Central Otago District Council (CODC) is bringing in new pool supervision rules for children under the age of 10 years, after figures showed, 97 per cent of rescues at council pools between March 2018 and February 2023 involved children under eight-years-old.

This CODC poster reinforces the new pool supervision rules.

These were scary numbers, CODC aquatics manager Carly Getson said.

“To prevent children from drowning, they need active supervision around water. Two of the biggest risk factors for drowning are lack of swimming ability and lack of close supervision - two risks that regularly occur at our council-operated pools around the district.”

From July 1, the council will be introducing orange and purple wristbands so lifeguards can immediately identify children in the target age groups.

The orange wristband is for under fives, to remind parents and caregivers to always remain within arm’s reach (including while in the toddler pools).

The purple wristband is for children aged five to nine years, to remind parents and caregivers to watch their children at all times.  

Under the new rules, children under the age of five must be supervised by an adult/caregiver over the age of 16.

The supervisor must have no more than two children in their care and the child or children must be within arm’s reach at all times. Children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised by an adult/caregiver over the age of 16 at all times. 

Previously the age limit for supervision was eight years old. This has been raised to 10 years of age because by then children have developed more advanced swimming ability and can get themselves out of difficulty more easily.

Lifeguards alone cannot supervise every child, Carly said.

 “Lifeguards are not babysitters. All too often parents and caregivers are not watching their young children. They are on their phones or talking, or otherwise distracted. They are not swimming with their children. As a result, lifeguards spend a lot of time talking to parents and caregivers, reinforcing council’s supervision rules, and highlighting the risks associated with failing to provide active supervision. Things can escalate pretty quickly when a young child gets into trouble in the water.

“The wristbands immediately identify which children are most at risk, and hopefully they’ll serve as a reminder that parents and caregivers need to watch their children, and not put them at risk by getting distracted.

“The changes will ensure our pools are following best industry standards and will help our lifeguards easily identify high risk children,” she said.

Recent industry workshops on the issue of child supervision indicate many councils are already making changes to their supervision requirements. Dunedin City Council has raised its age limit to 10 and introduced wristbands.

 Christchurch City Council has also introduced stricter rules around children in the eight to 12 age group.

“By making changes, council can put another layer of protection and prevention in our pools for our children,” Carly said.

The wristbands will be trialled initially at the Cromwell and Alexandra pools for three months, and if successful, rolled out on a mandatory basis to all pools.

The bands will be a mix of reusable and single use. Children who come to the pool regularly such as swim school and members will receive the reusable silicone wristbands.

For the trial period, everyone else will be provided with the single use, with a view to moving all to the reusable bands.

PHOTOS: CODC