Adults still not properly supervising children in pools, lifesavers report shows

Sunny Queensland where water sports and recreation are more popular than in some cooler areas recorded the highest number of fatal drowning incidents followed by NSW.

The Royal Life Saving Australia research found 78 people drowned in public, commercial and communal swimming pools between mid-2005 and mid-2015.

A further 362 people were involved in non-fatal drowning incidents that required hospitalisation.

Thirty-six of the drowning deaths happened at public and commercial pools like those at schools, aquatic centres and fitness centres while 42 occurred in communal pools such as those found in hotels, motels, apartment complexes and retirement villages.

Children five to nine comprised most deaths in public and commercial pools at 20 per cent of all fatalities. In 78 per cent of incidents there was no parental or carer supervision.

Children made up a much smaller percentage of the fatalities in communal pools but, again, in three-quarters of those drownings there was no adult supervision.

Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive officer Justin Scarr said research showed that parents and carers needed ongoing reminders about the importance of adult supervision.

Males were over-represented in drownings in communal and public pools accounting for 79 and 81 per cent of deaths respectively, the report found

The report said the disproportionate number of Queensland deaths was because of the state's favourable weather conditions and tourist attractions.

“Drowning deaths in communal swimming pools often involved overseas or interstate tourists, with a spike in fatalities during the warmer months when people are on holiday," Mr Scarr said.

Alcohol also played a part in 21 per cent of fatalities at communal pools while 61 per cent of deaths in public pools involved people with a pre-existing medical condition such as ischaemic heart disease, cardiac conditions and epilepsy.

AAP