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About portable swimming pools
Portable swimming pools include:
- inflatable pools
- frame pools with a canvas or flexible plastic liner
- hard plastic pools.
They are also called wading pools, paddling pools and kiddie pools. Depths vary from less than 150 mm to over one metre.
Risks and injuries from the product
Inflatable and portable pools can be dangerous as they aren’t usually fenced and may not be emptied after use.
Drowning or permanent brain injury can occur even in a small portable pool that contains very little water.
Pool fencing laws apply to pools, including portable pools that are 300 mm deep or more.
Things to look for when buying the product
Young children can drown or suffer permanent brain injuries when using portable swimming pools. This can happen even when there’s not much water in the pool.
For this reason, there’s a mandatory standard that suppliers and retailers must comply with.
Only buy portable swimming pools that comply with the portable swimming pools mandatory standard.
- The portable swimming pool comes with a warning message.
- There is a safety sign marked on the portable swimming pool.
How to use the product safely
- Always empty smaller pools when not in use.
- Always store portable pools away from young children when not in use. This is to prevent small amounts of water being collected in the pool due to rain or nearby sprinklers.
- Make sure larger inflatable or portable pools are surrounded by a swimming pool fence. Consult your local government authority for fencing requirements.
- Never leave a child unsupervised while they’re in or around a portable pool.
- Never rely on older children to supervise younger children.
