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.