Pool staffing concerns flood social media
Opening season at the Daniel Island community’s two neighborhood pools has not gone as swimmingly as some parents had hoped, at least according to a lengthy string of social media posts. Additionally, several community members have reached out to the Daniel Island Property Owners Association (POA) office with comments and concerns over what they perceive as inadequate staffing levels at Pierce Park Pool and Scott Park Pool.
Posts to the Daniel Island Moms Facebook Page regarding the pool situation included worries about kids breaking the rules, bathroom cleanliness, water quality issues, lack of supervision, and general overcrowding. “During swim team practice, it’s insane,” commented one parent.
So what’s different this year? In 2015, both pools were staffed with lifeguards, seven days a week. But this year, after evaluating the daily numbers, Jane Baker, Vice President of Community Services for the POA, and her team opted to make some changes. At the start of the season, a decision was made to increase the lifeguard count at Pierce Park Pool to six during the peak period of Thursday through Sunday (with no lifeguards the other days), and eliminate lifeguards completely at Scott Park Pool. Gate attendants would staff the entryways of each facility when lifeguards were not present. But after re-assessing staffing levels based on the recent community feedback and confirming recent revisions to the interpretation of S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Class B pool regulations, the POA decided to amend the policy again.
Beginning this week, lifeguards will be staffed at both pools Thursday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be lifeguards present on the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, which falls on a Monday.
“Our plan is to have gate attendants for both pools when lifeguards are not present as soon as they can be scheduled,” stated a recent letter from the POA to the community.
One additional point worthy of mention, said Baker, is that per DHEC, the Daniel Island community pools are considered “Class B” pools, which are not required to have lifeguards at all.
“We have studied what the peak times are at both pools,” added Baker. “And we’ve found basically that from Memorial Day until school goes back, in early August, that is our peak pool season…and Thursday through Sunday are our peak times.”
Pierce Park Pool has the highest number of attendees, she said, while numbers at Scott Park Pool are typically less.
“Last year, the highest attending day, we had 184 people throughout the entire course of one day at Scott Park Pool,” continued Baker. “And we also had days where we had a total of 18 people throughout the entire day.”
The POA’s plan now is to have gate attendants present at each pool Monday through Wednesday, when lifeguards are not on duty.
“The gate attendants’ responsibilities are really for security, and for issues related to safety,” added Baker. “So if a child is diving off a dive stand, for example, they have the authority to say ‘I’m sorry, you’re breaking the rules,’ or they can tell the parents to please watch children if they are breaking the rules. If problems continue, they can call one of our staff members and get someone there immediately. It’s just another set of eyes on the facility.”
This is the model that is present at community pools on Kiawah and at Wild Dunes, said Baker.
“Neither Kiawah nor Wild Dunes use lifeguards anymore,” she added. “Kiawah does not have any lifeguards at their community pool, only gate attendants. There are five pools at Wild Dunes and none of those have lifeguards. They only have gate attendants. So it is a growing trend, not just Daniel Island contracting the time we’re having lifeguards.”
The POA emphasized the important role parents and other caregivers must play in monitoring their children and guests at the pools.
“One thing that really needs to be brought to the attention of property owners is that lifeguards are not babysitters,” said Baker. “They are strictly there to assist with water safety. It is absolutely the responsibility of the parents or caregivers to monitor children the entire time they are present at any of our facilities, but especially the pools. There is, again, no mandate to have lifeguards at either of the pools. We see this as a nice part of the amenity that we’re allowed to provide and we think that it’s justified during peak times.”
As for overcrowding and what some have described as a “chaotic” environment at the pools, Baker and her staff report they do believe there are more people utilizing the facilities as the island continues to grow, but they feel normal pre-pubescent behavior may be at play.
“The kids that we’ve had in previous years are aging up,” said Baker. “I think that behavior is right along with the new age bracket that we’re seeing at the pool.”
“It’s nothing abnormal from what is happening in any other community,” added Barbara McLaughlin, manager of community services for the POA.
Additionally, the POA noted that there are emergency phones located in the breezeways at both Pierce and Scott Park Pools for residents to use if a safety emergency occurs. With the push of a button, callers will be immediately connected to emergency personnel, such as police or EMS responders.
Security cameras are also present at both facilities.
“If residents or property owners see a problem while they are at the pools with another family not abiding by the rules, or another child not abiding by the rules, they can let the gate attendant or lifeguard know,” said Baker. “If they are unable to solve it at that level, then that’s when they call in reinforcements and we have someone on staff 24/7 to come over if need be.”
The POA also has additional staff members dedicated to overseeing the facilities, noted Baker. When it comes to maintenance, the POA has three people in their field operations department, in addition to the 24/7 on-call staff member, who check on amenities every day. The POA’s pool contractor, Lowcountry Aquatics, checks PH levels and chemicals in the pools each morning.
“So there is a contractor on site and or staff members on site…seven days a week,” added Baker.
The POA hopes the new changes will help alleviate concerns and result in a more pleasant experience for all at community pools this summer. A third pool is currently under construction in Edgefield Park on the island’s south end, but is not expected to be completed until late summer or early fall 2016.
“Please know that we take the security and safety of our amenities very seriously and encourage you to let us know if you are seeing any dangerous behavior at any of our Daniel Island amenities,” stated the POA’s message to the community.
Baker also encouraged anyone with questions or concerns to contact the POA office directly at (843) 971-9200 or via email at jane.baker@dicommunity.org.