By Lauren Broom Life-Saving Equipment Requirements and Florida Public Pools Why do public pools need lifesaving equipment?
The summer season is upon us, and one of the most popular ways to beat the heat is swimming. But swimming in pools and other aquatic venues can present many dangers that pool pros need to think about. Florida pool pros need to have knowledge of the required lifesaving equipment at public pools.
Water accidents only take a second and can result in injury or death. Drowning is the top cause of injury-related death in kids under 4 years old and among the top for teenagers. The condition of the lifesaving equipment can affect lifesaving procedures.
What are the rules?
The code that mandates the requirements for lifesaving equipment at Florida public pools is Chapter 64E-9.008, Florida Administrative Code (FAC).
It states the following: 1. A shepherd’s hook securely attached to a one-piece pole not less than 16 feet in length.
Pools over 50 feet in length shall have a shepherd’s hook on each of the longer sides of the pool.
2. At least one 18-inch-diameter lifesaving ring with sufficient rope attached to reach all parts of the pool from the pool deck.
Pools over 50 feet in length shall have a lifesaving ring on each of the longer sides of the pool.
3. Safety equipment shall be mounted in a conspicuous place and be readily available for use.
What to look for? Violations are generally poorly maintained equipment, or missing the required equipment on the deck. Let’s review some common violations:
Life Hooks
The most common violations: 1)Lifehookonaretractablepole. Retractable poles can shorten on the rescuer while trying to save a person and impede the rescue.
2) Facility retrofitted its pole with 2 metal pieces put together and held by a plastic part.
The pole can come apart due to it not being one single 16-footlong pole.
3) Life hook pole is shorter than 16 feet in length.
Length is based on the need to reach the victim in the water from the pool deck.
4) Life hook pole is bent. The pole may be damaged, which can affect the rescue of the victim due to malfunction of the pole.
5) Life hook is missing wing nuts and screws holding the hook to the pole.
The hook could become loose from the pole during the rescue of the victim.
6) Wing nuts and bolts on the wrong side of the pole.
The wing nuts and bolts being located on the inside of the pole where the hook is located could allow the bolts to cause injury to the victim.
7) Life hook is not conspicuous on the pool deck. It could be hidden in bushes or vines, behind buildings, or hedges have grown over it.
Life hook shall be easily visible so that rescuers can easily find the hook.
8) Pool longer than 50 feet in length with only one life hook on one side of the pool.
Also, when the facility is re-inspected and they put both sets of equipment on the same side of the pool.
Lauren Broom
Life ring with dry-rotted rope The life hook should be located on each of the longer sides of the pool.
Life Rings
The most common violations: 1) Life ring is not conspicuous on the pool deck. It could be hidden in bushes, behind buildings.
The life ring shall be easily visible so that rescuers can easily find it.
2) Life ring is not 18 inches in diameter. Life ring has a diameter that makes it safe for the lifesaving of victims. This usually meets Coast Guard life ring specifications.
3) Life ring rope was present near the ring but was not tied to the ring.
The life ring shall be ready for use in case of an emergency.
4) Life ring rope is dry rotted. Damage to the life ring rope can threaten the rope severing during a rescue attempt.
5) Life ring rope is not long enough to reach all parts of the pool from the deck.
The rope shall be of sufficient length so that when used for rescue the ring can reach all parts of the pool and then the victim can be pulled to the pool deck.
6) Pool longer than 50 feet in length with only one set of lifesaving equipment, when re-inspected, putting both sets of equipment on the same side when it should be located on each of the longer sides of the pool.
7) Pool longer than 50 feet in length with only one life ring on one side of the pool. Also, when the facility is re-inspected and they put both sets of equipment on the same side of the pool.
The life ring should be located on each of the longer sides of the pool.
What does this equipment do?
Also known as a shepherd’s hook, a life hook can be used to rescue a person in distress from the edge of a swimming pool. Life hooks are usually built of flexible yet firm fiberglass hook loops and are attached to aluminum or fiberglass poles. When the rescuer tries to go for a victim, they can extend the pole to the to retrieve the person swiftly.
To perform a water rescue with a life hook, a rescuer would extend the hook and advise the victim to grab onto it. If the distressed person is unable to grab the hook, the rescuer can put the hook underwater to loop it under their arms and around their back. The distressed victim can be pulled to the edge of the pool.
Also known as a ring buoy, life rings are another lifesaving equipment option that rescuers have on the public pool deck. It is shaped like a small ring and is effective for rescues in nearly any water environment. Life rings are usually built of dense and buoyant foam, making them soft yet extremely durable and resistant to damage. Life rings can be purchased at different ranges from about 20 to 30 inches in diameter. But remember, Florida code requires an 18-inch diameter life ring. The life ring is accompanied by grab lines on the outside for easy grip. For extended reach and easy retrieval, life rings are connected to long throw lines so that they can reach all parts of the pool.
