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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this person should be "struck off" from being a lifeguard?

208 replies

chippietea · 07/06/2017 12:28

Stayed on a holiday park well known chain last weekend Friday to Sunday. Sunday afternoon we went into the pool for the first time (we had already looked around it). I took the baby in a float (10mo) and my son and my niece (both 13yo) headed for the slide. I paddled over to near the exit of the slide with the baby to watch them drop out. My son came out first and after he landed in the water and came back up to the surface a female lifeguard (I'll call her L) said to him "there is a gold fish in the water why don't you try to find it?" I had already heard her say this to two other little girls and thought well he is a bit old for games like that and sure enough he didn't take much notice. Then it was my nieces turn. As she came around the last bend of the slide and I caught sight of her the same lifeguard L said to her "Quick!Stop!" before she had exited the slide. So my niece tried to stop herself from exiting the slide and told me afterwards that she panicked and thought something bad was about to happen. She couldn't stop herself from falling off of the end of the slide so she landed in the plunge pool. When she came up out of he water she looked at the lifeguard L and waited for her to tell her why she had told her to stop. But she didn't say anything and was grinning. At that point my niece turned to me and asked me why did she tell me to stop? It was only then that I saw L's expression change as she hadn't realized up until that point that I knew this girl and had witnessed what had happened. So I replied to my niece I don't know, I then turned to L and asked her the same question. To which she replied "it was just a joke". I informed her that I did not think that that is very funny and it was quite juvenile and she said I'm sorry. It was at that point that I found out what this lifeguards name was. I then swam away from her. I was furious. I think it is outrageous that somebody in a position of responsibility as a lifeguard thinks that it is a funny joke to tell a 13-year-old girl who is going down a waterslide to stop when in my opinion she knew full well that she would not be able to stop and make that child believe that she is about to be injured or is in danger when in fact there was absolutely no reason for her to stop. I saw L speaking with another lady after the incident who was wearing a white polo shirt and obviously a member of staff. I decided I would go to reception once we had left the pool to raise my concerns when the children were not with me, I did not want to distress them. I was also not keen on staying in the pool after this incident had occurred but again I did not want to distress the children and make them feel as though they were being punished for something that was out of their control. When I arrived at reception approximately 45 minutes to an hour later I started to speak to a lady and express my dissatisfaction. During this conversation the lady in the white polo shirt entered reception from the back somewhere and the lady that I spoke to at reception beckoned her over. She introduced herself as the sports and leisure manager (I'll call her N). So I told her what had happened and her response was yes I know all about it L spoke to me after the incident. She then began a corporate sounding speech saying that "here at THE COMPANY we don't believe our lifeguards should be viewed as being there just to enforce rules, we believe they should engage with the guests. L told me that she said to your niece quick stop look for this goldfish". Obviously at that point I stopped N and told her that did not happen, there was no mention whatsoever of a goldfish to my niece when L told her to stop, at which point she was still actually going down the waterslide. This was utterly untrue. N said she would speak to L about the incident and she can only apologize. This exchange with N did nothing to pacify my dissatisfaction. I asked N that if she had known about this incident for up to an hour why where we only having this conversation now? She said she didn't know who I was in the pool area. I found it very hard to believe that she couldn't have asked L to point me out. I also felt that had L not felt that she had done anything wrong as N was trying to put across to me why would she have approached N to discuss this matter quite quickly after it happened? I felt in my honest opinion that she had done so in order to put her spin on what had happened for her own reasons, to try and save herself and not for any concern for my or my nieces experience. Not only that but she had lied by telling N that she spoke to my niece about the goldfish which was utterly untrue. I also felt that N had already come to a conclusion in her mind as to what had happened just purely from L's perspective and she had little interest in finding out from me what had happened before she formed her opinion. I ended up logging this as an official complaint at reception and the lady who took my complaint asked me what do you want us to do for you? My response was for me quite simply nothing. I don't want a refund, I don't want a free upgrade, I don't want any vouchers. I want L to be dealt with appropriately because she not only made a child believe that they were in danger she then went on to lie about what happened. Also by my niece trying to stop when there was no need to could have caused injury or harm to my niece or another person. In my opinion this is a health and safety issue and a safeguarding issue. I received an email today again apologizing and saying the member of staff has received additional training to make sure that this never happens again. All within the space of less than 48 hours. I find it very saddening that an adult in a position of responsibility such as a lifeguard has in my opinion abused the power that comes with that responsibility over a child and that THE COMPANY finds it appropriate to allow that member of staff to continue operating in that position of responsibility. To this date I have no idea of L's motives when she told a child to quickly stop when going down a waterslide and I expect that I never will. AIBU to want to stop this woman from being able to continue working in this capacity?

OP posts:
chippietea · 07/06/2017 13:56

Herotherhalf no I don't think there was, although this was neither confirmed or denied at any point Hmm

OP posts:
Isadora2007 · 07/06/2017 13:58

I can't believe the OP is getting such a grilling either. Sending kids to "look for a goldfish" (that doesn't exist) is encouraging them to put their heads under water when that lifeguard knows nothing of their ability. Not to mention mucking around near a chute exit which isn't safe. She then alarmed a young teenager for no reason. That's not funny it's dickish and dangerous. What if she had stopped and the next person kicked her in the back?

And lifeguard is a qualification and is not usually paid at minimum wage rate. It's quite well paid for a teen, maybe not so much an adult.

gillybeanz · 07/06/2017 13:59

Ok, why is the OP still supervising a teen in the pool and is the parent of the child not her own (neice) as bothered as se is about the life guard?

cabbage67 · 07/06/2017 14:00
Gin
gillybeanz · 07/06/2017 14:02

Isadora

You only need a basic life saving qual, there are plenty of young teens who are just as qualified as the lifeguards in holiday centres, it does state this in the company literature.
Half the time they are also coats/ entertainers.
I've interviewed them myself.
They worked at min wage, pretty sure they still do.

kissmethere · 07/06/2017 14:02

HerOtherHalf, if they're able swimmers teens don't need to be supervised. It's usually over 8's able swimmers allowed unsupervised.
OP just went over to them.

SquinkiesRule · 07/06/2017 14:03

I think the lifeguard thought she was being funny, and interacting appropriately, sadly she wasn't. Her suggestions could be dangerous, kids need to move away from the bottom of the slide not hunt for fish. The next person down could land on them and hurt them. Telling the 13 year old to stop was plain stupid, it could easily result in her breaking a limb or dislocating and arm or leg as she tried to stop when you you are going quite fast.
Hopefully her further training will point this stuff out to her and she will be more aware of what can happen.

ChrisPrattsFace · 07/06/2017 14:03

This happened to my DP when we were 19... they were shouting stop and waving their arms around, he shit himself thinking something was happening at the bottom and put the breaks on. He ripped the bottom of his foot off and filled the slide and pool with blood.
Awkward when they were trying to say it was a joke. Certainly wasn't for my DP.

however his reaction to his own blood was hilarious

IAmNotAUserNumber · 07/06/2017 14:04

At least if your niece had injured herself there was a lifeguard standing close by at the time. Did they find the goldfish, or was it a gold fish, in which case it would have been worth looking for.

TheAntiBoop · 07/06/2017 14:05

Having seen someone break a leg on a water side by trying to stop themselves I agree op that It could have been dangerous

Is that really what passes for entertainment- stealing the joy of that big splash landing from a guest?

RoseTico · 07/06/2017 14:06

If they want entertainers at the pool, they should pay entertainers. The lifeguards are there to ensure the safety of the pool users.

If a lifeguard shouts 'Stop' at you, you're going to take notice and try to stop. It sounds like she's in danger of creating drowning hazards instead of preventing them.

IloveBanff · 07/06/2017 14:07

I agree with you Isadora2007. I wouldn't have been amused at the lifeguard's behaviour either.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 07/06/2017 14:08

gillybeanz The OP was supervising a 10 month old baby in a float. She only went over to the slide to watch the other children drop out, most likely so she could get some vicarious enjoyment, not being able to go down herself at that point.

One of my DDs likes me to watch her go down to the bottom of the deep end or jump off the diving board. Not because she needs my supervision but just to show me what she can do.

chippietea · 07/06/2017 14:11

I am loving this total 180!!

OP posts:
araiwa · 07/06/2017 14:12

The lifeguard should be made to read the op as punishment.

Though i fear that would be an incredibly harsh punishment and could contravene the human rights act and several international agreements

Maudlinmaud · 07/06/2017 14:16

Bless you op, your a good sport. Most people would have pulled the thread by now. Makes a refreshing change. No harm done eh?

MacarenaFerreiro · 07/06/2017 14:18

|Abused her power? Want her "struck off" ???

Total and utter overreaction. Get a grip.

IloveBanff · 07/06/2017 14:18

araiwa "Though i fear that would be an incredibly harsh punishment and could contravene the human rights act and several international agreements"

Look, I've told you a million times, dont exaggerate!

WinnerWinnerChickenDinner0 · 07/06/2017 14:18

I don't agree with all the posters telling you to get a grip.

I think you were right to be concerned. It was a really stupid thing to do. You did the right thing raising it and they should have been professional enough to accept what you were saying and not start into a silky cover story. That type of things annoys more so much more than the original incident.

However, I don't think it is a sacking offence. Extra training (or a stern taking to). Was appropriate. The manager however could do with additional training in conflict resolution

chippietea · 07/06/2017 14:24

Maud never!! I stand by my "unhinged" op and I for one don't try to gloss over things if they don't appear to be going my way, much more than can be said for L and N Grin

I'm not a total stick in the mud, some of these responses are amusing!

OP posts:
LostSight · 07/06/2017 14:24

Though i fear that would be an incredibly harsh punishment and could contravene the human rights act and several international agreements

Don't worry. Another six months and all those awful human rights will be sorted.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 07/06/2017 14:25

You are really overreacting and the staff are probably pissing themselves laughing at you.

When they say they've given "additional training", that's just to appease you. What probably happened is they said to L not to joke around with guests that have sticks stuck up their arses Wink

EezerGoode · 07/06/2017 14:26

Oh dear god....seriously get a bloody grip

Maudlinmaud · 07/06/2017 14:28

Brilliant chippietea now don't name change for at least six months. Shame! Wink

PersianCatLady · 07/06/2017 14:29

I can't actually make myself read all of your post because it is so hard to keep your place in the text.

In future if you want to write such a long post, is there any way that you could break it down into paragraphs with an empty line in between each one??

Thank you.

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