It is a sad truth that every child is at risk of drowning when swimming. Statistics have shown that young kids can drown silently in as little as 25 seconds, even in shallow water. Parents could turn their heads for a split second and tragedy can strike. In order to ensure your child is safe while at a hotel swimming pool is to know how to prevent drowning by taking key prevention steps.
Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming pool safety entails heavy responsibility in the hotel hospitality field. Both civil and common law regulations dictate factors like pool construction, water supply, ladders, decks, diving areas, disinfectants, etc. However, staying up to code is just one part. Another component is to then do everything within reason to provide and establish a safe swimming environment for guests. In the events after a pool injury or tragedy, an attorney will hire a pool safety expert to look at every angle of the hotel pool operation.
Since most hotels do not provide a lifeguard, management must secure and maintain the pool. The clarity of the water in the pool can have an impact on saving a life. It isn’t uncommon for drowning victims to go unnoticed when swimming in opaque water. It is vital to document the hotel pool is maintained by a Certified Pool Operator.
Some other ways to develop policies and procedures for a hotel pool include but are not limited to:
- Ensure the on-site pool operator is certified
- Review inspections and take action to correct any malfunctions. Be sure to document all information in a pool log or journal
- Test water daily for chlorine residual and pH levels
- Maintain proper pH levels within the 7.2-7.8 range
- Sustain appropriate sanitation residuals- no less than 1.0 ppm free chlorine for pools and 1.5 ppm for spas.
- Uphold water clarity so that a black disc six inches in diameter is visible when placed on a white field at the deepest point in the pool.
- Schedule pool water filtration and disinfection
- Enclose the pool with a fence or closing doors with a lock
- If no lifeguards are on duty, clearly post signage in various spots
- Signs should include the following:
- Safety and sanitation
- No lifeguard
- Parental supervision
- 911
- Location of telephone
- Pool capacity
- Signs should include the following:
- Train personnel on the premises for CPR and other emergency procedures
- Have employees monitor the pool area during and after hours
Preventing Drowning Accidents
Hotel swimming pool accidents are preventable. The right steps need to be taken successfully to do so. The key takeaway though, always circles back to supervision. No matter who is swimming or playing in or around water, keeping a watchful eye is the best way to ensure safety.
For parents and guardians, it doesn’t hurt to educate their children on water safety. Swim lessons are a great way to help but sometimes not enough. Everyone should be familiar with the basic steps of water competency. Under these measures, the chances of drowning decrease significantly. Learn how to:
- Step or jump into pool water above the head
- Return to the surface and float or tread water for 1 minute
- Turn around in a full circle and find an exit
- Swim 25 yards to the exit then,
- Exit the pool without using the ladder
Data can attest that those individuals who thought they were good swimmers still couldn’t perform the 5 water survivor skills. Water competency is an extra layer of protection that cannot be emphasized enough.
Call Kwartler Manus Today
Kids need to know from the start the importance of supervision while swimming. Parents and guardians should stay alert and not become distracted by phones, devices, books and the like. It could be the difference between saving a life. If your child was injured or drowned in a Philadelphia swimming pool accident, call Kwartler Manus at 267-457-5570 to schedule a consultation.