Unfenced Dam blamed for Tragedy

[azureline**]

Accidents happen but seriously, dams don't need to be fenced, house yards/gardens do.... properly, if you have a dam nearby and small children. This happened a few k's from us last night and it is heartbreaking. 😞 but preventable.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/6ac73771-9f86-387e-9514-d890e72b8410/unfenced-dam-blamed-for-tragedy/

[j*oono]

So does everyone here have a fully fenced front garden?

[lightningdance]

Around the house? the fence is in very poor condition, witnessed on the video.

.

I said:  "Keeping a good fence around the house & yard with lockable gates".

I Never mentioned the existing fence.

[*pepe]

you could fence your home like fort knox and these sorts of tragedies will still happen.

[patchoo78]

So does everyone here have a fully fenced front garden?

Yes. Not that it's much of a garden

[happyroo_bunji]

I have delivered stuff to farms that have the 'house yard' fully fenced off with gates that are fiddly to open.  One place had used pool fencing and those gates that you have to open at the top.

Excellent idea imo as not only can kids drown in dams, but they could get run over by vehicles.  Fencing dams is not the answer, as many dams are used by animals for drinking water

[possums_place]

This happened not far from where I live. Just throwing a thought out there......... I live in an area zoned residential low density, meaning I live in an acreage estate ( 1 to 2 1/2 acre blocks).  If I wanted to put in a swimming pool it would have to be fenced - fair enough. I have a spa under my pergola and it has a lockable lid and is fenced with an approved pool fence - as is law.

My neighbour has a dam/water feature probably the same size but shallower then a swimming pool that you find in most suburban back yards. He has no need to fence it under the law.

It is not practical for farmers to fence dams, in fact the thought of it is ridiculous but I feel that if you live in an area that is zoned residential then dams ( which have no purpose other than a breeding ground for toads and mozzies) should be fenced. You are not using it to water live stock which is the purpose of having a dam in the traditional sense. It is only for show.

I purchased our block of land and built before the dam was put in and at the time we had a two yo. Would I have purchased the block if there was a dam so close - probably not. Did I ensure that my fence would keep my little one in and did I not let him out of my sight -  absolutely.  It was a huge concern.

But at the end of the day, parents have to take responsibility and watch there kids, this is a terrible tragedy and could have been avoided.

[cherry*135]

It appears from the media articles that the mother and son (and most likely the step-father) lived with her parents at their place.

The grand-parents probably had no need for childproof fences/gates until their daugther & grandson moved in with them.

Often in cases where a child drowns or goes missing for hours there are several adult family members present around the property, yet the child manages to slip out unnoticed.

Perhaps it is a case of one person thinking the child is with another adult that lives there (not that that is any excuse). But as a mother being the only adult at home with a small child you tend to keep track on what they are doing all the time.

A little boy drowned in a dam on his parents farm, next door to ours when I was at high school. That made me vigilant about watching children when I had my own all the time. My FIL farm had a fast flowing river out the back gate near from their house..if a grand-child got out that gate it wouldn't have ended well.

[azureline**]

.

I said:  "Keeping a good fence around the house & yard with lockable gates".

I Never mentioned the existing fence.

and my post was addressing Iza's.

[azureline**]

So does everyone here have a fully fenced front garden?

I have a fully fenced back garden, I also have a fully fenced patio and courtyard area, we also have a fully fenced pool. We raised our children mostly on farms, with dams but always had a fully fenced house yard.