Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe has urged north Queenslanders to complete a CPR course and potentially save a life.

Mr Hinchliffe said north Queensland's tropical climate meant residents could spend 12 months a year enjoying the region's pools and waterways. He said residents needed to be aware of new pool laws and the importance of completing a resuscitation course to protect friends and loved ones.

"Tropical North Queensland enjoys a near endless summer and flying into Cairns you can see just how much residents like to escape the heat in their many backyard pools,'' Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The perfect climate creates ideal swimming conditions and the very real need to be pool safe 365 days a year.''

Mr Hinchliffe said the Cairns branch of non-profit organisation St John's Ambulance conducted regular resuscitation courses that were both time and cost effective.

"I would like to urge all residents to take three hours and pay $60 to complete a St Johns Ambulance resuscitation course,'' Mr Hinchliffe said.

"It's a very small price to pay to potentially save a life.''

Mr Hinchliffe said on December 1 the State Government rolled out the first stage of Australia's toughest new pool safety laws with requirements for all new residential swimming pools to display mandatory CPR signage that meets current best practice.

Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall and Member for Cook Jason O'Brien said free CPR signs would be available from their electorate offices Steve at Stanton Place, Cnr Stanton Road & Captain Cook Highway Smithfield and Jason 62 Grafton Street, Cairns.

"The Bligh Government's second stage of pool laws are due by summer 2010 and will require all existing pools covered by state pool safety laws to display a CPR sign,'' Mr Wettenhall said.

"CPR is a proven life-saver and although a sign is not a replacement for proper training it may prove the difference in an emergency.

"I ask residents to take the time, complete a course and display a sign in a prominent poolside position.''

Mr O'Brien backed the call said regular safety checks were also invaluable.

"It is imperative pool owners regularly check their fences to ensure they're not only secure, but that they meet all safety requirements," Mr O'Brien said.

"Make sure the pool gate is closed, not propped open, and ensure there are no climbable objects placed near the fence.

"There's no doubt regular checks and CPR save lives.''

Long-serving volunteer and State Superintendent for St John Ambulance (QLD) Darryl Rice knows from experience the importance of learning CPR.

More than 20 years ago, Mr Rice was visiting a friend whose toddler was involved in an immersion incident and he successfully performed CPR.
"St John Ambulance (Qld) supports the State Government's new pool safety regulations," Mr Rice said.

"Parents and pool owners can also help prevent unnecessary drowning deaths, by learning CPR and having a CPR chart attached to the pool fence.

"It takes nine months to create a life and only three hours to learn CPR."

The Bligh Government is urging parents to strictly supervise their children and remove climbable objects around swimming pools this summer. The ongoing message is to follow the ABC of pool safety:

• Always supervise your children near a pool
• Begin swimming lessons for your children
• Close the pool gate and keep your fence maintained.

St John's Ambulance office Cairns: 1300 360 455. For more information on the Bligh Government's pool safety laws, please visit http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/poolsafety

POOL LAW ROLL OUT:

Stage one includes: the adoption of the latest pool fencing and CPR signage standards, new provisions to allow temporary pool fencing for short periods of time, mandatory follow-up inspections for new pools, upgrading police reporting forms for pool immersion incidents and the development of a Queensland pool register.

Stage two, to be rolled out in 2010, will include: rationalisation of 11 current and confusing pool fencing standards to just one standard, wider application of state laws to include indoor pools and pools associated with hotels, motels, caretaker residences and caravan parks, fencing for all portable pools deeper than 300mm, phase out of child-resistant doors forming part of a pool barrier, mandatory inspections at point of sale and lease of properties with a pool to obtain a certificate of compliance, a pool safety inspection certificate lasts for two years for a non shared pool (e.g. house) regardless of how many times it is released or sold in this period, a certificate lasts for one year for shared pools (e.g. hotels & apartment buildings) regardless of how many there is a release or sale in this period, removing the ability for councils to create local pool laws where state laws apply, local governments to gain greater powers of entry for safety inspections and model local law for councils to cover public swimming pools outside state laws.