As the weather warms up and summer holidays approach, many Australians turn their thoughts to swimming; pool, beach, river - wherever we can cool off.

Campaigns around water safety are as much a part of summer as a barbie and flies, but the dangers can be much more than forgetting to slip, slop, slap.

Gilgandra Shire Council are raising awareness around portable pools, perfect for the kids but with a hidden danger that can't be underestimated. And there are regulations to go along with this.

Did you know that pools holding the depth of 30cm or more water, including portable and inflatable pools, require the same fencing as any other backyard pool?

"Fines for a non-compliant pool enclosure can be as high as $5,500," Gilgandra Shire Council advise.

Portable swimming pools include inflatable pools, pools incorporating a canvas or flexible plastic liner attached to a frame, and hard plastic pools such as wading pools. Depths vary from less than 15cm to over one metre.

Portable pools pose a serious drowning risk to small children. Even with very little water, it only takes seconds for a child to drown in a portable pool.

In 2018, a toddler died after being found unconscious at the bottom of an inflatable pool in Sydney’s south-west.

Young children are naturally fascinated by water and are top heavy so when they lean over to look into water or reach for an object they can easily topple over and drown in just a few centimetres of water.

In most States and Territories, portable pools that are 30cm deep or more must be fenced. Further information on specific legislation can be obtained from local councils.

Australian Consumer Law requires portable pools and their retail packaging to be labelled with warnings to draw attention to drowning hazards and local fencing laws. This is enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and State and Territory regulators.

Children must be supervised by an adult when in, on or around water. Adults must be within arms’ reach, interacting with the child and be ready to enter the water in case of an emergency. Never rely on older children to supervise younger children, no matter how confident you are in their ability.

For smaller pools, ensure they are emptied and put away after use. When not in use, store the pool securely out of reach of young children. Ensure the pool cannot fill with rainwater or water from sprinklers.

"Kids can drown in silence, or suffer serious brain injury, if left unsupervised around water," Gilgandra Shire Council warn. "Water left in kids wading pools can also breed bacteria and viruses making users ill. While these pools may seem like a cheap option, weigh up the risks for your family."

For more information visit the Royal Lifesaving Society to find out more about portable pools.

For more information contact the Growth & Liveability Department at Gilgandra Shire Council on 02 6817 8800 or your own local council offices.