With three children drowning in backyard swimming pools in the last week and alarming statistics revealing almost 300 children under the age of five having drowned since 2000, swimming instructors Pud Williams and his daughter Anne Gammon are stressing how important it is for parents to always supervise their children around pools and water.

Anne said local parents need to be hit right where it hurts to ensure that no children drown in the Cootamundra community this summer.

“Don’t assume that your child is being supervised by someone else as they are more then likely assuming you are supervising the children in the pool, you can’t beat constant supervision,” Anne said.

“Just because a pool has a fence around it does not make it safe from children entering and possibly drowning; even if it is a 10 foot high fence a child will find a way to get in, whether by getting a boost up from older children or moving furniture,” Anne added.

Anne also encouraged parents to get their children used to the water as young as possible saying drownings can be prevented if children know how to swim.

Pud, a swimming instructor with more than 40 years experience offered a chilling warning to pool owners; “pools are a deadly weapon and can kill,” he said.

Eighty eight percent of pools recently audited in Cootamundra do not comply with regulations.