It’s summer so kids’ playdates and birthday parties might start moving from the playground to the pool.

I research how to prevent drowning. I’m also a mum of two kids living in a house with a pool. So water safety is always front of mind.

Drowning deaths are at a record high in Australia. For pre-schoolers, this often happens in backyard pools. Although school-aged children have a much lower risk it’s still important to be vigilant.

Here are some key questions to ask and things to consider before you accept an invitation to a pool party or host your own.

With these tips, you’ll be able to navigate pool safety while ensuring the kids have heaps of fun.

First, think about your child’s swimming ability. Have they learned to swim? Do you know how their ability stacks up against their peers? Check their skills against the recommended minimum national swimming and water safety benchmarks for their age.

Perhaps some top-up lessons or some intensive lessons over summer might give their skills a boost ahead of a busy swim season.

As important as swimming skills are, so too is knowing how to be safe around the water. Have you talked to your kids about water safety? Are........

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