want retailers to be more vigilant in telling customers about their legal responsibility to fence spa pools.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of injury-related death for New Zealand children, claiming 20 lives on average each year. About five of those deaths happen in swimming pools and spa pools.

Organisers of Kidsafe Week (October 18-25) say that despite legislation requiring pools to be fenced, many people are unaware that the law covers spa pools.

Sue Kendall, national co-ordinator of Kidsafe Week, says that when the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 came into force, spa pools were "a bit of a luxury" and had to be installed by a plumber.

But they are now more affordable and portable. People can buy them over the phone and take them home.

While most councils grant exemptions from the act if the spa pools have covers, she does not believe these are adequate.

"Covers are great when the cover is on, but as soon as you take it off, they become an unfenced pool," Ms Kendall says.

Dr Ian Hassall, former Children's Commissioner and an ambassador for Kidsafe Week, says councils have been too slow to act on the legislation and too free in granting exemptions.

But he says it is also the owner's responsibility to ensure a property is safe and to keep an eye on children.

Auckland City Council allows covers, which meet a set of criteria, as an alternative to fences. But a spokesman says portable spa retailers are not telling people they must get consent under the Building Act.

Since the 1987 legislation, 74 preschool children have drowned in home pools, 10 in spa pools.

There have been no drownings in an approved spa pool in mainland Auckland City since the introduction of the fencing act. One person has drowned in an unapproved spa on Waiheke Island.

Retailers spoken to say customers are aware of safety issues and are given information about their legal obligations.

But this year Wellington coroner Garry Evans, who investigated the death of a 1-year-old girl in the family spa pool, heard that pool suppliers were reluctant to warn potential buyers of the safety requirements because they might lose a sale.

He called for an examination into the fencing of spa pools.

The Christchurch City Council plans to rule out exemptions allowing lockable spa pool lids as an alternative to fencing after the death of a toddler in a backyard swimming pool.

Councillors on the regulatory and consents committee say the safety of small children outweighs expected criticism.

The danger zones for children

* Most babies aged under 1 who drown do so in the bath.

* Children under 5 are more likely to drown in the home environment. Water Safety NZ says between 1997 and 2000, 40 per cent of drownings in this age group were in home pools and spas, 12 per cent in the bath and 7 per cent in other sites around the home.

* Children aged 5 to 14 are more likely to drown in rivers (49 per cent), the sea (31 per cent), pools (5 per cent) and other bodies of water (15 per cent).