With summer approaching, pool owners are being urged by authorities to ensure the gates and latches on their fencing, work as they should.

Much awareness has been made about the laws regarding fencing around pools, but more awareness needs to be made about maintaining the gate latches and locks, which if left unattended could be fatal.

Victorian State Coroner, Judge Sarah Hinchey has urged all pool owners to be vigilant around the maintenance of their pool fencing.

“Even the best barrier, which was in perfect working order, after a year in the elements may have bolts that are loose or rust may begin to develop or the post moves in the ground and the gate no longer latches,” she said.

More than half of drownings happen in backyard pools. Paramedics are usually the first on hand to offer medical assistance to tragedies involving water.

Paramedic, Michelle Murphy said, “Drownings are all preventable. The ones that I have experienced have related to gates broken, gates wedged open… people just not being vigilant.”

When daylight savings start next month, the first day has been marked as the day to conduct a fence and latch check around backyard pools.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of five.

Matt Welsh, dual Olympic silver medallist for swimming has four children and is passionate about pool safety. It’s important for people from different cultures to understand the danger of backyard pools.

“For people who are new to the country who haven’t had that upbringing I think it’s really important that they understand that yes, it is a fun, great place to be and it should remain that but it also can be a really dangerous place.

“In many situations the migrant children may not have seen a swimming pool in the country that they came from. They see the Aussie kids having fun, they want to be involved in that and they can get themselves into trouble very quickly,” he said.

Last year, more than half the toddler drownings happened in backyards. Kidsafe Victoria Vice-President Robert Caulfield has said for every child that drowns another 12 nearly die and can be left with permanent brain damage.

It’s important to make the fence checks before swimming season hits to keep our kids safe around swimming pools.