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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed at swimming pool hygiene?

31 replies

Frankthefrog · 19/02/2017 19:47

Do you think I'm being unreasonable for making a complaint? I was at swimming lessons with DS2 watching from the side trying not to stare at very attractive swimming teacher when a little girl around 8 spewed chunks at the other end of the pool, this was bad enough but it was what happened next Im so annoyed about, the lifeguard looked over then ignored it, the poor girls mum tried to scoop up as much as possible while dealing with poorly daughter. She went up to the lifeguard and gestured there was still bits in the pool.

Eventually he went over and kind of flicked some bits out with a float, then allowed a dad and young baby to go in the same bit a minute later. One of the mums at the lesson went over and said to them (we were at the other end of the pool and minutes left of the lesson).

DS1 had a lesson a half an hour later at that bit and I was assured it would be cleaned up, water cycled more chlorine put in and advised that means it's safe again. Only when DS2 went to go to his lesson there were still visible 'matter' at the side of the pool and the very apologetic swimming teacher said they hadn't done it yet (DS2 wasn't happy at mummy not letting him in)

OP posts:
YawningHippo · 19/02/2017 19:54

Definitely not unreasonable and I say that as a mum of a DS who has shut down 4 pools due to 'bodily mishaps'! I would completely expect a complaint to be made if no real effort had been made to clean the pool efficiently.

Fma14 · 19/02/2017 19:55

Not unreasonable no, that's really grim. As annoying as it is, whenever there is poop or vomit in it should be cleaned shouldn't it? I would rather be told that its shut than to swim in someone's vomit or expose my child to it.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/02/2017 19:57

YANBU.

Whenever that happens at my local (grotty) council pool they close the pool. So YANBU.

harderandharder2breathe · 19/02/2017 19:57

Yanbu, that's disgusting. Of course these things happen, it's not the girls fault or her mums (assuming she hadn't been up all night vomiting). The pool should have procedures in place to deal with it and not put everyone else at risk of getting sick.

LaPharisienne · 19/02/2017 19:59

YANBU

Merlin40 · 19/02/2017 19:59

That is rank! Pool definitely should have been closed!

SequinsOnEverything · 19/02/2017 19:59

Whenever that happens at my local (grotty) council pool they close the pool.

Same here. I wouldn't let my children get in and I would have complained.

Katy07 · 19/02/2017 20:00

Bleugh! For this I'd complain. That's disgusting.

foxyloxy78 · 19/02/2017 20:02

YANBU! Make a complaint asap. I have always known pools to shut down when such things happen.

Original poster
Frankthefrog · 19/02/2017 20:02

I am awful at complaining I somehow end up apologising for the complaint! When I said at the front desk I was told that kids are sick so often in the pool that guidelines just say they need to put more chemical in. Wanted to make sure I wasn't being unreasonable.

OP posts:
4yoniD · 19/02/2017 20:03

Wow. Pool would be closed straight away here.

Crispbutty · 19/02/2017 20:05

My friend is a swimming teacher and when it has happened at her pool they have to close it for cleaning.

Madcats · 19/02/2017 20:08

DD had weekly swimming lessons at a local boarding school pool (so only a couple of kids/per hour). We used to reckon on getting texted to not turn up for our afternoon session at least twice a year.

We've usually had at least 4 hours' notice so I am guessing that they either drain or dump a lot of chemicals in every time there is an "incident".

Possibly too late now, but flat cola was my "go to" remedy to kill potential tummy bugs when I swam in the sea.

Branleuse · 19/02/2017 20:12

thats rank.

When my kids were at swimming once, someone vomited in the pool and they drained the pool to clean it

ephemeralfairy · 19/02/2017 20:12

That is revolting. I'm emetophobic and THIS is why I don't go swimming, no matter how often people tell me I'm being paranoid. Now I know I'm not Sad

Rixera · 19/02/2017 20:13

My OH works for a firm that deals with such 'mishaps' and yes it absolutely should have been closed, the water for the whole facility will need to be treated, it's so unsanitary to leave it floating there! It could make people very unwell and there are consequences if it gets reported, not to mention if someone becomes unwell as a result.

ILoveMyMonkey · 19/02/2017 20:15

Urgh that's grim! When DS was about 7 months old he puked in the pool and the lifeguard set the fire alarm off to empty itBlush. Humiliating but necessary.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/02/2017 20:16

In fact, rereading the OP, definitely complain - it sounds like the pool management may not have even know about it?

F1GI · 19/02/2017 20:16

Filthy.
I've seen this happen and they get everyone out of the pool and it gets some sort of chemical treatment which puts the pool out of action for the rest of the day.

Devilishpyjamas · 19/02/2017 20:17

Ewwwww

JenniferYellowHat1980 · 19/02/2017 20:17

They shut down the pool immediately for 24 hours here.

Katy07 · 19/02/2017 20:18

I'm never getting in a pool again...

Gazelda · 19/02/2017 20:21

I'd be cancelling all future lessons at that pool.

Original poster
Frankthefrog · 19/02/2017 20:29

Yea Gazelda I think I will be. I'm going to email a complaint in tomorrow. I hope noone got ill from it! It's just disgusting!

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/02/2017 20:33

No. YDNBU to complain. That's terrible practice. My dd was sick in a pool once and everyone had to evacuate the pool and it was drained and cleaned. Which is good thing.