Many beaches are short lifeguards this summer. Properly supervising children and weaker swimmers is key to making sure everyone has a safe trip to the pool or beach.
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While it may be possible to teach young infants basic motor skills in water, infants cannot, and should not, be expected to know how to swim or to be able to react appropriately in emergencies.
Active supervision of children at public pools is crucial. But with a few creative policy interventions, we can make it easier for solo parents to visit the pool with kids in tow.
The ocean pool is a familiar sight in New South Wales but isn’t nearly as common elsewhere.
hopeless128/Flickr
New South Wales boasts many wonderful ocean pools, thanks to a combination of climate, geology, culture and prosperity. Despite concerns about costs, economic and health benefits far outweigh these.
If public pools matter to you, tell us why on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #myfavouritepool. This is Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool at Woolloomooloo Bay in Sydney.
Flickr/Dan
Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Molly Glassey, The Conversation
Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing a series of stories on why public pools matter - to the economy, to social well-being and to our shared history. But we also want to hear from you.