SOP - Guard Stand Rotations
| Step | Action | Notes |
| APPROACH | Approach the guard stand or rotation point of exchange. | ➔ Arrive early to your rotation
➔ Account for travel time as you walk throughout the pool deck, if applicable |
| CHECK | Check/survey the water to determine safe conditions. | ➔ Make sure to survey all
checkpoint areas including right in front or below your location. |
| ANNOUNCE | Announce to the guard that you are relieving them from their area | ➔ Wait until the area is safe and both guards are ready to proceed |
| ROTATE | Rotate positions while maintaining surveillance | ➔ Guard 1 will remove their rescue tube and hand it to Guard 2.
Guard 2 will take over surveillance. ➔ Guard 1 will take their eyes off the surveying area. If in a guard stand they will step down. ➔ If Guard 2 must climb a guard stand then Guard 1 will again take hold of the tube and take over surveillance once more. ➔ Once Guard 2 in secured in their location or on stand, Guard 1 will pass the tube back and rotation is complete. |
| PROCEED | Move to the next location
Lifeguards should be on stand for a maximum of 50 minutes and have a break for a minimum of 10 minutes * If theres 2 guards present |
➔ Once the rotation is complete, Guard 1 will move to the next
surveillance area, stand or break area |
SOP - Dealing with difficult patrons
| Step | Action | Notes |
| APPROACH | You are on stand and approached by patron. The patron is either chatty, upset or injured. | ➔ Acknowledge the patron and clearly state you are in rotation
and must address the water first and foremost ➔ Asses if immediate action by you is required |
| CHECK | Check/survey the water to determine safe conditions. Despite the urgency of the patron you must secure your area first. | ➔ If injuries are life threatening alert team you need backup to
your area OR that your area must be additional surveyed as you handle the victim. |
| ANNOUNCE | Injured Victim
Announce that you are helping the injured victim Chatty/Upset Patron Direct them to the Head Guard or Supervisor if needed Radio for additional assistance |
➔ Wait until the area is safe is
being properly surveyed then proceed to help/assess the victim ➔ Express to patron that while you are on stand you CAN NOT engage in small talk or address complaints. Your attention must be on the water for safety |
| ADDITIONAL | The Swimming Swan LLC. prides itself on safety and customer service. Some patrons you encounter will be persistent. It is your job to kindly and respectfully avert their
conversation away from you while you are actively guarding. |
➔ Guards engaging in
conversation while on stand or in rotation are subject to verbal and written warnings/writeups. |
SOP - Fecal Incidents (Partnerships)
| Step | Action | Notes |
| VISUAL | Survey the water for potential fecal object(s) | ➔ Determine all of areas in the water that the object(s) are located |
| ALERT and CLEAR | Alert all patrons to exit the pool | ➔ Cease all swim lessons and/or pool activities in order to evaluate the situation further
➔ Alert the lead guard/supervisor |
| CHECK | Utilize equipment | ➔ Locate and use any equipment means you have to determine if
the object(s) are in fact fecal or other matter |
| REMOVE | Wear protective gear | ➔ Make sure to use protective gear to ensure your safety when
potential contact is likely ➔ Safely and completely remove and discard all fecal object(s) ➔ Items should be placed in a biohazard bag if available |
| PROCEED | Determine next steps | ➔ These steps depend on the
Chlorine and pH levels at the time of the fecal incident ➔ If a chemical test kit is on hand, test the water and relay findings to the lead guard/supervisor |
| LEVELS | Levels must be appropriate before returning to the water
If the location doesn’t have a chemical test kit, it is recommended a pool company or professional assists |
➔ Chlorine level to 2 ppm and pH level between 7.2-7.5
➔ For SOLID STOOL or VOMIT - Once these levels are achieved, wait 30 mins before re-entering the pool ➔ For DIARRHEA - Once these levels are achieve, wait 8 hours before re-entering the pool |
| CANCELATION | Determining to reschedule, cancel or wait to proceed with any swim lesson or activity | ➔ A paying customer may try to rush the timeline for this process.
It is recommended you stay firm with the science and safety behind it. ➔ It is recommended you keep The Swimming Swan’s SOP and Guidelines handy for dealing with this potential issue ➔ All SOP and Guidelines are based off of the NPRA - AFO recommendations |
SOP - Inclement Weather
| Step | Action | Notes |
| VISUAL | Inclement weather is spotted and the Lead Guard or Supervisor is informed. | ➔ Radio Lead Guard/Supervisor as they may not have visual on the
storm as of yet ➔ The guard monitoring should be observing the storm for any visual of lightning |
| CHECK | Lead Guard/Supervisor checks radar and determines direction of storm. | ➔ Discuss potential action plan with staff i.e. moving deck items,
electronics relocation |
| LISTEN | Guard(s) on deck should be listening for thunder or other weather indicators. | ➔ Communicate any sound or visual observance
➔ The guard(s) monitoring must count the time difference between the lightning strike observed and thunder following it |
| COUNT | Once lightning and thunder are observed close together the guard(s) on deck should be counting. | ➔ From site of lightning to sound of thunder count “1-one thousand, 2-
two one thousand, etc.” ➔ If storm is within “15-one thousand”, the deck must be cleared and safety precautions put in action for patrons |
| ALERT and CLEAR | If the storm has come close enough to threaten the safety of patrons you must clear the pool and deck area.
All guards can assist. Lead Guard or Supervisor should be visually on deck to address any patron concerns/questions. |
➔ One LONG whistle blast to clear the pool
➔ Announce to all patrons they must seek shelter till the storm passes ➔ All patrons must be inside bathrooms, under overhang of the buildings or outside the premises until the guards deem it safe to re enter the pool/deck area. |
