CPR Signs & Pool Safety
Every Queensland pool and spa must display a compliant CPR sign. Here's what you need to know about the requirements and the life-saving steps. 🏊♂️
Why It Matters
A Legal Requirement
Under Queensland pool safety laws, every regulated pool and spa must display a CPR sign that is clearly visible, up-to-date, and compliant with the current Australian Resuscitation Council (ANZCOR) guidelines.
Drowning can happen in seconds and in silence. Having a compliant CPR sign poolside ensures that anyone — a family member, neighbour, or visitor — can follow the emergency steps immediately without hesitation.
⚠️ Inspection Requirement
During a pool safety inspection, your CPR sign will be checked for compliance. A missing, outdated, or illegible sign is a non-compliance item that must be rectified before a certificate can be issued.
Pool owners who are selling or leasing a property must ensure their CPR sign meets current standards — outdated signs from before the latest ANZCOR update are a common failure point.
Signage Standards
CPR Sign Requirements
Your CPR sign must meet all of the following specifications to pass a pool safety inspection.
Minimum Size
300mm × 300mm — large enough to be clearly read from a distance poolside.
Material
Durable and weatherproof — must withstand Queensland sun, rain, and pool chemicals.
Legibility
The CPR sign must be attached to the pool fence or barrier, or somewhere near the pool so it is conspicuous and anyone near the pool can see it.
Content
Must reflect current ANZCOR (Australian & New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) guidelines.
Location
Prominently displayed near the pool or spa — visible to anyone using the pool area.
Condition
Not damaged, sun-bleached, water-stained, or otherwise degraded. Replace if worn.
Emergency Action Plan
The DRSABCD Steps
If someone is found unresponsive in or near the pool, follow these 7 critical steps.
Danger
Check for danger to yourself, bystanders, and the casualty. Remove the person from the pool if safe to do so.
Response
Check for a response — talk to the person, squeeze their shoulders. Are they conscious?
Send for Help
Call Triple Zero (000) or ask a bystander to call. Put the phone on speaker.
Airway
Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Check for obstructions.
Breathing
Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for up to 10 seconds.
CPR
If not breathing normally, begin CPR: 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
Defibrillator
Attach an AED (defibrillator) if available and follow the voice prompts.
💛
Any attempt at CPR is better than none at all
Even if you're unsure of the technique, performing chest compressions can double or triple a person's chance of survival.
Compressions Guide
Chest Compressions
30:2
Compression to Breath Ratio
100–120
Compressions per Minute
| Age Group | Depth | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 5–6 cm | Two hands, centre of chest |
| Child (1–8 yrs) | ~5 cm | One or two hands, centre of chest |
| Infant (< 1 yr) | ~4 cm | Two fingers, centre of chest |
When to Stop CPR
- The person shows signs of life (breathing, movement, coughing)
- A medical professional arrives and takes over
- An AED is available and advises a shock
- You become physically unable to continue
- The scene becomes unsafe
QBCC — CPR Signs
Official Queensland Resource
Visit the official QBCC page for the latest information on CPR sign requirements, where to purchase compliant signs, and how CPR signage fits into the broader pool safety standard.
Visit QBCC CPR Signs PageIpswich Council — CPR Factsheet
Downloadable PDF Resource
Download the Ipswich City Council CPR factsheet — a handy printable reference covering the DRSABCD action plan and resuscitation steps for pool emergencies.
Download CPR Factsheet (PDF)ANZCOR — Guideline 8
Official CPR Guidelines
Read the Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation's official Guideline 8 — the authoritative source for CPR procedures referenced on every compliant Queensland pool CPR sign.
View ANZCOR Guideline 8
Need an Inspection?
Is Your CPR Sign Compliant? 🤔
Inspector G checks your CPR sign as part of every pool safety inspection. Book today and tick it off your list.