Recently, my home YMCA has decided to band the use of Noodles during family/open swim times. They cite the floating foam (which can be used as a reaching assist, be used as an instructional aid, fun "thingy", etc. if used properly) as a "safety hazard". Not only is the ban news to me, so is the "hazard" label. Our pool always has at least 2 lifeguards (for a 6 lane, 25 yd pool) during the open swim times and requires that parents/guardians remain in the immediate area - if not in the pool - with their children.
I think my aquatics department has been hijacked by two non-swimmers who are too busy making up crimes to focus on real issues such as inceased times/lanes for competitive swimmers, monitoring pool temps & chemicals, etc.
My questions are:
How many other facilities have banned such fun floating objects?
What types/kinds of accidents have you experienced with the Noodle?
Do you think they have a basis for their decision?
ps. The facility stocks and uses the banned items during swim lessons and exercise classes.
Former Member
I assume the problem is kids who can't really swim using the noodles as a flotation device which obviously isn't what they are intended for.
They use the noodles very much so as a learning aid/flotation device at our Y. I think because they let the kids "sink" a bit so they get a feel for swimming.
I agree with it not being OK to leave you kid on one of those unattended.
I also believe nodbody should swim unattended...anyone can have a mishap or black out...
Were kids whacking each other with them?
Hey, I hear you on that one. The pool I swim at has no such devices but the pool/tennis club we hang out at during summer months has them all over the place. Invariably, the bigger kids will attempt to show how strong they are by slapping these things into the water and trying to cut the pool in half. I dread the day another youngster gets in the way of one of these things, especially if it's one of my own.
I should add that the lifeguards are usually pretty good about stopping this activity when the pool is crowded but as you all know, accidents do happen regardless of how careful you might be.
Hey, I hear you on that one. The pool I swim at has no such devices but the pool/tennis club we hang out at during summer months has them all over the place. Invariably, the bigger kids will attempt to show how strong they are by slapping these things into the water and trying to cut the pool in half. I dread the day another youngster gets in the way of one of these things, especially if it's one of my own.
I should add that the lifeguards are usually pretty good about stopping this activity when the pool is crowded but as you all know, accidents do happen regardless of how careful you might be.
They make excellent trumpets and "lung powered" water cannons though
Swimming alone isn't exactly like trying to summit Everest solo, after all :)
I just mean if it's unavoidable...just better to have apair of eyes on you...not someone in the water.
Unattended swimming is no longer allowed at our training pool/Hartnell College.
Due to this tragic event a few years back... www.wisconsinswimming.org/safety.html
Even under a watchful eye things can happen, but it's best to give yourself every advantage possible.
Unattended swimming is no longer allowed at our training pool/Hartnell College.
Due to this tragic event a few years back... www.wisconsinswimming.org/safety.html
Even under a watchful eye things can happen, but it's best to give yourself every advantage possible.
The same logic was used to mandate life guards at my last pool. The outcome was reduced hours for lap swimming and breaking your workout so the lifeguard can take a break. The lifeguards are usually asleep or watching TV. No one says anything because if they fired him there would be no swimming.
As an adult, I can make a risk assessment on my ability to swim in a 3 1/2 foot deep pool.
The same logic was used to mandate life guards at my last pool. The outcome was reduced hours for lap swimming and breaking your workout so the lifeguard can take a break. The lifeguards are usually asleep or watching TV. No one says anything because if they fired him there would be no swimming.
As an adult, I can make a risk assessment on my ability to swim in a 3 1/2 foot deep pool.
We don't have lifeguards per se, but a coach must be on site when anybody is in the water.
You can certainly make a risk assesment for yourself, but the facility must make their own with consideration of liability in the event of an injury or fatality.
All seems to work out, except I wish they would ban just one word:
"MARCO . . . ."
I worked at a pool that had a 25 page rulebook. It was quite rediculous, and we were forced to pick and choose the rules which we enforced. One in there was for "NO RYTHMIC YELLING." As was explained to me by the managers, who were explained to by the pool committee, that meant that Marco Polo was not allowed. I can agree the sound is annoying, but I also thought that rule was ludacris. :2cents:
Back to topic:
Same pool only allowed noodles during raft nights (sat evenings). Some kids used them correctly, some inappropriately. Plus, if you couldn't go in the deep end normally, you weren't allowed to on a raft either.
I thought that Raft nights were a great idea - it got the kids to the pool at a pool that was severely underused, but the busy nights were a nightmare to work. The kids would purposely flip the rafts upside down and then float/walk with their heads in the space created between the upside down boat's floor and the top of the water. We put the kabosh on that right away.
Thank you all for your valuable thoughts. I was hoping that I hadn't missed a newsflash about the perils of noodles - and it seems I haven't.
Rather, it seems that the aquatic madams have chased any and all fun right out of the pool for kids and turned the temp up to 85 degrees abandoning any and all who want a good workout (exercisers too). One could infer that they are now going to cater to a fanny dunking crowd. My guess is that the later crowd is much easier on the accident report?.
Soon, the cold, cold winter will end and the outdoor pools will open. Then our little group will be able to resume regular swimming. Unfortunately, the Y pool is the only game in town - without driving forever.
My filaments . . . my scales . . .
Children who don't know how to swim should not be allowed to use noodles. Our life guards have to approve floatation devices for children before they can be used. In general, if the child has to hold to it to float, it isn't approved, only floatation devices that the child can not slip out of are approved.
Rafts can be very scarry too. About 15 or 16 years ago, a child snuck into the pool where I swim... unaccompained by an adult of course... the child could not swim, but got in an inflatable boat/raft type of toy. It turned over in the deep end (15 ft). The overturned boat/raft toy blocked the guard's view and he drowned.
No matter how many rules you make to protect people someone, sometimes a child who doesn't have to capasity to think ahead to the dangers yet, will break rules with dire consequences.
