All community pools should have 2 lifeguards on duty during pool hours
The Issue
As a lifeguard, it is our job to ensure safe conditions for our patrons and ourselves.
Currently, American Red Cross recommends that two lifeguards be assigned to a pool at a given time, and lifeguards should rotate every 30 minutes - 1 hour to ensure that fatigue, heat stroke, and simple distractions are avoided. However, the current legal requirement is one lifeguard for any pool under 3400 square feet. The need for 2 lifeguards continues as lifeguards themselves can fall victim to drowning. Lifeguards can trip and fall into the pool, injuring themselves, they can be electrocuted by faulty equipment, they can be attacked by a patron, or they can be pushed underwater by a patron during a rescue.
Lifeguards should also have a partner for extractions. Rescuing someone with a spinal injury alone is impossible, and asking for patrons help may not be effective as they aren’t trained like lifeguards are. It’s also dangerous for other patrons because during a rescue, a lifeguard cannot watch the rest of the pool, and may miss something vital such as another victim, and may be unable to assist in multiple victim scenarios.
Lifeguards are often given many tasks— watch patrons, answer questions, clean the pools, sign people in, check chemicals, preform rescues (that may require CPR— a task that is taxing and difficult for one individual), clean and stock bathrooms, and many other daily tasks. It’s simply too much for one person to do all of these things all at once.
Not only that, but lifeguards who are working alone may be unable to take needed breaks. Lifeguards may be on duty from the time they come in to the time they leave without a break for water, food, or to use the restroom; or, the lifeguard must close their pool for a given amount of time, disrupting patrons and causing conflicts. No one wants to be forced out of a pool on a hot day to watch the lifeguard sit down and eat lunch.
For the safety and comfort of our guests, and our lifeguards, it should be written in law that 2 lifeguards must be on duty at all community pools regardless of if that pool is owned by a company or township.
(Special thanks to Mattoon YMCA lifeguards and The Red Cross for video link)
Petition Closed
The Issue
As a lifeguard, it is our job to ensure safe conditions for our patrons and ourselves.
Currently, American Red Cross recommends that two lifeguards be assigned to a pool at a given time, and lifeguards should rotate every 30 minutes - 1 hour to ensure that fatigue, heat stroke, and simple distractions are avoided. However, the current legal requirement is one lifeguard for any pool under 3400 square feet. The need for 2 lifeguards continues as lifeguards themselves can fall victim to drowning. Lifeguards can trip and fall into the pool, injuring themselves, they can be electrocuted by faulty equipment, they can be attacked by a patron, or they can be pushed underwater by a patron during a rescue.
Lifeguards should also have a partner for extractions. Rescuing someone with a spinal injury alone is impossible, and asking for patrons help may not be effective as they aren’t trained like lifeguards are. It’s also dangerous for other patrons because during a rescue, a lifeguard cannot watch the rest of the pool, and may miss something vital such as another victim, and may be unable to assist in multiple victim scenarios.
Lifeguards are often given many tasks— watch patrons, answer questions, clean the pools, sign people in, check chemicals, preform rescues (that may require CPR— a task that is taxing and difficult for one individual), clean and stock bathrooms, and many other daily tasks. It’s simply too much for one person to do all of these things all at once.
Not only that, but lifeguards who are working alone may be unable to take needed breaks. Lifeguards may be on duty from the time they come in to the time they leave without a break for water, food, or to use the restroom; or, the lifeguard must close their pool for a given amount of time, disrupting patrons and causing conflicts. No one wants to be forced out of a pool on a hot day to watch the lifeguard sit down and eat lunch.
For the safety and comfort of our guests, and our lifeguards, it should be written in law that 2 lifeguards must be on duty at all community pools regardless of if that pool is owned by a company or township.
(Special thanks to Mattoon YMCA lifeguards and The Red Cross for video link)
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Petition created on June 24, 2019