This season, all Wellington Shire pools will also be operating under Lifesaving Victoria’s “Watch Around Water” best practice model, which states adults must ensure they are always in the water with children under the age of 5, and within arms reach.
This means that any responsible person over the age of 16 years accompanying a child or children under the age of 5 to a Wellington swimming facility must come to the pool prepared to be in the water with them.
It only takes 20 seconds for a child to drown and these latest recommendations aim to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drownings and associated injuries in Victoria’s public aquatic facilities.
This new rule will be actively enforced by lifeguards and staff across of all of Wellington Shire's pools.
