Lifeguarding Liaison Corner
Chris Ottati
With summer just a day away, Please read these very important Safety Rules
We recently hosted a Red Cross Lifeguarding course at IVSC. I audited the class as it has been many years since I’d received my own certificate. For those of us were lifeguards in our youth, believe me, lots has changed!
We are going to do our best to apply all this good information and so the membership may be seeing some changes in rules and how the guard staff enforces those rules. Unfortunately, it is the nature of a swimming pool that there needs to be rules in order to keep everyone safe. The old standard rules still apply but following are some rules that may seem new or different to some of you.
By following these Safe Rules, It helps the club and your family from Expensive Unexpected medical bill. The last club accident, cost the club and the family member over $5000. Safety at the pool is very important to Indian Valley Swim Club.
1. No diving in the shallow end of the pool. This applies to adults as well as kids. It is simply too shallow. The 8&U swimmers on the swim team are allowed to dive at that end during swim meets only, where they are directly supervised by the coaches.
2. One bounce on the diving board. No exceptions. This is by far the most dangerous area of the pool. I am asking that the lifeguards strictly enforce the diving area rules this year.
3. Please keep a close eye on your non-swimmer child. Non-swimmers who “wall-walk” are a concern because it is frequently hard to tell if they are playing when they let go of the wall and go under water or if they are in trouble. The lifeguards cannot stare at any one area or swimmer too long and kids can slip off the wall in a second.
4. If the pool is really crowded, the lifeguard may close down an area if he or she feels he cannot monitor the whole pool safely (i.e. the diving board.) Safety is our first priority.
5. If the lifeguard is uncomfortable with horseplay or pool toys, he or she may ask that it stop. Please respect this.
6. Do not lean on or sit on lane ropes. These ropes were purchased last year and they are expensive. We want them to last. The diving area rope has already been broken once this year due to kids putting their weight on it.
7. Please keep food off the deck and if you spill it on the deck, please clean it up. We don’t want Goldfish crackers, popcorn, candy, nuts etc. getting in the pool or attracting critters.
8. Please do not distract the guards. If you must talk to the guard, please keep it short and stand to the side. They cannot focus on their job if they are holding a conversation.
Please remember this pool belongs to all of us and we all need to pitch in from time to time picking up trash or refilling toilet paper.
Please keep in mind that the lifeguard is responsible for everyone’s safety when he or she is on duty. Lifeguarding is a hard job, even though it may not look like it. So I ask that we all be respectful of our guards. Lifeguards call REST PERIOD hourly so that the kids can rest, the guard get to get some food and water, get out of the sun, and take a break. If the guard is asked to do an additional chore during rest period, it may prolong the rest period.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the rules or guard staff (pat-on-the-backs are ALWAYS welcome for our hard-working guards) feel free to email me. Unless it is a serious safety issue I ask that you not phone me but email me or Lito instead: cottati@ca.astound.net
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