A swimming pool is a wonderful addition to a home that the whole family is sure to enjoy! There are an estimated three million private swimming pools in Australia, and it's easy to see why they are so popular! The luxury of being able to slip into a nice, cool pool on a hot summer day in the privacy of one's backyard is well worth the cost! The swimming pool often becomes the social focal point of a home, the adults gather around it for parties and barbecues while the kids dive in for fun and frolics. The swimming pool is a lot of fun, but it also presents some hazards, so measures must be taken to ensure everyone's safety! The following is a list of things you can do to make sure your family is protected and your pool is a safe space to enjoy!

• Fencing - The first line of defence is a pool fence that completely encircles the pool area and limits entrance to it. The fence must be high enough to keep people out, and should not be easily climbable, so be sure to remove any objects that could be used to climb up on from the immediate area. Pool entrances should be gated and locked when the pool is not in use, and never left propped open when an adult isn't present. 

• Legally Registered - It is incumbent on you to make sure your swimming pool is in compliance with all local government ordinances and is properly registered. 

• Learn To Swim - This may sound like obvious common sense, but you may be surprised at how many pool owners don't actually know how to swim! Being unable to swim makes you an accident waiting to happen, be it at the pool, the beach, or around any body of water! All adults and children in a household that has a swimming pool should take lessons if they haven't yet, and have a good understanding of water safety. Our advice for guests is to have all visiting children undergo a basic swimming test at the shallow end to gauge their skills- if they don't pass, then the deep end is strictly off limits to them, even with floatation aids since they can be dangerously unreliable!

• Children Supervised - Any children under the age of ten should be actively supervised by a responsible and vigilant adult who knows how to swim! Children should always be kept in sight, and children under the age of five should always be within easy arm’s reach. 

• Sun Protection - The water is not the only potential hazard in a swimming pool, exposure to harmful UV rays can be compounded as they reflect off the water's surface, and if no measures are taken can deliver a nasty sunburn that may even require a doctor's care! Apply waterproof sunscreen to all exposed parts of the body. Don't use water-resistant products, they don't resist for very long, and can just make matters worse!

Swimming pools are a lot of fun, but it's up to you to play it safe!