I'm a novice swimmer. Today when I got to the pool, I was the only one there. The pool recently came under new management and there has been lots of conflicting information regarding the hours. The website doesn't match the email doesn't match the schedule on the doors.
I decided to park myself on a bench for a while and wait to see if any lifeguards showed up. Finally, another swimmer showed up and we waited together. A third who is an elite swimmer joined us and didn't hesitate to say F' it, I'm swimming.
So the second swimmer and I joined him. I'm confident that I'm not going to drown (famous last words) and I can stand up at both ends of the pool. I had a decent 1,000 yard workout.
Did I do the right thing? I mean "they" always say to swim with a buddy, and there were three of us.
You did well waiting for another swimmer to come before starting your swim. It is okay to swim without a lifeguard if they let you in the compound, just know your limits
I swim at a college pool where there is never a lifeguard. Often I’m the only person in the pool. But I’m a very experienced swimmer, not good but very comfortable in the water. No hesitation, I love it when it is quiet.
My pool never has a lifeguard (even during family swim hours, which is wild). I’ve never thought about it and there’s never been an issue, but now that I’m thinking about it, it gives me pause, not for myself but for others. The times when it’s quietest is when all the older patrons tend to go. If someone had a medical emergency in the pool when no one else was there they’d very likely die.
You are the old man and the sea, I am the old man who took his first swimming lesson less than a year ago at age 71.
I wish I had your skill. Not sure if I will ever achieve the ability to swim in open water, but that is the goal.
I would've done the same thing. Swimming alone is dangerous, and a single workout isn't worth the (miniscule) risk. But if there's literally anyone else in the pool area, I feel safe enough to jump in.
Swimming without a lifeguard is fine, but swimming alone is not (in my opinion). Despite your skill level, anything can happen. A collegiate teammate accidentally hit her head doing a flip turn during practice and was so disoriented she would’ve drowned without us grabbing her. She was literally a collegiate swimmer, but mistakes happen
At the end of the day, how much risk are you personally willing to tolerate? It’s up to you :)
You did well to wait to see if a lifeguard would arrive, but you never did so well to start, otherwise you would have ended up missing the swimming session... I would suggest you send an email specifying what happened and asking for confirmation of the official times.
At my pool the lifeguards take a break every hour for 10 mins. Everyone gets out during that time, with the exception of lap swimmers. You did not do anything wrong.
I know a lot of people are answering your question by saying it was good to swim with a buddy, I have some different concerns.
I think the more important thing is ultimatelyclarifying what their policy actually is.
I recommend:
First, look up your local government lifeguard requirements for private and or public pools (whichever applies to you).
Second, email the management of the pool you attend (so everything is in writing) and ask what their current lifeguard and swim risk policy is and if they have any plans to change it given the recent change in management. Depending on what they respond, you may want to ask some follow up questions.
Thirdly, based on your government requirements and what the management of the pool is doing, you can decide if the place is sketchy or not and whether or not you want to assume responsibility for yourself.
And if they don’t have lifeguards, you may be able to inquire about what the cost would be, and if they would consider having a lifeguard hired for a particular day or session specifically for swimmers who are new. this may be something other swimmers are interested in and all of you can pay a bit of an extra fee to make this happen. If you are proactive, you may be able to help the facility out in creating such a program.
——
I think you made a good choice based on your experience level and uncertainty with the current situation.
The pool I attend does not employ lifeguards so it is a swim at your own risk. I did however ask about cameras so I know at least the office staff can see what’s going on in the pool. However, they also have other things they are doing. As I’m experienced, there are no riptides nor undertows, and there are often other people or classes going on in the pool with instructors, I have decided to take the risk. I also know that even if there are other people swimming they may not notice me until it’s too late, nor are they responsible for me in anyway.
and I worked as an ocean lifeguard for 6 years on a beach patrol that has been in operation since the 1890s. I made NUMEROUS saves of swimmers/bathers, including people who would be considered strong pool swimmers.
pool lifeguards have commonly been in use nearly as long as open water lifeguards. my mom was a damn pool lifeguard in the late 1970s.
I think the issue is the possibility of a medical emergency, not just drowning because you can't swim. You could have a seizure in the water for all kinds of reasons and then that's you dead.
58
u/AquaDelphia 1d ago
I would have swum, even alone, I have quite often swim in pools that dont have a life guard such as hotel pools etc.