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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-03-06 Clw:ilJgton REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee Date: February 6, 2006 Resolution #: r(/JA-()t.fS-[) ~ Report #: CSD-03-06 File #: By-law #: Subject: ADMISSION STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC POOLS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Putpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report CSD-03-06 be received for information. P. Caruana tor of Community Services Reviewed bY:O ~----"'~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer JPC/TLljm CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ClARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5506 REPORT NO.: CSD-03-06 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 In June 2005, the Community Services Department submitted report CSD-11-05 to Council. for information (Attachment #1). This report advised Council of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's notice to area municipalities regarding the Coroner's Recommendations for Admission Standards for public pools. 1.2 Although these are only recommendations and not regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, staff are anticipating a change to the Health Regulations for Public Pools in the near future to include these Admission Standards as part of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. 1.3 After reviewing the information both independently and as part of the Durham Region Aquatics Programmers Committee, the Community Services Department will be implementing the following Admissions Standards Policy: . Children under the age of 8 years must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian 14 years of age or older, who is responsible for their direct supervision. Direct supervision is defined as "within arms reach." Maximum ratio of children to guardian is 3:1. In our current operation, children who are 6 years of age are permitted to attend the facility without supervision. Any child under the age of 6 must be with a parent or guardian 18 years of age or older and must stay within arms reach. Ratio is 3: 1 for this age group. The Municipality had been looking at increasing the age of unsupervised children using the pool, prior to the announcement of the recommendations. . Children aged 8 and 9 years who cannot pass the facility swim test must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian 14 years of age or older, who is responsible for their direct supervision. Maximum ratio of children to guardian is 4:1. Currently, our facility swim test is only used for children who wish to go down the slide or swim in the deep end. There are no current admission standards for 8 and 9 year olds. . Guardians or group leaders are responsible for the children in their care while in the facility and must directly supervise the children at all times. Direct supervision for this purpose means "in the water." This recommendation mirrors our existing procedures for group leaders and guardians. . Municipal camps, community organizations and rental groups will be permitted a ratio of 8: 1 children to guardian for children aged 6-9 years, if I ifejackets are worn by all non-swimmers in their charge. This recommendation is new for the Municipality of Clarington. Currently, there are no guidelines for these groups. This recommendation is one that will provide increased safety supervision to children in large groups. REPORT NO.: CSD-03-06 PAGE 3 2.0 COMMENTS 2.1 A number of the recommended changes will have an impact on the current operating procedure at the Aquatic facilities. This is largely due to the fact that prior to the Coroner's Recommendations, there has never been an Admission Standard by which Aquatic facilities could model their policy. As such, each Municipality set out their own standards for admission, including age requirements and ratios. Currently, the Municipality of Clarington does not have restrictions in many of the areas that are being recommended. However, the Community Services Department feels strongly that these recommendations will increase the safety of all users, particularly young children, both in the changerooms and in the pool area. 2.2 The new Admission Policy will become effective April 1, 2006. Prior to this date, extensive public awareness and education will take place through a number of venues, including: . Newspaper advertisement . Handouts to swimming lesson participants and public/family swim users . Community Guide . Signage within facilities . Spring registration (including inserts in registration confirmation mail-outs) 2.3 All relevant staff will be advised of the new Admission Policy and trained on the standards and implementation strategies prior to release of information to the public. 2.4 Customer Service and safety continues to be top priorities within our facilities. Although it is anticipated the new Admissions Policy will have a minimal impact on our current operation, the Community Services Department agrees with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that "parental supervision is of vital assistance to the lifeguard staff in ensuring safety within a pool enclosure," Attachments: Attachment #1 - CSD -11-05 Attachment #1 to CSD-03-06 CWilJglon REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee Date: June 20, 2005 Resolution #: Report #:. CSD-11-05 File #: By-law #: Subject: Proposed Admission Standards for Public Swimming Pools Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report CSD-11-05 be received for information. Submitted by: Joseph P. Caruana Director of Community Services Reviewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer JPC/BT/EM CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5506 REPORT NO.: CSD-11-05 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The operation of all public pools is regulated by the Health Protection and Promotion Act (Regulation 565) and is administered locally by the Region of Durham Health Department as mandated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. 1.2 Pool incidents involving a major injury or a drowning are thoroughly investigated by the various Health Departments and/or Ministry and the results are circulated to all pool operators in an effort to create awareness to avoid similar situations from occurring locally. 1.3 Following a fatal drowning that occurred in another municipality, the Coroner conducted an inquest into the drowning, As a result of the inquest findings, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has requested the Region of Durham Health Department circulate a notice to area municipalities (Attachment #1) and the Coroner's Recommendations (Attachment #2) to all local pool operators, including our Municipality, 1.4 Primarily, the Coroner's inquest recommends that all children under the age of ten (10) must be accompanied by an attendant who will directly supervise and be responsible for the child while in the pool. In this particular case, the drowning occurred when a group of young children were unsupervised by their attendants in a supervised facility. The Coroner's investigation found that if the attendants had stayed and supervised the young children, the drowning might not have occu rred. 1.5 In a response to this event the Coroner's office, along with numerous stakeholders, developed recommended Admission Standards to prevent such tragedies in the future. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care strongly support these recommendations for the purposes of preventing injuries and fatalities. 1.6 The Admission Standards state that: . Children under 10 years of age who are non-swimmers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 12 years of age and responsible for their direct supervision. The ratio is to be 4:1 (4 bathers to one parent or guardian). If Iifejackets are worn by all non-swimmers in their charge, the ratio may be increased to 8: 1. . Children under 10 years who are swimmers (able to demonstrate comfort in the water and pass the facility swim test) may be admitted to the swimming pool unaccompanied. REPORT NO.: CSD-11-05 PAGE 3 . Children under 6 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at a maximum ratio of2:1. . Guardians or group leaders are responsible for the children in their care while in the facility and must directly supervise the children at all times. . Guardians or group leaders should be at least 12 years of age. 1.7 The Region of Durham, Health Department recently circulated a notice to all owners/operators and lifeguards of public pools advising us of these Admission Standards with the recommendation that all pool operators, including the Municipality, consider the standards as a tool to assist us in preventing accidents or drownings in our pools, 2.0 COMMENTS 2.1 There are several ways these new Admission Standards will impact our operations: . Currently, our minimum age requirement to be unaccompanied in the pool is 6 years of age, regardless of comfort level in the water or a stipulation that a swim test is passed. The minimum age will now move to 10 years of age and this will impact the children and parents/guardians that use our facilities for recreational swims. . Our summer camp program includes an aquatics component. Our ratios for camp staff with respect to our campers who are under 6 years of age would be impacted. Our current ratio is 3:1 and the recommended ratio is 2:1, which may have budget implications if additional staff are required. . Under the new Admission Standards, age is not the only criteria for determining if a child may be left unaccompanied. Swimming ability is also taken into consideration. An efficient swim testing method will need to be established at our facilities .to comply with the Admission Standards. Frequently, our pools operate at capacity and staff will need to devise a process to assess swimmers in an efficient and timely manner. . In order to comply with the recommendations, staff will need to develop a proof-of-age process for caregivers (12 years of age and over). It should also be noted that staff have concerns regarding the ability of 12 year olds to be responsible for siblings in a pool environment. REPORT NO.: CSD-11-05 PAGE 4 2.2 It should be noted that at this point, these are only recommendations and not regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. As implementation of the recommendations is voluntary, a start date has not been established by either the Ministry or the Health Department. These recommendations have been brought to the attention of the pool operators in an effort to be proactive in educating the public in these recommendations. Staff is anticipating a change to the Health Regulations for Public Pools in the near future to include these Admission Standards as part of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. 2.3 Currently, the aquatics departments of neighbouring municipalities are reviewing the information and staff anticipate a program to incorporate the Admission Standards will be in place as coordinated through the Durham Region Aquatics Committee, in the fall of 2005. The Municipality of Clarington has representation on this committee. 2.4 In the interim, the Community Services Department will commence a program of staff training regarding the recommendations and provide information to our residents regarding the future implementation of the Admissions Standards recommendations. Attachments: Attachment #1 - Notice - Region of Durham, Health Department Attachment #2 - Coroner's Recommendations The Regional Municipality of Durham Health Department HEAD OFFICE SUITE 210 1615 DUNDAS ST. E. WHITBY ON L1N 2L1 CANADA 905-723-8521 Tor: 905-686-2740 1-800-841-2729 Fax: 905-723-6026 www.region.durham.on.ca An Accredited Public Health Agency "Service Excellence for our Communities" Attachment # 1 to CSD-11-05 NOTICE To all Owners/Operators and Lifeguards of Public Pools A drowning occurred when a group of young children were unsupervised by their attendants in a supervised public pool facility. A coroner's investigation into the matter noted that if the attendants had stayed and supervised the young children, the drowning may not have occurred. In response to this event, the Coroner's Office, along with numerous stakeholders, developed Admission Standards to prevent such tragedies in the future, Attached is a fact sheet on the Admission Standards. . Please consider these standards as a tool to assist you, the pool owner, operator or lifeguard in preventing accidents or drownings in your pool. . We recommend posting of these requirements or advising the users of your pool through written handouts. Information of this nature is very valuable in preventing a mishap in your pool. . Please consider the intent of these recommendations. Parental supervision is of vital assistance to the lifeguard staff in ensuring safety within a pool . enclosure. . Owners and operators of class B Public Pools that do not require lifeguards should consider advising their users to limit the number of young or non- swimmers that a parent or his or her agent takes into the pool enclosure. Use these Admission Standards as an example. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Durham Region Help Line at (905) 723-8521, Ext. 2188. We are thankful you care. .~ Mike Pittman, B.Sc., C.P.H.I.(C) Senior Public Health Inspector Environmental Health Division Prepared for the Protection of Ontario Residents by: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Heath Division, Infectious Diseases Branch @ 100% Post Consumer Attachment # 2 to CSD-11-05 ADMISSION STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC POOLS Coroner' 5 Recommendation Admission Standards for Public Pools were developed by the Office of the Chief Coroner to assist lifeguards and assistant lifeguards in maintaining adequate surveillance over the whereabouts and the activities of young bathers while they are inside the pool enclosure. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care strongly supports these recommendations for the purposes of preventing injuries and fatalities. · Children under the age of 10 years who are non-swimmers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. who is at least 12 years of age and responsible for their direct supervision. The ratio of non-swimmers to parent or guardian may be a maximum of 4 bathers to one parent or guardian (4: 1). The ratio of non-swimmers to parent or guardian may be increased to a maximum of8 bathers to one parent or guardian (8:1) iflifejackets are worn by all non- swimmers in their charge · Children under the age of 10 who are swimmers (able to demonstrate comfort in the water and pass the facility swim test) may be admitted to the swimming pool unaccompanied. · Children under the age of 6 years may not be admitted to the swimming pool unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian who is responsible for their direct supervision, with a maximum of two children for each parent or guardian. I · Guardians or group leaders are responsible for the children in their care while in the facility and must directly supervise the children at all times. · Guardians or group leaders should be at least 12 years of age. · Ratios of instructorsllifeguards to bathers must also be maintained as per Regulation 565. Class B Public Pools that do not require lifeguards still require bathers under twelve years of age to be accompanied by a parent or his or her agent who is not less than sixteen years of age.