STANDARDS & BENCHMARKING
Linking Up
Pool Alone
Pool Alone Case Studies
As a result of the Pool Alone survey showing that some facility managers would like to have additional criteria added to the existing national policy, Case Studies have been put together to show what is working at other facilities around NZ. These case studies can be found here. Further case studies will be added over coming weeks.
North Shore Leisure Glenfield (pdf)
Jellie Park Case Study (pdf)
H2O Xtream Case Study (pdf)
Manurewa Aquatic Centre Case Study (pdf)
Pool Alone Policy Review Outcome
A total of 60 responses to the Pool Alone Policy Survey were received which is a 45% return rate. This enabled a good understanding of the thoughts and issues regarding the current Pool Alone Policy and therefore an informed review. The outcome can be read here. (pdf)
Can Your Facility Help Promote the Pool Alone Message?
If your pool has a Facebook page or website, please help promote the Pool Alone message by downloading the following pdf and posting it to your website or Facebook page.
Pool Alone Advert (pdf)
Child Supervision
Increasingly children are being left unsupervised at public swimming pools. Tragically a two year old boy drowned at a PoolSafe Pool in 2007. The incident was reviewed by NZRA, the report highlighted the need for direct supervision of young children by parents and caregivers and strict enforcement of the Pool Alone policy. Lifeguards do a great job of keeping our pools safe, but they are not babysitters.
The Pool Alone policy was developed in 1997 (revised in 2002) to provide national consistency within the aquatics industry. The policy provides a recommended code of practice for child supervision and states:
Children under 8 must be actively supervised by a caregiver 16 or over.
Actively supervised means watching your child at all time. Able to provide immediate assistance.
Pool Alone Radio Ads
NZRA has produced a series of three Pool Alone radio ads designed to promote enjoyment and safe supervision at public pools this summer. There are also three versions of a public address notice that pools can download and use. Each PA announcement is slightly different. To listen, please click on the links below. To save, right click and select Save Target As..
- Watch Me (MP3)
- Your Responsibility (MP3)
- Get Involved (MP3)
- Under 8's supervised by a caregiver over 16 and under 5's within reach (MP3)
- Under 8's supervised by a responsible caregiver (MP3)
- Under 8's actively supervised (defined) (MP3)
Pool Alone Brochure
Your Child Your Responsibility - is a brochure targeted at parents and caregivers of children. This brochure will assist pool managers and lifeguards to communicate the importance of supervision at public swimming pools and is available free of charge via WSNZ.
Consistent Communication - All facilities should also develop a standard set of key messages to ensure maximum consistency of communication by all staff members. Suggested Pool Alone key messages include:
Why do I have to watch my child - that's your job?
Lifeguards are an important safety feature, but they are not intended to replace the close supervision of parents or caregivers. In public swimming pools all children under 8 must be actively supervised by a caregiver 16 or over.
Do I need to watch my child constantly?
YES. Active supervision means watching your child at all times. Able to provide immediate assistance. Tragically many drowning deaths occur in the few seconds that parents are distracted.
Difficult Customers - Sometimes a customer will not respond to the best efforts at education and patience. Such cases should be immediately referred to the Senior Lifeguard or person in charge. At all times when dealing with parents/caregivers, reinforce the need to ensure the safety of those using the facility. Explain that the facility is an environment with inherent dangers and that the role of a lifeguard is to ensure people are safe in the water - they are not babysitters.
Public Pools - Pool Alone
Written Evidence
CRITERIA: Confirmation that staff understand and apply the pools EAP. |
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HOW: Visual check and questioning to verify that staff understand EAP. |
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ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:
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On-site Evidence
CRITERIA: Confirmation that staff understand and apply the pools child supervision policy. |
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HOW: Visual check and questioning to verify that staff understand child supervision policy. |
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ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:
Front counter staff must be expert at the enforcement of pool alone as they are the primary enforcer
Poolside staff must be expert at the identification of, and corrective action relating to, unsupervised children under minimum age
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