Safety at the pool

• 1:11 adult to 1 childBabies, 3 to 8 months · Class size: 6
• 1:11 adult to 1 childCrawlers, 8 to 15 months · Class size: 6
• 1:11 adult to 1 childWalkers, 15 to 24 months · Class size: 8
• 1:11 adult to 1 childToddlers, 2 to 3 years · Class size: 8

Ages 3 months to 3 years

• Background checks
• CPR and first aid
• Lifeguard training
• Water safety instructors

• A grown-up with every child

  An adult is in the water within arm's reach of every baby and toddler for the whole class. The instructor stands in the middle of the group, and a staff member watches the water from the deck.

• The pool, before the first class

  Before the first class each morning we check the water and write what we find in the log at the pool door. The ramp, the rail and the steps are looked at too.

• Coming in and going out

  Families come down the ramp or the steps together. Nobody goes through the pool door without an adult, and a child is never left on the steps or the ramp.

• Swim diapers

  Every baby and toddler who is not yet using the toilet wears a swim diaper with a snug cover. If there is an accident in the water, we clear the pool, clean it and test it before anyone gets back in.

• On the deck

  A phone and a first aid kit are at the pool door, and every instructor knows where they are. Staff practice what to do in an emergency together before each session.

• Sick days

  A child with a fever or a stomach illness stays home, and we move the family to another class.