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

SEAL is designed to encourage active adult and child participation in programs such as learning to swim, supervision, CPR and pool fence compliance, in order to educate the community to the benefits of water safety.

CPR Awareness Sessions

Does your child know what to do in an emergency?

Ipswich City Council are offering FREE CPR Awareness Sessions for kids aged 5-12 years to help teach them life-saving skills.

Each session runs for 1 hour and will be delivered by Queensland Ambulance Service. Note that these sessions do not provide a CPR qualification upon completion.

Rosewood Library
Wednesday 5 April 2023
9.30 am – 10.30 am
10.45 am – 11.45 am
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm

Redbank Plains Library
Wednesday 12 April 2023
11.15 am – 12.15 pm
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
2.15 pm – 3.15 pm

Bookings are essential as places are limited.

BOOK HERE

Program terms and conditions.

What is SEAL?

SEAL comprises four key water safety actions – supervise around the pool; enclose the pool with a fence; actively check the pool gate and fence; and learn CPR and how to swim.

S – Supervise around the pool

Put away distractions, continually watch children in the water and keep them within arm’s reach.

E – Enclose the pool with a fence

If your private pool or spa meet any of the following criteria, you are required by law to gain building approval and to enclose it with a fence:

  • capable of holding water to a depth greater than 300mm
  • has the capacity to hold over 2,000 litres of water
  • has a filtration system.

Find more information about fencing requirements at Swimming Pools, Spas and Safety Barriers.

A – Actively check pool gate and fence

Regularly check your pool gate and fence are safe.

Top things to check for are:

  • Does the gate open outwards away from the swimming pool or spa enclosure?
  • Is the latch a minimum of 1,500mm above the ground?
  • Does the gate self-latch and self-close?
  • Does the gate shut from any angle?
  • Does there appear to be any rust on the gate or fence?
  • Are all windows and doors permanently fixed with security screens, so children are not able to access the pool area?
  • Are there no gaps greater than 100mm anywhere in the fence?
  • Is the fence at least a minimum of 1,200mm high when measured from the ground?
  • Are the hinges 900mm apart, from the top of the top hinge to the top of the lower hinge?
  • Are there any branches, trees, shrubs, plants, chairs, pool toys or any other obstructions around the fence that a child can use to climb the fence?
  • Is your pool registered with QBCC?

Gaps to measure in your fence

L – Learn CPR and to swim

Introducing your child to water and learning CPR are both fundamental lifesaving skills.

Swimming is an important life skill which builds water confidence and is the first step when it comes to teaching your child water awareness. Swimming lessons, as well as water safety skills, are available to children to help build assurance and encourage them to be confident in the water.

It is also a requirement that you prominently display a CPR sign near your pool. For up to date information about CPR signage requirements, see Swimming Pools, Spas and Safety Barriers.

For further assistance, please phone (07) 3810 6120 or email poolsprogram@ipswich.qld.gov.au

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