LGS SB 5.15 Closing of Water Area

Introduction

At any time through the course of duties, Lifeguards may be requested to evacuate and/or close the pool/s or part thereof due to a safety risk to the bathing public. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Lightning strike
• Chemical – external or internal
• Syringe/knife/glass in water (suspected)
• Fallen object – tree, light pole
• Foreign object
• Poor water visibility
  

Procedures

Lightning Strike
Lifeguard 9 is determine whether the pool/s are to be evacuated

Lifeguard 9 is to then contact ‘Control’ and inform them of the following:

• Pool/s are being closed
• Reason for closure
• Whether assistance is required to evacuate the pool/s
• One Lifeguard is to collect the 10 (Pool Closed) signs from underneath Boat pool tower using “key 4”and place them in the same positions as the beach unattended signs around the pools (In the case of server winds do not do this as signs may become missiles.
  

Lifeguard 9 is to then organise:

• Radio “Control” to Play Storm warning and exit Pool Audio over speaker system.
• All Lifeguards and assisting Security Officers to target particular areas.
  

Lifeguards/Security are to: * Inform all swimmers (and parents/guardians) of closure (temporary or permanent).

• Inform everyone in the area that no body parts are to be in the water.
• Continually monitor all areas.
• Be positioned at Main Pool, Boat Pool and Aquativity.
• If it is a severe lightning storm two lifeguards are to remain in the buggy with the rest sheltering inside for safety reasons and A frames are not to be placed out if there are strong winds.
• In the case of hail or extreme winds where lifeguard 9 has safety concerns they may inform control that the lifeguards are leaving the pool area for safety reasons and will return once the hazard has passed.
  

Chemical Substance in Water – internal or external
As per LGS SB 5.17 Removal of Contaminants from Water Area

Suspected Syringe/Glass/Sharp object/s
If found by a member of the public:
Lifeguard to notify Lifeguard 9 that:

• Object located or
• Object found
• Lifeguard to treat patient
• Senior Lifeguard/Shift Senior (after primarily investigating) is then to follow removal of contaminate procedures as per LGS SB 5.17.
  

Fallen Object/Foreign Object
Senior Lifeguard/Shift Senior is to contact ‘Control’ and inform them of the following:

• Pool/s, or part thereof are being closed
• Reason for closure
• Whether assistance is required to evacuate the pool/s
  

Lifeguard to treat any patients

Lifeguard 9 to ask ‘Control’ to contact ‘Senior Maintenance Officer’(if needed)

Lifeguard 9 is to then organise:

• One Lifeguard with loud hailer (unless numbers are under 20) to evacuate pools.
• All Lifeguards as per ‘Minimum Lifeguard Procedure’.
• Lifeguards are to:
  • Inform all swimmers – if affected (and parents/guardians) of closure (temporary or permanent).
  • Continually monitor all areas.
  • Change ‘Minimum Lifeguard Procedure’ if all pools are not involved in closure i.e. All swimmers to move to boat pool with Lifeguard numbers to increase around ‘Boat Pool’.

Poor Water Visibility
As per LGS SB 5.21 Water Clarity Testing