Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 08:58     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Although this is focused on MCSL, i'd be surprised if things are that different from Fairfax county, where the lifeguard's workstation isn't literally the workstation need not be the physical stand.

"Lifeguard station means a lifeguard stand or other designated work station of a lifeguard."

When I just casually googled MoCo water recreation/safety code, the language is on having un-obstrucuted view of the pool and the lifeguard (a coach, or some other person who is certified) can be on deck.

I'm inclined to think the person who called the county health department is just trolling all of us.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 08:25     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Still no lifeguards at morning practices. How do I contact this county inspector to visit?


Your reaction seems extreme. Have you thought of bringing up your concern with coaches and the team reps?

Wouldn't be surprised if you're the diving block at tryouts poster.


NP - doing what it takes to ensure your pool follows the law and keeps the kids safe is extreme?


No, but going straight to county inspectors before discussing your concerns with the powers at be is extreme. My suggestion was to talk to the coaches, reps, and board members (if there are any) first.

I compare it to parents who go straight to the principal or superintendent rather than talking to their child’s teacher first.




Who said they hadn’t already communicated with the pool board, swim team committee and meet officials about safety?
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 05:21     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Still no lifeguards at morning practices. How do I contact this county inspector to visit?


Your reaction seems extreme. Have you thought of bringing up your concern with coaches and the team reps?

Wouldn't be surprised if you're the diving block at tryouts poster.


NP - doing what it takes to ensure your pool follows the law and keeps the kids safe is extreme?


No, but going straight to county inspectors before discussing your concerns with the powers at be is extreme. My suggestion was to talk to the coaches, reps, and board members (if there are any) first.

I compare it to parents who go straight to the principal or superintendent rather than talking to their child’s teacher first.

Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 17:06     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.


I think you are making a stink about nothing.

There are some cases where the pool’s insurance only kicks in if a guard is in the chair, but that is rare.

Inspectors have never dinged anyone for not being in the chair. Inspectors are also food inspectors who inspect restaurants 40 hours per week. Then in the summer they add about 40 pools and 20 pool snack bars each. It used to be they were required to come 1x a month between May and September to inspect all of their pools. Something has clearly changed, because aside from the opening season inspection, I know of a few pools that have only seen an inspector 3-4 times combined during the last 6 seasons.


You’re wrong. They’ve been out multiple days and made multiple changes including the mandate that ready to rescue lifeguards always be provided when anyone is in the water, including swim team before operating hours.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:56     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:If your pool doesn’t have a ready to rescue lifeguard dedicated to the lanes during swim practice, you need to report it to the health department. Not sure why these pools have been able to operate so long without property safety protocols, but the county is slowly catching up. Not just to lifeguards but also pool depth, enforcing facility rules, etc.


Not all heroes wear capes, some wear.......
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 14:51     Subject: Question for MCSL people
If your pool doesn’t have a ready to rescue lifeguard dedicated to the lanes during swim practice, you need to report it to the health department. Not sure why these pools have been able to operate so long without property safety protocols, but the county is slowly catching up. Not just to lifeguards but also pool depth, enforcing facility rules, etc.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 09:02     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.


I think you are making a stink about nothing.

There are some cases where the pool’s insurance only kicks in if a guard is in the chair, but that is rare.

Inspectors have never dinged anyone for not being in the chair. Inspectors are also food inspectors who inspect restaurants 40 hours per week. Then in the summer they add about 40 pools and 20 pool snack bars each. It used to be they were required to come 1x a month between May and September to inspect all of their pools. Something has clearly changed, because aside from the opening season inspection, I know of a few pools that have only seen an inspector 3-4 times combined during the last 6 seasons.


Accidents happen. With 10 or more kids per lane coaches cannot see everything. Some of the teens are probably lifeguards but usually they are in their own lane swimming so they cannot see. Good practice is one or two lifeguards.


What might be a good practice is not required or enforced.


Families need to leave those pools then. We left a pool where we had safety, leadership and coaching concerns.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 08:35     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.


I think you are making a stink about nothing.

There are some cases where the pool’s insurance only kicks in if a guard is in the chair, but that is rare.

Inspectors have never dinged anyone for not being in the chair. Inspectors are also food inspectors who inspect restaurants 40 hours per week. Then in the summer they add about 40 pools and 20 pool snack bars each. It used to be they were required to come 1x a month between May and September to inspect all of their pools. Something has clearly changed, because aside from the opening season inspection, I know of a few pools that have only seen an inspector 3-4 times combined during the last 6 seasons.


Accidents happen. With 10 or more kids per lane coaches cannot see everything. Some of the teens are probably lifeguards but usually they are in their own lane swimming so they cannot see. Good practice is one or two lifeguards.


What might be a good practice is not required or enforced.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 07:47     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.


I think you are making a stink about nothing.

There are some cases where the pool’s insurance only kicks in if a guard is in the chair, but that is rare.

Inspectors have never dinged anyone for not being in the chair. Inspectors are also food inspectors who inspect restaurants 40 hours per week. Then in the summer they add about 40 pools and 20 pool snack bars each. It used to be they were required to come 1x a month between May and September to inspect all of their pools. Something has clearly changed, because aside from the opening season inspection, I know of a few pools that have only seen an inspector 3-4 times combined during the last 6 seasons.


Accidents happen. With 10 or more kids per lane coaches cannot see everything. Some of the teens are probably lifeguards but usually they are in their own lane swimming so they cannot see. Good practice is one or two lifeguards.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 07:05     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.


I think you are making a stink about nothing.

There are some cases where the pool’s insurance only kicks in if a guard is in the chair, but that is rare.

Inspectors have never dinged anyone for not being in the chair. Inspectors are also food inspectors who inspect restaurants 40 hours per week. Then in the summer they add about 40 pools and 20 pool snack bars each. It used to be they were required to come 1x a month between May and September to inspect all of their pools. Something has clearly changed, because aside from the opening season inspection, I know of a few pools that have only seen an inspector 3-4 times combined during the last 6 seasons.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 06:28     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.


That’s not enough according to the health department. Pools must “Provide a ready-to-rescue lifeguard at all times, including for swim team practices”. This means a lifeguard with a rescue tube and CPR masks sitting in a chair, not coaching swim team.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2025 06:21     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Is the injured Connecticut belair swimmer paralyzed? That is a nightmare scenario either way
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 21:51     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:The coaches are all certified lifeguards and pool operators.


This is us also. Coaches must be pool operators and lifeguards to hold morning practices at our pool.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 21:30     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Still no lifeguards at morning practices. How do I contact this county inspector to visit?


Your reaction seems extreme. Have you thought of bringing up your concern with coaches and the team reps?

Wouldn't be surprised if you're the diving block at tryouts poster.


NP - doing what it takes to ensure your pool follows the law and keeps the kids safe is extreme?
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 15:42     Subject: Question for MCSL people
Health department has already been contacted and they agreed there must be lifeguards in chairs when anyone is in the pool regardless of whether the pool is open to members or not. They said they had no idea swim teams were swimming without lifeguards in chairs and thanked us for alerting them.