Why a Pool Safety Break is Great
Do you remember a pool safety break? Being a kid at the public pool and having the lifeguard kick everyone out of the pool for 15 minutes periodically? It cut into your fun time, but it was a good time for snacks! It made no sense when you were younger, but now we can help explain it to you. We’ll be talking about what a pool safety break is, what it’s for, and why you may want to start implementing them at home.
What is a pool safety break?
For almost every public pool, lifeguards will call everyone out of the water for about 15 minutes at the top of every hour. This is called a pool safety break, as that is the main purpose of this time-out on pool activity. There are plenty of safety benefits to this break, which we’ll take a look at now.
- Allows lifeguards to look for any pool issues: With so many people in the pool, it can be hard to see if any hazardous situations have popped up. This could include any broken items in or around the pool, toxic water issues, etc.
- Allows parents/guardians and lifeguards to ensure the kids have their adults and vice versa: If a swimmer is under the age of 13, they typically are required to have a grownup present. If there’s a childless parent or parentless child, there is a problem.
- Allows parents/guardians a short span of time to relax: When you are watching over a child at the pool, even if there is a lifeguard on duty, you need to be watching them with minimal distractions. These safety breaks give adults a period of time to check their phones or mingle with the other adults while their kid is out of the water.
- Allows all swimmers a chance to take a rest: Swimming/playing in the pool can be exhausting even for a strong swimmer. These safety breaks give everyone a window of time to rehydrate, reapply sunscreen, and take a breather. It’s also a good time to check the little swimmers with swim diapers and take younger kids for a potty break. These 15 minutes make for a perfect mini-break to take care of all your needs before hopping back in.
- Allows lifeguards a time to relax: Yes, even lifeguards can get tired and sunburned. Safety breaks are as much of a rest for them as they should be for everyone else. Another lifeguard can pop in and cover their section so they can go reapply sunscreen, hit the restroom, and refill their waters so they can be ready to be on guard again.
Why to consider a pool safety break at home?
Now that you know what exactly a pool safety break are meant for, why not think about implementing them at home? Having the safe 15-minute break system at home would keep your kids adjusted to that for when they are at a public pool, as well as give them that same benefit of taking time to rest (even if they don’t feel like they need it). Sunscreen can be redone, snacks and drinks can be had, and they can take some time in the shade to breathe. Parents can take a moment to check the pool for any safety issues, and then take a breather themselves.
Pool safety breaks at swimming pools really are a smart choice to enact. They help to keep swimmers, guardians, and lifeguards alike. It allows the pool to be checked for safety, as well. Overall, having safety breaks at home and at public pools allows for a higher quality of safety and a better feeling all around for everyone. Now, get out there and enjoy the pool!
