In a bid to educate Australians about water safety and prevent preschool drownings, PoolWerx has teamed up with former Australian swimming coach and water safety ambassador Laurie Lawrence.

Research conducted by the national pool and spa care franchise highlights the need for such education – it recently found two-thirds of Australian pool owners would not know how to resuscitate a member of their own family in an emergency.

In addition, 43 percent don’t have an up-to-date CPR chart displayed in their pool area.

The partnership will see both the PoolWerx team and Lawrence educate parents and children about the five important water safety steps through the ‘Kids Alive – Do The Five’ campaign, which is now in its 25th year. 

The brand’s 300 franchisees will play an active role in the campaign, providing their customers with educational DVDs, pool safety checklists and educating them at pool and spa care appointments.

Lawrence said this year would be the most significant to date for Kids Alive. “We are teaming up with PoolWerx to take our ‘Kids Alive – Do the Five’ message to thousands of adults and children across the country, targeting the area where water safety is absolutely critical – in our own backyards,” he said.

“We want the simple steps people can take to reduce the risk of a tragedy or near tragedy to become part of everyday Australian lifestyle, and PoolWerx provides the perfect platform to support us with its wide footprint across the country.”

PoolWerx CEO John O’Brien said the brand is committed to promoting water safety awareness across Australians. 

“Despite boasting the highest pool ownership per capita in the world, Australians still ignore simple safety measures including regular inspection for pool dangers, displaying an up-to-date CPR chart and understanding basic life saving techniques,” he said.

“This Kids Alive campaign is a collective effort and something we’re all passionate about. Our franchises are committed to driving water safety education through our stores, service vans and as part of our community outreach.”

As the warmer months set in, Lawrence urges that all Australians take the time to check that their pool is in safe working order.   

“Now is the perfect time to ensure your pool area is safe and ready to use by checking the fence is intact and the gate and latch are in working order. If you’re not sure, ask a professional,” he said.