Swimming in purpose-built pools
Download this
page as a pdf
Description
This activity refers to taking young members
swimming in purpose-built swimming pools.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to all.
Participants do not have to be able to swim
unaided as long as the appropriate swimming aids are used.
Guides may go swimming
without a Leader, provided:
- they are accompanied by a responsible adult
who has been approved by the Leader
- they have permission from their Leader
- appropriate lifeguard cover is available
- they use the buddy system (swim in pairs or
small groups for safety).
Senior Section members may go
swimming without an adult, provided:
- they have permission from their Leader
- appropriate lifeguard cover is available
- they use the buddy system (swim in pairs or
small groups for safety).
If you have any participants with a medical
condition which will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the lifeguard and make provision to allow her to participate
safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
Normal ratios for activities away from the
meeting place are required.
Guiding Manual ratios
There must be a minimum of two adult helpers
(except for the Senior Section, for whom adult helpers are not
applicable).
There must be sufficient adult helpers to
supervise and maintain the appropriate ratio at all times either
for the section(s) or as stipulated by the pool management,
whichever is the stricter.
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that
the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
Before swimmers enter the water, the
Leader must:
- ensure that safety rules and alarm signals
have been explained to them
- be satisfied that everyone understands the
need for instructions to be obeyed immediately
- follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are
familiar with them.
Public swimming
pools:
Instructor
qualifications
Lifeguards must hold one of the
following minimum lifeguard qualifications:
- RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
(NPLQ)
- STA NARS Pool Lifeguard.
The ratio of lifeguards to swimmers will be
given in the Normal Operating Procedure (NOP) for the pool
concerned. All public pools are required to have a written NOP and
Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
If the Leader is unsure or needs more
information about qualifications, ask your local Activities Adviser
or contact activities@girlguiding.org.uk.
Privately-hired or
privately-owned pools:
(where you are providing the
lifeguards)
- The Leader must ensure that there is a
suitably qualified lifeguard aged 16+ who is not included in
the adult to girl ratios.
- The lifeguard should not be in the water at
the same time as the swimmers.
- One lifeguard is required per 250 square
metres of pool, or per 50 swimmers.
Instructor
qualifications
For free swimming (fun or play sessions), instructors or
supervisors must hold a national lifeguarding
qualification:
- RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
- STA NARS Pool Lifeguard.
For structured swimming sessions (sponsored swim, organised
games, badge work etc.) instructors may alternatively hold one
of the following awards:
- RLSS National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches
(NRASTC)
- STA NARS Pool Safety Award
Please note: These awards are only valid at the depth in which
the assessment took place.
Useful
information
Before the activity, find out about
the facilities at the pool including:
- the qualifications held by the
lifeguard(s)
- the level of supervision provided
- the depth of the pool.
Inform the pool management
about:
- the size of the group
- the ages of the swimmers.
A responsible adult helper
should:
- remain alert throughout the activity
- check numbers frequently
- call swimmers out of the water if
necessary
- inform the lifeguard(s) if anyone is in
difficulty.
In privately-hired pools, responsible
adult helpers should also:
- conform to the requirements laid down in the
pool’s conditions of hire
- assume responsibility for evacuating the rest
of the swimmers from the pool if the lifeguard needs to enter the
water
- know how to make non-contact reaching and
throwing rescues
- find out where there is a telephone that can
be used in an emergency
- ensure that emergency equipment, such as
rescue aids and first aid equipment, is available.
Swimmers must:
- be paired according to ability, stay in these
pairs and be responsible for watching each other (the ‘buddy’
system)
- enter unheated water gradually and come out
of the water if they start to get cold
- follow the rules of the pool.
It is recommended that a blanket or other
items that offer protection from the wind are available.
Leaders are encouraged to contact local
swimming clubs, the Royal Life Saving
Society (RLSS UK) and the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA)
for information on booking a lifeguard.
Girlguiding UK Activity
Centres:
Try this activity
at: Blackland
Farm (Sussex)
or Foxlease (Hampshire).
Useful websites
British Swimming and The Amateur
Swimming Association - http://www.britishswimming.org/.
Royal Life Saving Society UK
- http://www.rlssonline.com
Water
and leisure safety advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents.
Page last updated: 4/4/2012