Toddler drowns at health club pool - apportioning blame ?

[thetideishigh]

This article really resonated with me on a couple of levels

metro.co.uk/2020/02/11/dad-boy-3-drowned-david-lloyd-pool-says-death-prevented-12218854/.

When my kids were little I insisted that any swimming trips involved 2 adults as I'm not a strong swimmer myself and my dh was lax in his alertness to danger when in sole charge of just two kids ("daddy daycare" was responsible for ALL of our trips to A & E for the kids up to the age of 7).

One of my dc qualified and worked (only part time) as a lifeguard from the age of 16 + 1/2. They were a very serious/responsible child, with the maturity of someone much older according to their teachers and other independent adult observations.

Their younger sibling now also wants to train as a lifeguard so that they can earn a little extra money. They are fairly mature for their age so I was inclined to say yes to funding the training until I read the linked article.

It's set me wondering whether 16/17 year olds are too young for lifeguarding (although my dc is currently more responsible in their attitude to life stuff than a great many 18-21 year olds I know.

I also wonder how the dad came to lose sight of the 3 year old for long enough for him to wander off and fall in to the main pool. I never relaxed at the pool with the kids until they were better swimmers than me. I was a constant personal lifeguard to them on such trips but mostly because of my fears, not because of their behaviour.

What do people think ?

The tragedy didn't arise because of the lifeguard's qualifications or lack of, did it though?

It does seem that a key issue was him being the only lifeguard on duty, under 18 years old.

And there doesn't seem to have been any underwater CCTV/alarm if someone is on the bottom of the pool for more than a few seconds or other automated safety measures that some pools have.

None of that was the lifeguard's responsibility, clearly.

chocolatesaltyballs Carcasonnnewbie* was talking about another DLL venue where she was the sole lifeguard to three pools - ' an accident waiting to happen indeed'.

takeyourrubbishhome yes agreed.

There only being one lifeguard on duty really shocked me. The most able, most qualified and experienced lifeguard can't see out of the back of their head, neither can they guarantee that they won't suddenly become unwell.

Well DL are still staffing their pools with single, young life guards and frequently not staffed at all. So lifeguard last night clocked off at 8pm. Maybe the national laws/rules need changing? It's perfectly possible at many health clubs to be a lone swimmer, nobody else in the pool at all which has always struck me as a risk.

I think the whole tragic event sounds like an accident. A word that we seem to be forgetting exists.
Tragic, heartbreaking for all concerned. My heart goes out to them.

I've never used a private swimming pool and yes lone swimming is a huge risk. I'd never do it, despite being a strong swimmer.

It sounds like DLL (and probably other private providers) need to review their procedures/duty rotas - a solitary lifeguard also strikes me as extremely risky.

DLL's like that 'safety is our number one priority' seems a bit disingenuous in this context tbh.

Yes it was an accident, and I'm sure that the family and young lifeguard will never fully recover. But Leeds Council believe they have reason to prosecute DLL for H&S breaches, so we'll see what happens.

Hotel pools often do not have lifeguards.
Adult only gyms often do not have lifeguards
Private club pools often do not have lifeguards.

It is the responsibility of adults to look after themselves
It is the responsibility of parents to look after their own children

Lifeguards are an extra pair of eyes
no more

oh I'm not alone here

I saw the story a week or so ago and the first thing I thought was that the father was responsible. I feel sorry for him but blaming the club doesn't make sense to me.