Grow Your Own Magazine

BarleySugar · #1 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 01:20 PM

We have been trying to exercise more this school holiday by swimming regularly each morning to improve our health

Anyway, arrived at the pool for 7.30, and as I was meeting my sister, who is unable to swim out of her depth, I went to get into the shallow pool by way of the steps.
I put my foot on the top one, it was so slippery my foot just went flying, and I went straight into the pool, down to the bottom. I know I hit my left shin on the step as I went, but I'm not sure if the toe and hip hit the bottom or the side.
Another lady came straight over to see if I was OK as I surfaced. The 2 lifeguards were chatting up the other end, totally oblivious to what had happened. She called one over and had a go at her for not being alert, but I was too shaken to say much. OH came out of the changing room at that point, and the lifeguard got the shallow steps over to help me out.
She said the steps were very slippery, and the lifeguards had complained about it to the managment, but they wouldn't do anything until the pool refurbishment was done.
I can't help thinking I was lucky, early in the morning most people use the main pool, the shallow one is often empty. On one of those days, if I'd hit my head instead of my hip, I could have been in serious trouble.
My sister said after I filled in the accident form and left, all 3 lifeguards were still chatting by the main pool, no one checked the other one during thetime she was there. The lady who had helped me said she was surprised I was not more badly injured, I must I have looked pretty spectacular as I went in!
Sitting is very painful, so I'm laying on my left side at the moment, with a lump the size of my hand on the other side

feeling a tinsy bit sorry for myself. Typical, so much for getting fit!

bluemoon · #2 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 01:39 PM

Aah, I mis-spent my youth as a lifeguard. Happy days.......short pause whilst Bluemoon has a quiet reminisce........ Sadly I eventually had to get a proper job. Anyway, if this had happened in my day there'd have been repercussions. I'd complain and ask a few questions, such as. 1) why were the lifeguards standing together chatting instead of covering the whole pool, 2) if they know that the steps are slippery why wasn't there at least a warning notice, 3) why wasn't something done about the steps to make them safer - there are things such as rubber matting which can be used as a temporary measure and even temporary steps. Point out that although it was the shallow pool and you were not out of your depth, this would not be the case with a toddler. Finally, if you get no joy, threaten to go to the press; that really scares them. And remember, a good lifeguard never has to rescue anybody as they stop dangerous situations before they occur (it's why I still have dreams where I'm shouting: "Don't run!!!!!") Knowing that the steps were unsafe they should have been far more vigilant.
Hope you're OK. Best wishes BM.

Mikeywills · #3 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 01:53 PM

I'm with Bluemoon here, as an ex-lifeguard they should have been more vigilant. There should have been no need to call them over, as they should have noticed you by the splash as you went in. The fact that someone rushed to your aide should have been enough for them to have rushed over. This is an avoidable accident, I would definately complain, because that is the only way that the steps will be rectified immediately stopping potential further injury for others.

I'm assuming the lifeguards were youngsters, as is the norm! This does not excuse their error, but as the saying goes pay peanuts get monkeys.

Growem · #4 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 02:04 PM

As another ex-lifeguard, I will say something in the defense of them. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and even lifeguards are only human. Not that standing around chatting rather than safeguarding the visitors is acceptable, but 7:30am isn't the time when most things that need a lifeguard's hawk-like attention and skill happen. They may have seen the splash but not the slip and just thought you were a bit ungainly at entering the water, not realising you had hurt yourself.

bluemoon · #5 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 02:17 PM

And it IS Friday, which means they've far more important calls on their time; like planning which club they're going to, who's going to crash on whose floor, what they'll be wearing....... it's a tough life. I loved it.

Mikeywills · #6 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growem

As another ex-lifeguard, I will say something in the defense of them. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and even lifeguards are only human. Not that standing around chatting rather than safeguarding the visitors is acceptable, but 7:30am isn't the time when most things that need a lifeguard's hawk-like attention and skill happen. They may have seen the splash but not the slip and just thought you were a bit ungainly at entering the water, not realising you had hurt yourself.

Ahha, now there lies the greatest of all paradoxes, why is it that most accidents in cars happen within the last 1/2 mile from home, its because we are complacent. Last time I checked they are not paid to chat though are they?

danmon_81 · #7 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 02:35 PM

I used to be a Lifeguard and this always pee's me off when i now go swimming....i always wonder just how 'good' the lifeguard actually is!!

but in slight defense....
When i worked on a camp in London on an outside pool a small girl got out of her depth and started to go under...i entered the water..lifted her out...and calmed her down......this happened just as the camp director walked in.....
He later put in a report about the lifeguards playing with the children in the pool during duty!!!

Things can happen in the blink of an eye...how prepared some are for it im unsure!

Growem · #8 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 03:05 PM

Mickeywills, there is no paradox. A bunch of adults swimming at 7:30am is 95% of the time going to be problem-free. Yes, it's the 5% of the time is why you bother having a lifeguard there in the first place. But compare that to a bunch of families, adults and teenagers swimming at 2:30pm, which is always going to need a lifeguard's full attention to prevent accidents.
Again, I'm not saying that chatting rather than paying attention is acceptable, but I can easily understand the behaviour. Oh, and chatting is paid. I can think of a dozen things related to the job they could have been talking about and needed to talk about, plus the non-related stuff that bluemoon mentions.

Mikeywills · #9 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 03:39 PM

Growem, I have only ever had to dive in once to save someone, and that was a pensioner having a fit in the pool, so I would question your argument. There is no time that it is safe to leave people in the pool alone. I was always taught not to distract colleagues while undertaking duties on the poolside.

bluemoon · #10 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 04:13 PM

The one time I went in was to pull out an adult who was a new swimmer and who'd decided to try his first length from shallow end to deep, rather than the other way around. Naturally, when he was 10 feet short of the end and realized he couldn't quite do it he was way out his depth.

Growem · #11 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 05:15 PM

I've had to jump in to pull out one pensioner who fainted vs countless kids who ran straight into the water at a depth above their head. Our experiences are different Mickeywills; I still stick by what I said. Anyways, no one said that the people were alone in the pool. BarleySugar said that they were at the other end of the pool.

Mikeywills · #12 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:30 AM

Fit as in epileptic not as in fainted dude, I won't comment on the countless kids I've hooped out of trouble, but that's a different ball game, they have a very poor sense of capabilities. If the attendants weren't paying attention even after the splash and someone went to help, I would say thats as good as not being there wouldn't you. Think now when you had someone make a splash at a time when its quiet, did you not turn and look, I know I would have, I was always edgey when on pool duty!

My beef isn't with you growem, its with people in responsible positions not giving their jobs the attention it deserves, If they knew the steps were slippy there should have been a sign up, telling the manager does not absolve them of their responsibilities to the safety of the customers.

Oh, and there's no c, blue.

lynda66 · #13 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:38 AM

i drowned once ....in the baby pool when i was little...... thankfully there were 2 lifeguards, and they saved my life ..... funnily enough, i still can't swim.

andi&di · #14 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynda66

i drowned once ....in the baby pool when i was little...... thankfully there were 2 lifeguards, and they saved my life ..... funnily enough, i still can't swim.

I learnt to swim AFTER nearly drowning deepish sea diving!

Mikeywills · #15 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andi&di

I learnt to swim AFTER nearly drowning deepish sea diving!

I nearly drowned once sheep diving, but thats quite a different story.

lynda66 · #16 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:44 AM

i bet you learnt very quickly

lynda66 · #17 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeywills

I nearly drowned once sheep diving, but thats quite a different story.

I am definitely going to resist asking what sheep diving is, cos it just sounds very wrong ....... but then mickey is welsh, so i'm certain it will be.

*puts fingers in sheeps ears*

Mikeywills · #18 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynda66

i bet you learnt very quickly

to dive or swim?

lynda66 · #19 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:49 AM

well she'd already dived, so i'm guessing the learning to swim came shortly after.

andi&di · #20 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 02:54 AM

About 2 years!Developped a tad phobia of water for some strange reason!!

really thought i was a goner!Problem was when you're all piped up to oxygen you're not supposed to talk~not a quality I possess!!

gemlady · #21 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 12:23 PM

Whilst the Lifeguards were obviously lax, I think the management of the pool should be taken to task and I'd certainly write them a letter of complaint. If they are aware that there is a hazard, i.e. slippery step that they have been informed about, then surely they are being negligent as they should at least warn the general public about it. Hope the bruising is not too painful today!

BarleySugar · #22 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 10:48 PM

Thanks gemlady, I'm finding a bit difficult to get around, but it is just bruising, as I keep telling everyone who's tried to ship me off to doc/hospital!
I have been drafting a letter to the management about the steps, the next person to slip might be a lot worse off than me. It seems daft to me, they are courting a lawsuit if someone is seriously injured.
Apparently the person who came to help is also writing in, so hopefully they will take some action.