FAQs
I have just been turned away from my local pool for turning up with too many children. Why is this?
It is hard to say why you might have been turned away as it depends upon the policy of the pool you were visiting, the number of children you had with you, the age of your children and their swimming ability.
I’m told there is new guidance on children swimming. What is it?
There is no new guidance. The guidance on child admissions comes from two places: the Health & Safety Executive and The Institute of Sport & Recreation Management (ISRM).
Why is this guidance needed? I have never heard of children drowning in a public pool.
Fortunately, drowning in swimming pools is a rare occurrence but it does happen.
Why do we need to adopt this guidance given there are lifeguards on duty? Surely this is their job?
You’re right in that the role of the lifeguard is to prevent accidents. But the intention of the guidance is not to reduce the number of lifeguards supervising swimmers.
Who is the ISRM and what is the status of their guidance?
The Institute of Sport & Recreation Management (ISRM) is the leading national professional body for sport and recreational management in this country.
Why has my pool just changed its policy so that I can no longer take my two children swimming?
It is not clear why your pool may suddenly have changed its policy.
The pool down the road has a different policy. How can this be right?
The pool down the road will be different from your local pool in some way.
What does ISRM state?
The Institute of Sport & Recreation Management (ISRM) is the leading national professional body for sport and recreational management in this country.
What has age got to do with it?
The influence of age is likely to be on swimming ability, height in relation to pool
water depth, maturity, behaviour, and the understanding of risk.
