Re: Safe Swim Defense
michelle storrusten (michelle_storrusten@GFPS.K12.MT.US)
Thu, 30 Oct 1997 16:01:29 U
I just had to answer this one, even though I am not qualified to quote
policies from a Scouting point of view. I used to be a lifeguard at our
college pool. Yes, I was 19, but married with kids of my own. The Scouts
would visit the pool quite often, but they were usually dropped off and I was
left to watch 40 kids by myself. I don't know where the leaders went, but 40
boys to one lifeguard is entirely too many, and I told the Pool
Administrator. He didn't listen to me, because we were within swimmer to
lifeguard regulations.
Anyway, one night, as I was breaking up a fight between four Scouts from
different Packs, another Scout and his brother tried to do backflips off the
side of the pool behind my back. Needless to say, it didn't work. One of
the boys landed on his face, knocked some teeth out, and suffered a minor
concussion. I administered First Aid, and called the parents. When they
showed, it was pool policy to have them sign a release of liability form. Of
course, they did. I don't know who paid the boy's hospital bills, except that
it wasn't the pool.
So, I advise for your boys' and troops' protection, keep practicing those
SSD's. You DO need to worry about the safety of the boys, and by preventing
accidents, we reduce the need for liability in the first place.
-Michelle "I know my limits!" S.
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Randy Storms wrote:
"For instance, our municipal pool does not utilize the buddy system,
ability groups, or lookouts, and the "qualified supervision" is usually
some 19 year-old college student, who is often the only visible guard
for the entire facility.
Our District Exec said that because the pool is liable, we don't need to
worry about it -- but is the purpose of the SSD to limit liability or to
prevent accidents? I say that for *any* scout activity that includes
swimming, the SSD must be followed. Am I wrong?"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
