The Ten Commandments of Aquatic Risk Management Cont...

III.  Thou Shalt Maintain A Group-Use Policy   

Many groups (church, school, civic, daycare) are attracted to aquatic facilities because they provide certified lifeguards who not only protect guests, but who also serve as a sort of free baby-sitter, giving teachers, parents and counsellors a needed break.  When lifeguards see these groups coming they tend to relax because they assume the adults will be watching the children.  So rather than have double coverage, double trouble is often the result.

A well written group-use policy should delineate the expectations for both lifeguards and parents/guardians.  Lifeguards need to be told of the need for extra diligence in such situations.  Group-use policies should include pool rules and expectations for group leaders such as appropriate adult to child ratios, personal flotation device use, non swimmer rules and so on.

IV.  Thou Shalt Warn Against Head-First Entry

All areas of an aquatic facility with depths of under 9 feet (approx. 2.75 metres) must be marked with a "No Diving" warning.  A growing trend is to mark the entire shallow section of the pool as a no-diving zone.  It is vital that pool operators aggressively and creatively utilise a variety of signs, graphics and warnings to prevent head-first entries from the deck into the shallow water.

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V.  Thou Shalt Warn Against Breath-Holding And Underwater Swimming

Competitive, repetitive breath-holding drills and games are extremely dangerous and must be curtailed in all bodies of water. While the physiology of this underwater event is complicated, the possible result is quite straightforward - death by drowning or cardiac arrhythmia.

When it comes to breath-holding in the water, the rule should be simple and clear - just don't do it.

VI.  Thou Shalt Vigilantly Guard Children Of Tender Years

Seventy percent of all pre-schoolers who have drowned were in the care of one or both parents at the time of the accident.  Parents typically are distracted from watching their children at aquatic facilities, and even if they are watching, many are unable to recognise when their children are at risk or in trouble.

Pool operators must be more vigilant in supervising children under the age of seven and in shallow areas, even when they are with their parents.  

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