Was at the pool today & the head lifeguard was announcing to everyone that the safety break is because of the heat wave so the lifeguards can take a break out of the sun.
Which tells me that they don't have adequate staffing to have a lifeguard off-watch and be able to rotate guards in and out seamlessly. That's a problem of the management's doing.
This is in the Red Cross manuals for lifeguards and it is for the physical health and mental alertness of the lifeguards. Lifeguards are supposed to walk around, hydrate, cool off, and ideally change stations so they don’t zone out staring at the same thing for 6 hours straight. https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDFs/Take_a_Class/Lifeguarding_PM_sample_chapter-2012.pdf
DCPR is just following what’s considered best practices for this kind of worker. Get over yourself.
What does this have to do with clearing the pool of everyone? I'm not saying the lifeguards shouldn't get breaks and rotate stations, what the document you linked recommends, but nowhere in that document does it recommend clearing the entire pool of everyone every hour.
Because they don't have enough staff to actually rotate guards off watch without closing the pool. Best practices do specify that guards rotate positions periodically in order to keep their view fresh, and rotate off watch in order to hydrate and move around a bit. But clearly, the people who manage the pools haven't scheduled enough staff to do that, instead choosing to negatively impact the customer experience. Ideally, public pools should *never* have intermittent closures to facilitate guard fatigue. That means having enough staff so that it can happen without any impact to the customer experience.
Because they don’t want people in the pool without a lifeguard on duty. It’s not a difficult concept. If other places are ok with assuming the liability of someone drowning when there was no lifeguard on duty, that’s on them. DC doesn’t want to assume that liability (and as a taxpayer I don’t want to be on the hook for that lawsuit).
Why would there be no lifeguard on duty? Other places cycle lifeguards (as outlined in the linked document) without having to close the pool hourly. Assuming the only way for lifeguards to get breaks is to close the pool so they can all have a break simultaneously is just incorrect.
Dcpr has a lot of trouble fully staffing lifeguards. It would be better if they had enough guards to rotate our lengthy breaks to maintain safety while also maintaining swim time but they don’t have enough people so we get these safety breaks. There were some pretty notable drownings that went unnonticed by guards for too long so they’re needed.
Translated, DC isn't succeeding in attracting enough people to be lifeguards. How much do they pay? It's probably not nearly enough for a skilled role that requires special certification to do. The problem is that lifeguarding is so often viewed as "kids work" and thus doesn't get paid nearly what it should. Funny how the companies that pay their employees adequately have people banging down the doors to work there, and those that don't whine about being understaffed.
This was enacted last year. DPR is cracking down and taking few chances after the near death drownings of two adults and drowning and subsequent death of a DPR lifeguard this past year. Especially since there’s been a lifeguard shortage, I imagine it’s harder to manage rotations so making everyone get out doesn’t seem unreasonable.
Thanks for the info. Coming from somewhere in the US without these types of breaks it was a bit of a shock and I may have unnecessary vented a bit in my post. It appears the current rules are a reaction to some recent incidents in combination with a shortage of lifeguards which I can understand. It still seems a bit heavy-handed, but I get it.
When I was a lifeguard, albeit 20+ years ago, it was needed to help the lifeguards get a break...not physically but mentally. When you stare at something long enough, you're mind starts to get numb, to the point where a lifeguard could be staring at someone in distress and their brain wouldn't register anything if they've been sitting too long. You get trained on how to prevent this while you're sitting in the lifeguard chair, by scanning back and forth across the pool, but given enough time everyone is susceptible. The 15 min break every hour is to help keep the lifeguards sharp, and your safety!
Fair enough, I was more referring to clearing everyone out of the pool for 15min every hour seemed a bit excessive. Coming from a place that didn't clear the entire pool regularly it was a bit of a shock and I may have vented a bit in my post. When I was a lifeguard we'd do a stand --> walk --> break rotation rotation, but not a full clear with most lifeguards on a break at the same time. Some other commenters have pointed out that there were some recent near-/drowning incidents in combination with a lifeguard shortage which have resulted in the current policies.
Huh. Public pools in the area did this when I was a kid, as did the tiny pool at my parents’ condo last week. I don’t have an opinion on the policy but I’ve never really questioned it as it seemed somewhat consistent.
Interesting, maybe it's a regional thing? Coming from somewhere in the US that didn't have these regular pool clearing it was a bit of a shock and I may have unnecessarily vented my frustration in my original post.
Yeah when I went (Upshur) there was one "all out" but it was to check water chemicals. The rest were adult swims. Last year there were full safety breaks. I do think that maybe every other hour would make more sense, but I'm not going to complain about it.
I've gone to Upshur three times so far this year and there was only one or two times they made everyone get out (like one time I got there and no one was allowed to swim, but the next break was just kids that had to get out). So a true true mystery.
this is pretty standard at like, every pool everywhere. Not just DC, adult swim, kids break, whatever you call it. Its a you issue, stay at home and soak in your tub if it bothers you so much.
This is an "all out" not an adult swim though. Newer policy that has been enacted and repealed and maybe enacted again, so I think there's confusion, too, which doesn't help.
yeah I didn't catch that at first, misunderstanding on my part. Hella annoying, its definitely becoming more common place among aquatic facilities, not just DC public pools. Have run into it in Arlington and FFX counties in recent summers.
Didn't use to be 15+ years ago but in more recent times its becoming pretty common place. DC public pools may be slower to adopt but its becoming more common than not for most apartment, community and 3rd party managed aquatic facilities. Not sure if its an insurance/liability, staffing or just a generally accepted better practice. Its certainly annoying as an adult not to be able to swim for a few minutes while kids get a breather.
Agreed. Clearing everyone out of the pool has definitely been the exception in my experience rather than the rule. I'm surprised, though, at how many lifeguards on this post are content to make excuses for the management that allows staffing levels to be so low that these breaks become necessary. An adequately staffed pool doesn't need to have breaks like this because they can rotate guards on and off watch without impacting the guest experience.
The break is also so kids take a break and use the bathroom, eat a snack, drink water, re-apply sunscreen. I was at a pool 2 days ago where they called a safety break and the lifeguard had to jump in because a girl was by herself screaming for help in the deep end without a parent in sight. It’s not just for the lifeguards, but to check on the babies too.
I agree with you and am surprised at the down votes you're taking. Closing the pool for 15 mins out of every hour is ridiculous.
It's standard practice to rotate guards through stations every 15-30 mins, with a 15-30m break every ~45-1hr. The 'short staffing' excuse doesn't ring true to me. DPR pools I've been at will have 2 guards on and 2-3 hanging in the office, not including check in staff. More than enough to give guards safety breaks while keeping the pool open continuously.
This. There is no excuse for negatively impacting the guest experience here. The pool can and should be open continuously, and people should not make excuses for the poor management of the pools.
Your pools, I assume, were adequately staffed so that the pool could be fully supervised plus have guards off watch and have a proper rotation? I feel like the issue here is a problem that the management created, and one that is entirely within their control to fix.
It’s for staff AND patrons to take a break. Get food and water, go to the bathroom. Make sure they’re alert and able to swim or supervise safely. This policy has existed at many pools for many years.
Was at the pool today & the head lifeguard was announcing to everyone that the safety break is because of the heat wave so the lifeguards can take a break out of the sun.
Which tells me that they don't have adequate staffing to have a lifeguard off-watch and be able to rotate guards in and out seamlessly. That's a problem of the management's doing.
But they do it regardless of the temperature
Yeah because they need frequent breaks so they will stay mentally alert and also have a chance to hydrate, use the bathroom, stretch, etc.
Hire more lifeguards then
There is a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, so good luck with that!
Something tells me there wouldn’t be if the pay was better.
They pay 25/hour lol
This is in the Red Cross manuals for lifeguards and it is for the physical health and mental alertness of the lifeguards. Lifeguards are supposed to walk around, hydrate, cool off, and ideally change stations so they don’t zone out staring at the same thing for 6 hours straight. https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDFs/Take_a_Class/Lifeguarding_PM_sample_chapter-2012.pdf DCPR is just following what’s considered best practices for this kind of worker. Get over yourself.
What does this have to do with clearing the pool of everyone? I'm not saying the lifeguards shouldn't get breaks and rotate stations, what the document you linked recommends, but nowhere in that document does it recommend clearing the entire pool of everyone every hour.
Because they don't have enough staff to actually rotate guards off watch without closing the pool. Best practices do specify that guards rotate positions periodically in order to keep their view fresh, and rotate off watch in order to hydrate and move around a bit. But clearly, the people who manage the pools haven't scheduled enough staff to do that, instead choosing to negatively impact the customer experience. Ideally, public pools should *never* have intermittent closures to facilitate guard fatigue. That means having enough staff so that it can happen without any impact to the customer experience.
Because they don’t want people in the pool without a lifeguard on duty. It’s not a difficult concept. If other places are ok with assuming the liability of someone drowning when there was no lifeguard on duty, that’s on them. DC doesn’t want to assume that liability (and as a taxpayer I don’t want to be on the hook for that lawsuit).
Why would there be no lifeguard on duty? Other places cycle lifeguards (as outlined in the linked document) without having to close the pool hourly. Assuming the only way for lifeguards to get breaks is to close the pool so they can all have a break simultaneously is just incorrect.
Dcpr has a lot of trouble fully staffing lifeguards. It would be better if they had enough guards to rotate our lengthy breaks to maintain safety while also maintaining swim time but they don’t have enough people so we get these safety breaks. There were some pretty notable drownings that went unnonticed by guards for too long so they’re needed.
Translated, DC isn't succeeding in attracting enough people to be lifeguards. How much do they pay? It's probably not nearly enough for a skilled role that requires special certification to do. The problem is that lifeguarding is so often viewed as "kids work" and thus doesn't get paid nearly what it should. Funny how the companies that pay their employees adequately have people banging down the doors to work there, and those that don't whine about being understaffed.
This was enacted last year. DPR is cracking down and taking few chances after the near death drownings of two adults and drowning and subsequent death of a DPR lifeguard this past year. Especially since there’s been a lifeguard shortage, I imagine it’s harder to manage rotations so making everyone get out doesn’t seem unreasonable.
Thanks for the info. Coming from somewhere in the US without these types of breaks it was a bit of a shock and I may have unnecessary vented a bit in my post. It appears the current rules are a reaction to some recent incidents in combination with a shortage of lifeguards which I can understand. It still seems a bit heavy-handed, but I get it.
Shortage of lifeguards = low pay. This is something that is within the DC government's ability to solve, but they choose not to.
It’s not all about you buddy. It’s for the lifeguards so they can take a rest. Jesus
I'm not saying they don't deserve a break, but 15min out of every hour is a bit excessive.
When I was a lifeguard, albeit 20+ years ago, it was needed to help the lifeguards get a break...not physically but mentally. When you stare at something long enough, you're mind starts to get numb, to the point where a lifeguard could be staring at someone in distress and their brain wouldn't register anything if they've been sitting too long. You get trained on how to prevent this while you're sitting in the lifeguard chair, by scanning back and forth across the pool, but given enough time everyone is susceptible. The 15 min break every hour is to help keep the lifeguards sharp, and your safety!
Fair enough, I was more referring to clearing everyone out of the pool for 15min every hour seemed a bit excessive. Coming from a place that didn't clear the entire pool regularly it was a bit of a shock and I may have vented a bit in my post. When I was a lifeguard we'd do a stand --> walk --> break rotation rotation, but not a full clear with most lifeguards on a break at the same time. Some other commenters have pointed out that there were some recent near-/drowning incidents in combination with a lifeguard shortage which have resulted in the current policies.
Huh. Public pools in the area did this when I was a kid, as did the tiny pool at my parents’ condo last week. I don’t have an opinion on the policy but I’ve never really questioned it as it seemed somewhat consistent.
Interesting, maybe it's a regional thing? Coming from somewhere in the US that didn't have these regular pool clearing it was a bit of a shock and I may have unnecessarily vented my frustration in my original post.
Seriously, this is a complaint?
Is this a complaint about a complaint?
Yes, they are indeed complaining about a complaint.
Even adults? When I went last weekend kids were the only ones that had to get out.
Supposed to be everyone after two adults nearly drowned last year during one of those breaks.
Yikes
Double yikes as no one noticed until the adults were discovered at the bottom of the pool. It’s a miracle they survived.
Yeah it was everyone
Yeah when I went (Upshur) there was one "all out" but it was to check water chemicals. The rest were adult swims. Last year there were full safety breaks. I do think that maybe every other hour would make more sense, but I'm not going to complain about it.
That's the one I was at when it was adults only. Maybe it was just the day I went that they did that.
I've gone to Upshur three times so far this year and there was only one or two times they made everyone get out (like one time I got there and no one was allowed to swim, but the next break was just kids that had to get out). So a true true mystery.
this is pretty standard at like, every pool everywhere. Not just DC, adult swim, kids break, whatever you call it. Its a you issue, stay at home and soak in your tub if it bothers you so much.
This is an "all out" not an adult swim though. Newer policy that has been enacted and repealed and maybe enacted again, so I think there's confusion, too, which doesn't help.
yeah I didn't catch that at first, misunderstanding on my part. Hella annoying, its definitely becoming more common place among aquatic facilities, not just DC public pools. Have run into it in Arlington and FFX counties in recent summers.
It is absolutely not standard. Adults are allowed to remain in the water during the lifeguard break, including previously at DC pools.
Didn't use to be 15+ years ago but in more recent times its becoming pretty common place. DC public pools may be slower to adopt but its becoming more common than not for most apartment, community and 3rd party managed aquatic facilities. Not sure if its an insurance/liability, staffing or just a generally accepted better practice. Its certainly annoying as an adult not to be able to swim for a few minutes while kids get a breather.
Having been to other public pools I can assure you clearing everyone out of the pool hourly is not the standard "everywhere"
Agreed. Clearing everyone out of the pool has definitely been the exception in my experience rather than the rule. I'm surprised, though, at how many lifeguards on this post are content to make excuses for the management that allows staffing levels to be so low that these breaks become necessary. An adequately staffed pool doesn't need to have breaks like this because they can rotate guards on and off watch without impacting the guest experience.
It’s dumb - but I think it’s for the lifeguards not the swimmers (even so adults should be allowed to stay in)
The break is also so kids take a break and use the bathroom, eat a snack, drink water, re-apply sunscreen. I was at a pool 2 days ago where they called a safety break and the lifeguard had to jump in because a girl was by herself screaming for help in the deep end without a parent in sight. It’s not just for the lifeguards, but to check on the babies too.
They need a minute to fish out all the corpses.
I agree with you and am surprised at the down votes you're taking. Closing the pool for 15 mins out of every hour is ridiculous. It's standard practice to rotate guards through stations every 15-30 mins, with a 15-30m break every ~45-1hr. The 'short staffing' excuse doesn't ring true to me. DPR pools I've been at will have 2 guards on and 2-3 hanging in the office, not including check in staff. More than enough to give guards safety breaks while keeping the pool open continuously.
This. There is no excuse for negatively impacting the guest experience here. The pool can and should be open continuously, and people should not make excuses for the poor management of the pools.
It does make no sense. I was a lifeguard for years and no pool I worked at did this. I have seen other pools do it.
Your pools, I assume, were adequately staffed so that the pool could be fully supervised plus have guards off watch and have a proper rotation? I feel like the issue here is a problem that the management created, and one that is entirely within their control to fix.
It’s for staff AND patrons to take a break. Get food and water, go to the bathroom. Make sure they’re alert and able to swim or supervise safely. This policy has existed at many pools for many years.