As of May 18th, the State of South Carolina is allowing gyms and close-contact businesses to begin reopening. That’s us!
And while I’m excited and eager to get in the water with students, safety is and will continue to be my main priority here at Deep Blue Aquatics. I plan to take pretty extreme precautions as we begin to resume in-person training and schedule the in-water skills sessions for our courses.
Below are a few ways I’m working to keep my clients and students safe, and ways I hope we will work together to prevent the spread of the virus while beginning to enjoy our favorite in-water activities.
Safety Steps for Training Courses:
(This applies to Lifeguarding and First Aid/CPR/AED in-person skills sessions)
Individuals feeling ill or displaying symptoms are asked to STAY HOME and RESCHEDULE
All payments and contract signing will be conducted digitally. Cash payments and hard-documents will NOT be accepted this season.
Class sizes will be limited to a maximum of four students
Individuals and participants will be expected to wear face masks when not in the water
Training manikins will be placed at least 6ft apart for CPR/AED skills
Participants will be required to wear disposable nitrile gloves and use face masks when doing team-based CPR skills and will dispose of the PPE appropriately after each use
Training equipment and surfaces will be sanitized each time they are touched or used
Hand sanitizing stations will be placed at the entryway of the training room and participants are expected to utilize them upon entry and exit
Only one class participant will be allowed into the restroom or locker room at a time
Please plan ahead and allow for longer course times so we can maintain the above listed procedures
Safety Steps for Private Swim Lessons:
Only private, one-on-one swim lessons will be offered during the 2020 Swim Season
All payments and contract signing will be conducted digitally. Cash payments and hard-documents will NOT be accepted this season.
Individuals feeling ill or displaying symptoms are asked to STAY HOME and RESCHEDULE
Training sites secured by participants are expected to allow for appropriate social distancing from other swimmers or pool-goers
Outward-facing entry into pools must be available. Swim instructors will NOT be entering private homes to access training sites or pools.
Individuals and participants will be expected to wear face masks when not in the water
Only one parent/guardian/caregiver will be allowed to accompany participants to their lesson
Training equipment and toys will be sanitized at the beginning and end of each lesson
Participants, accompanying individuals, and instructors will be required to utilize hand sanitizer prior to the start of each lesson
Please plan to arrive early for lessons so we can maintain the above listed procedures
Participants are expected to respect CDC Guidelines and supply their own masks and face coverings. Any other personal protective equipment required specifically for courses (such as gloves) will be provided by Deep Blue Aquatics.
If at any time during these courses participants or myself feel uncomfortable with our ability to maintain safe distances or the above practices, I will re-evaluate offering in-person training at this time.
Lifeguarding, rescue skills, and in-water competency are all essential, especially as lakes and beaches reopen, but I want to do my best to ensure the safety of everyone who chooses to trust Deep Blue Aquatics with their training.
This is all extremely unprecedented, so please try to be patient and considerate during this time. We're all in this together.
*Photo from MerMagic Con 2020 and not representative of new social distancing practices