Are you thinking of using your private residential pool for teaching swimming
lessons, or for water-fitness classes?
Before you do, you should contact your insurance broker or agent about your
insurance policy and liability coverage. Most homeowner policies do not cover
activities such as teaching swimming lessons. You may need additional insurance
to protect both you and your clients.
Recognized instructional courses, such as those offered through the Canadian
Red Cross Water Safety Program must be taught by certified instructors. Make
sure that you and any other instructors are qualified to teach! You should also
have an adult available during classes to help the instructor in case of an
emergency. It is a good idea to contact the Workers' Compensation Board office
in your area to see if they have any workplace requirements you need to follow.
A pool operator training course is highly recommended for anyone who wants
to hold swimming classes in their own private pool. These courses cover topics
ranging from keeping your pool clean and safe, to equipment operation and maintenance.
Your local Environmental Health Officer may have a list of courses available
in or near your community.
Here are some important health and safety suggestions for private residential
pools used for swimming lessons:
The pool and pool-related facilities and equipment should be in a good state
of repair.
Make sure you have a non-slip deck surface to reduce the risk of slipping
and falling. Non-slip products are available that will etch or coat the surface
to reduce slipping. Check the Yellow Pages™.
Outdoor swimming pools should always be completely surrounded by a fence,
or wall, or other structure, to prevent young children from accidentally getting
into the pool and drowning. It should be at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) high
so a toddler can't jump up and reach the top. All gates or other entrances
to the pool should be equipped with a self-closing latch, also out of reach
of toddlers, and hardware that allows you to lock it permanently.
Consider keeping class sizes to no more than 10 students in the pool at
one time.
Make sure the water in the swimming pool is always clear enough that you
can easily see, from any point on the pool deck, either the main drain of
the pool or, alternatively, a black disc 6 inches (15 centimeters) wide, on
a white background, placed on the bottom of the pool at the deep end.
Maintain a free chlorine residual at all times of at least 2 milligrams
per litre (ppm) and a pH of 7.2 to 7.8.
You should periodically test your pool water for bacteriological water quality
by a certified lab (on a weekly basis if it is used by large numbers of students)
especially to make sure there are no Psueudemonas bacteria or total coliforms
present. You should also have testing equipment available, at pool-side, for
determining pH and chlorine levels, and use them regularly.
The filtration and disinfection equipment in a typical private residential
pool may not be as effective as the equipment used in public or commercial
pools, which are used by large numbers of people. Your pool should be equipped
with automatic chlorination equipment. NOTE: A chlorine "puck" in a
skimmer basket may not provide an adequate level of chlorine in the pool water.
Chemicals should be stored in a locked room, away from the immediate pool
area.
A washroom (toilet and hand basin) and dressing room should be available
to students. If possible, have a shower that students can use before they
enter the pool.
Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers, conspicuously posted, by the
phone closest to the pool. Numbers should include the nearest available police,
fire, ambulance, and/or rescue unit, and/or 911 (if available in your area).
You should have basic lifesaving equipment on hand at all times, including
one or more of the following items:
A light, strong, rigid pole not less than 12 feet (3.5 meters) in length,
with a body hook on one end;
A minimum one-quarter (1/4") inch or 5 millimeter throwing rope at least
one and one half (1 1/2) times longer than the maximum width of the pool One
end should be firmly attached to a ring buoy with an outside diameter of about
15 inches (45 centimeters), or a similar flotation device.
Increasing the flow rate through your pool's circulation system during swimming
lessons may at first glance appear to be a good idea. However, a number of serious
incidents have occurred where a person has been sucked onto or held against main
drains, inlet fittings or skimmer openings. In some cases, children have been
disembowelled by sitting on a main drain. Drownings have also occurred where children's
hair has been sucked into a suction fitting, making it impossible for them to
free themselves. Check all suction fittings to make sure they are designed so
as to protect against suction accidents.
Please note:
Because private residential
pools, including pools used for swimming lessons and "water-fit" classes, are
exempt from the Pool Regulations, these pools will not be inspected, or given
an operating permit, by Environmental Health Officers. For further information
on pool safety, see BC HealthFile #39a Safety Tips for
Swimmers.
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