Pools and other swimming areas are a place of great enjoyment, especially on a sweltering summer day. Fun as they are, swimming areas also pose a number of risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “drowning is the second leading cause of injury death among children 1 to 14.” If you operate or own swimming facility, it is your responsibility to maintain safe environment with proper training, procedures, rules and safety equipment.
Out-of-Water Rescue Equipment
A number of out-of-water rescue apparatuses are available to the swimming area operator. The most basic of these is the ring buoy, a round, typically plastic, floatation device used to rescue a swimmer without the rescuer having to enter the water. These are strung with rope and attached to a throwing line so a swimmer can be pulled back to safety. Another piece of basic equipment that allows for rescue without water entry is the reaching pole and shepherd’s crook. This device is essentially a long metal pole with a hooked end that can be reached out to a troubled swimmer.
In-Water Rescue Equipment
Rescue tubes are the most common piece of equipment used by lifeguards for in-water rescues. The tube is a highly buoyant, flexible foam float typically between 45 to 54 inches in length. A protective vinyl coating covers the tube. Rescue tubes also have an attached length of rope with a shoulder strap at the end. The design of the tube allows it to help buoy both a lifeguard and a submerged swimmer.
Structural/Fixed Equipment
Rescue equipment is no doubt important for any swimming area; however, there are certain structural items that can help rescue situations from even happening. Safety lines, made of waterproof rope spaced with small plastic floats, are generally used to mark-off swimming areas. These lines can help swimmers distinguish between swallow and deep-water areas, slide splash down areas, diving wells and no-swim areas. If you operate a facility that uses lifeguards, lifeguard chairs are an essential piece of equipment as well. These elevated chairs allow guards to see much larger areas of the pool and remove a significant amount of vision obstructions from swimmers.
First Aid Kit
First-aid kits are essential in any swimming facility. Slippery decks, diving boards, slides and other swimming hazards can cause a number of injuries. A basic first aid kit for a pool or swim area should minimally have various sizes of sterile bandages and compresses, roller gauze, eye dressing, adhesive medical tape, scissors, tweezers, rubber gloves and a CPR mask. Other useful items include face shields, burn relief, antiseptic ointment, instant ice packs, irrigation syringe or spray bottle, antibacterial soap, small flashlight and butterfly closures.
Training and Maintenance
Broken or missing safety equipment, or equipment that no one knows who to use, is practically useless. All operators or safety staff of your swimming area should be trained in how to use its available safety equipment. This safety equipment should be periodically inspected for wear-and-tear and be replaced or maintained as necessary.
Common Sense
No amount of safety equipment can take the place of common sense and preparation. Be sure that your guests refrain from dangerous behavior like running on pool decks, swimming in dangerous areas and swimming in areas beyond their abilities.
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