Dive into Safety: The Crucial Partnership Between Parents and Pool Providers to Protect Our Children

Rodolfo Gamarra

***The absence of safety regulations has been identified as a critical factor behind incidents that have occurred in these recreational areas

Deaths due to the immersion of minors in club pools and leisure centers raised alarms among the community, so El Periodiquito consulted an expert to determine the rules and procedures that must be maintained, in order to avoid this type of tragedies.

The investigation determined that the absence of safety regulations has been a crucial factor behind these incidents, which calls for the need to reinforce preventive measures.

Eduardo Nápoles Cruz, swimming director of the Aquatic Sports Association of the state of Aragua, pointed out the shared responsibility of parents, those responsible for the facilities and the State. “Only with everyone’s cooperation can we guarantee safe environments for aquatic recreation for minors.”

Napoli emphasized the importance of establishing clear and effective guidelines in order to prevent accidents. In addition, he pointed out the relevance of adequate training and supervision of lifeguards, as well as the implementation of specific safety measures for different types of pools.

In the sports area, the teacher explained that the safety of athletes focuses on maintaining small groups of around 15 children per class, which promotes more effective management by coaches.

However, when addressing safety in recreational pools, he highlighted the need to have certified lifeguards and visual guards, strategically distributed depending on the length and depth of the pool.

In the same way, he emphasized the importance of regulating the use of alcohol in these places and guaranteeing a clear limit of children’s areas with adequate signs.

PARENTAL SUPERVISION

In terms of parents’ responsibilities when attending these sites with their children, he emphasized the need for active and constant adult supervision over the children, as well as the obligation to follow the safety instructions provided by the facility’s staff.

The expert emphasized that children, between the ages of three and five, must be accompanied by an adult at all times while they are in the water, to guarantee their safety.

He warned that the use of floats and other safety devices does not guarantee complete safety, “only the proximity of the parents at all times represents a true measure of protection.”

In the same way, he spoke of the importance of lifeguards keeping a clear limit on their areas of responsibility and being ready to act in an emergency.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

In a call for attention, Eduardo Nápoles Cruz highlighted the “urgent need” to strengthen safety standards in recreational pools and aquatic areas, intended for family recreation.

Emphasis is placed on the relevance of greater supervision and training, lifeguards and personnel involved in managing the facilities, in order to prevent accidents and protect the lives of users, especially minors.

He said that a good option is to include children from an early age in specialist swimming schools, “which guarantees a more effective response from babies to any event, as well as teaching them to apply safety rules in the water when swimming spaces.”

Continuous surveillance is the most effective security measure. Carrying out tactile supervision – ensuring that the child is always nearby – and arranging watch shifts between adults are two good preventive measures so that carelessness does not cause an incident in the pool.

Photos: Rodolfo Gamarra/Courtesy