Hey gang,
I'm being watchful of the weather (and a free-lance deadline)--so I'm hoping that I don't run into the same problem as I did about a week ago.
At that time, I had set out to do a pretty long workout (need the yards for my open water swim!). Unfortunately, the lifeguards chased us out of the pool b/c of hearing thunder. They told me that they'd wait a half hour, but that the clock would be reset if there was more thunder.
Won't even get started on why this should be the case, but more important for my purposes is to get a sense of what you do if your schedule is tight and the time you set up for swimming a specific workout is thrown out due to something like this (heck, you can substitute other events that close pools, if you want, as the t-storm is just one way such a thing can happen).
Do you wait until who knows how long and hope the pool will reopen? Do something dry-land that will at least use the swimming muscles? Bag it and decide it's not your day? (As it happened, it was last Friday and although I'm not superstitious, mostly, it seemed as if that day was full of things that went wrong. Won't go into all that.)
I want--no, NEED, to make sure I'm staying abreast of the training and I hate missing time for something like that--and probably just need to plan better to go early in the morning when there are fewer thunderstorms--but that said, stuff happens (even early in the morning), so I want to have a good back-up plan--or be all Zen about it and know that over the long haul, I'll be ready.
Thanks for any thoughts!
As someone who is about to get a degree to manage an Aquatics Facility...
Even though there are NO instances of any lightning strikes to indoor pools, it is usually a case of insurance liability. Many of the policies require this to place coverage. Insurance is EXTREMELY expensive for pools...so it closes during thunder and lightning.
As a guard: our facility does close, but it is our entire facilities policy. We clear the pool, the deck, and the locker rooms. Access is locked to these areas, until the countdown is finished.
We clear the pool, the deck, and the locker rooms. Access is locked to these areas, until the countdown is finished.Out of curiosity, where do you herd the swimmers to if they are not allowed access to the locker rooms?
I envision a pod of dripping wet noodlers huddled together in a dank hallway waiting until the countdown is finished before they can retrieve towels.
As a physicist, I tend to agree with this article
www.aquaticsintl.com/.../when-lightning-strikes.aspx
There is no risk of electrocution from lightning in an enclosed pool (or really much of a risk in an outdoor pool, although being outside in a strong thunderstorm isn't the brightest move no matter what medium you're in)
An aquatics director at an indoor pool near my house finally made the situation clear: A lobbying effort by the National Lightning Safety Institute and a certain private entity that has designed a lifeguarding system (they shall remain unnamed), partnered to include indoor pool weather policies in their literature. Why? Well it seems just because they thought it sounded good. Whatever the case, this particular pool could remain open using one lifeguarding system/policy paradigm but when they were encouraged to switch by a "salesman/insurance guy" they quickly discovered they had to close the indoor pool during storms. As usual, there was a reason for the madness and as often happens it was based on politics and perception, not on any supporting evidence.
That's why it's always good to keep two or three pools in the quiver :)
Out of curiosity, where do you herd the swimmers to if they are not allowed access to the locker rooms?
I envision a pod of dripping wet noodlers huddled together in a dank hallway waiting until the countdown is finished before they can retrieve towels.
We have a long, well lit, huge hallway with seating :) right outside of the pool area. Our equipment desk has a towel service, if the swimmers don't have access to their own.
I, too, was surprised when our kids' indoor swim meet (no windows even) was cancelled last spring due to thunderstorms. I had no idea that was even an issue.
I found an interesting description of one facility's policy on their web site. This is at the Burkwood Swim & Racquet Club in Mechanicsville, Virginia:
From: www.burkwoodclub.com/closing_policy.html
Burkwood Storm Policy for Indoor and Outdoor Pools
OUTDOOR POOL. Burkwood closes the outdoor pools at the first sign of thunder or lightning. The pools reopen approximately 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning or hearing of thunder.
INDOOR POOL. The indoor pool does not close for thunder and lightning storms unless it is a particular violent storm in the immedicate vicinity. Doors leading directly to the pool from the outside must stay closed during storms.
If the indoor pool is closed, patrons are asked to stay out of the pool and showers to minimize any risks of being struck by lightning. Patrons of the club should also stay inside the buidling until the storm has passed.
Why can the indoor pool stay open during storms? Most people have grown up thinking they must leave any pool (outdoor or indoor) in the event of an electrical storm. However, when one does research on the subject, the following facts are found in just about every research document:
Fact one, there has never been a reported injury or death from lightning while swimming in an indoor pool.
Fact two, there has been one reported case of lightning striking to an indoor pool – back in 2000 in Canada. Lightning struck a nearby pole, bounced off, and went through an open window where it struck the pool. The 20 or so people in the pool were not injured.
Fact three, there is more risk talking on a landline telephone than swimming in an indoor pool during an electrical storm.
Fact four, by closing the indoor pool for a storm, we actually put our patrons at more risk because of where they go – to the showers (higher risk due to the metal drains and piping), outdoors going to their cars (where they are exposed), and into cars driving in the rain (statistically proven that more accidents occur in storms).
Some other factors that make the pool a safe environment. The pump system is a closed circulation system. Furthermore, all of the piping is made of PVC, not metal.
Without a doubt, when a storm is present outside the fitness center, it can sound scary in the pool area. There is no insulation to muffle the sounds of the storm outside. It is just a case of the bark being worse than the bite. Ultimately if you feel uncomfortable while in the pool during an electrical storm, you have the choice to get out and leave the pool area.
What about other indoor pools in the area? I have spoken with representatives from VCU, UoR, NOVA, and GRAP. None of these facilities close their indoor pools due to lightning or thunder. The YMCA does close their indoor pool. This is a national policy based on a document from the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI). I am providing a link to this document at the end.
Finally, if you want more information on the subject matter, below are two documents. One is from the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI). Interesting to note, the NLSI cites the same first two facts listed above. Furthermore, it can not provide any quantitative proof for closing indoor pools except to say that lightning could strike an indoor pool. Still, in the face of all of the evidence, the NLSI recommends closing indoor pools. One more note on the NLSI article, it lists USA Swimming as recommending closing indoor pools during swim meets and practices if storms are present. This is an outright fabrication. USA Swimming does not have any recommendation on the subject matter except to say it is the decision of the facilities' aquatic manager.
The second article is from a respected member of the aquatic industry and provides even more evidence on the subject matter.
NLSI article: www.lightningsafety.com/.../indoor_pools.html
Aquatics International article: www.aquaticsintl.com/.../when-lightning-strikes.aspx
In conclusion, as your Aquatics Director, my first priority is to insure the safety of the members, guests, and employees using the aquatic facilities while providing an environment that people want to come and enjoy. With every decision that is made, the benefits to the membership are weighed against the consequences and risks associated with that decision. All factual evidence indicates that swimming in an indoor pool during a thunder and lightning storm is perfectly safe as long as certain precautions are taken (such as keeping all windows and doors closed.
I think most people swim with lighting:bolt:
LOL! ... unless they're doing, maybe, a channel swim where they're swimming at night? But even then, there are lights from the pilot boat and glow sticks.... :)
Nice to see this thread come back to life like nature as spring comes! Jayhawk, thank you for the information you posted. Maybe I'll print out copies to give to the management of the pools I go to (though not holding my breath that anything will change).
I'm repeating last year's 5 mile swim and trying to improve on it, plus a few other swims, including being on a relay team for Boston Light. So I'm going to have to keep all these suggestions/thoughts in mind. Thank you all for shedding light (or lighting or lightning) on the subject. Now... need to research some swim-specific strength training ideas for when they pull the plug on the pool (and I show off my ability to use homonyms). :)
Our pool closes for 1/2 hour any thunder/lighting happens, at which point we all go home or to other pools that stay open. I like the stats on indoor pools. I will try to use them to keep our pool open. Thanx for the ammunition!
