Everyone in the gym wears a mask (mandated in our state in the gym) however, one of the guards spent most of the hour I was swimming in the chair (in between breaks) with the mask off, unless she had to speak to the other guard. She's taken short mask breaks in the past, but this was ridiculous. All member have to wear the mask in the gym, while working out, on the deck, etc. and an employee of the fitness center doesn't. I'm surprised the other "main" guard has let this go, since he never removes his mask.
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../
Hope that may give you some relief. I would guess that if the lifeguard is up in their chair, they are well beyond socially distanced. They may need to enter teh water quickly, as well, and maybe the mask would be one thing they would have to remove, and it may be an issue. I know that the kids' coaches don't wear masks during practice, as they are distanced from the swimmers, the swimmers are a bit protected by the chloriine, and in their case, they need to be able to yell loud enough to get the kids' attention while they are in the water.
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../
Hope that may give you some relief. I would guess that if the lifeguard is up in their chair, they are well beyond socially distanced. They may need to enter teh water quickly, as well, and maybe the mask would be one thing they would have to remove, and it may be an issue. I know that the kids' coaches don't wear masks during practice, as they are distanced from the swimmers, the swimmers are a bit protected by the chloriine, and in their case, they need to be able to yell loud enough to get the kids' attention while they are in the water.
