Lifeguards + Pool Patrons =
Safer Swimming Pools

Our opinion is that the best way to prevent child drowning is for lifeguards and pool patrons to work together in watching children.

Look at this 3 second sequence in which a child who cannot swim steps into water over his head and sinks beneath the surface.

Someone needs to get to this child within seconds!

Why not only lifeguards?

Because:

1.It only takes seconds for a child start needing help.

2.Lifeguards cannot watch everyone in the pool at the same time, and therefore may not see a child at the moment he or she slips underwater or otherwise needs help.

3.Lifeguards have duties such as enforcing pool rules that take their attention away from watching people in the pool.

4.A drowning child may slip quietly beneath the surface of the water with no struggle and no gasping for air.  Once underwater, they often cannot return to the surface on their own.

5.Surface disturbance, glare and reflection can make it difficult or impossible to see into the pool through the surface of the water.

Please read further to learn more about how you might prevent a drowning and to see a true case study.

 Did you know?

•Children often slip quietly beneath the surface, without a struggle and stay underwater unless someone rescues them.

•Time is critical! The amount of time that a child is underwater affects the likelihood that they will survive unharmed, or will die.

•Most drownings occur in shallow water.

•A body on the bottom of the pool will sometimes look like a shadow, or debris, or something else that does not look like a body.

•When you see anything unusual underwater or on the surface take action and investigate immediately.

Look how a body beneath the surface of the water can be invisible:

Calm water surface:
body clearly visible

Disturbed water surface:
body becomes invisible

True Case Study:

June 2011 – A 3-year old girl was napping on a chaise lounge at the pool with her mother nearby. The little girl woke up and headed straight to the pool without being noticed by her mother or the lifeguard. The lifeguard spotted her unconscious, underwater in the shallow end and got her out of the pool. The girl was not breathing, so the lifeguard performed Rescue Breathing. The little girl began breathing and was fine by the time EMS arrives. She was checked out at the hospital and is perfectly healthy. It is important to note that this all took place in a very short period of time.

This is a true story. We suggest that had there could have been another scenario, also with a happy ending, and that either is good. Here is the other scenario:

A 3-year old girl was napping on a chaise lounge at the pool with her mother nearby. The little girl woke up and headed straight to the pool without being seen by the mother or the lifeguard. The mother spotted her daughter unconscious, underwater in shallow end, and called for the lifeguard who was enforcing a rule at the time. The girl was not breathing, so the lifeguard performed Rescue Breathing. The little girl began breathing and was fine by the time EMS arrives.  She was checked out at the hospital and is perfectly healthy.

These are both acceptable outcomes. The important thing was that someone saw the little girl in-time to prevent injury or death, and that the lifeguard had the skills and training to provide care.

In summary, while lifeguards are an important part of preventing drowning and providing emergency care, we believe that the combination of Lifeguards + Pool Patrons equals better chances of saving lives.

Click here to watch a drowning prevention video message from Dr. Tom Griffiths, well-known aquatic safey consultant.

The Pool Management Group evaluates research and information related to swimming pool patron safety to share with pool patrons and pool owners.  We respectfully offer our opinion, based on our experience and knowledge in operating 750 commercial pools annually.