Intro and Question

[four-lungs]

Hi, I thought i'd better introduce myself at last, i'm a dive leader, been diving 6 years, done 150 dives all between 5 and 55 meters and i'm 37. Done my Advanced Nitrox and try to use it fairly regularly.

QUESTION
As a training club we have been told by our local swimming pool that they can no longer supply lifeguards for anything but swimming sessions, on the instructions of the HSE, has anybody had this problem in the past, if so what did you do about it, as they insist a lifeguard must be present at all times?
HELP!!!

[Twinsetmad]

Hi...we too have been told a lifeguard should be on duty during our pool sessions. We take it in turns and do half a session on an unofficial rota. Nearly all our members have lifesaving training and 2 of our members are paramedics. Our pool sessions are in the grounds of Northampton General Hospital too...divers below the surface and swimmers above. I don't think it could be a safer environment....but never say never.

I'm sure there is lifeguard training avaliable...if the HSE say you must do it train some guys or gals...nice red swimsuits...

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by four-lungs

Hi, I thought i'd better introduce myself at last, i'm a dive leader, been diving 6 years, done 150 dives all between 5 and 55 meters and i'm 37. Done my Advanced Nitrox and try to use it fairly regularly.

QUESTION
As a training club we have been told by our local swimming pool that they can no longer supply lifeguards for anything but swimming sessions, on the instructions of the HSE, has anybody had this problem in the past, if so what did you do about it, as they insist a lifeguard must be present at all times?
HELP!!!

HSE are probably reffering to the fact that pool lifeguards are NOT suitably
qualified to deal with barotrauma and expansion type injuries.

It could be argued that having only non-scuba qualified staff in attendance
is actually worse and might lead to litigation. Remember that a lifeguard
cannot be the Instructor in the water, but must be totally independent of
any activities in the pool.

Checkout
http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpubt1.htm

Especially "lifeguards require specialised skills to adequately supervise
sub-aqua activities."

TerryH

[Steve S]

Hi four lungs and welcome to YD,
we have had the reverse in so much that they tried to "sell" us a lifeguard for our pool sessions until we pointed out that they would not know how to rescue an incapacitated diver from the bottom of the pool, we use club members who have completed the BSAC lifesaver award as a bare minimum.

Safe diving,
Steve

[Narked@50]

We have a lifeguard suplied by the pool and an additional person of Sport diver or above as well, typicaly two of them doing half an hour each, works ok.

James

[Mandlebrot]

According to BSAC you can use any person who is qualified to Sports Diver or above as the pool lifeguard, I know of 4 clubs in my local area whom all do this with the full backing of the pool management.

This is for BSAC clubs but I'm not quite sure what the requirements are if you are using the pool for PADI or any other organisation.