This is difficult to answer, as there are a wide variety of aquatic venues and regulation governing these facilities. Some facilities should only be open if/when adequate lifeguard staff is available. These facilities may vary from one location to another, as local law dictates. Consult your governing body and local aquatics professional for advice on your facility operational and staffing needs. Safety should always be first priority whenever operating an aquatic facility.
Lifeguards may be necessary to open your facility if the following situations apply to you:
- Your facility has a diving board, water slide, or aquatic play structure.
- Your local or state health code requires a lifeguard to operate.
- Your facility is publicly/municipally owned.
- Alcohol is allowed at the facility.
- Your facility has deep water, typically defined as water deeper than 5 feet.
- Water Watchers are ideal for aquatic facilities that do not need lifeguards to operate. In these cases, Water Watchers serve as an additional level of protection that would not otherwise be there for the patrons. This may include backyard residential swimming pools & spas, small community, condo, and hotel pools that do not require a lifeguard to operate per local codes.
If you are considering using Water Watchers in lieu of lifeguards to operate your facility, consult your attorney, insurance carrier, and local aquatics professional before proceeding. It is the opinion of this course that any layer of protection is better than no layer of protection. However, a Water Watcher may not be sufficient substitute to meet your facility operational requirements in many cases.