HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.07.01 Council Public Comment Submission from Cara PayzantIAAtd 0-i•ol.ZoA
cpayzant@charter.net
From: cpayzant@charter.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 9:52 PM
To: ricej@pasco-wa.goV
Cc: serranocouncil@pasco-wa.gov'; 'harpstercouncil@pasco-wa.gov'; 'milnecouncil@pasco-
wa.gov'; 'barajascouncil@pasco-wa.gov'; 'grimmcouncil@pasco-wa.gov';
'peralescouncil@pasco-wa.gov'; 'blasdelcouncil@pasco-wa.gov; 'lincoln@pasco-wa.gov'
Subject: Memorial Pool Safety Violation
Attachments: Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual.pdf
Mr. Rice,
This morning my nephew and I arrived at Memorial pool for his swimming lessons at approximately 9:15am.
Police arrived at the pool a few moments before we did and I was cautious to go inside, but swimming lessons
were still in session, so I decided it must not be a serious situation. However, that couldn't have been further
from the truth. We walked out on the pool deck and saw a non-responsive girl receiving first aid from
lifeguards, with her feet still dangling in the water.
I was a lifeguard all through high school and college, that was more than 30 years ago, but some things never
leave you. I began assessing the situation, looking for ways to help. But all I could do was get out of the way and
hug the lifeguard that pulled the girl out of the water. Another mom and I stood hugging him while he burst
into tears, as he was experiencing a lifeguards worst fear. The girl was taken to the hospital, her future
unknown. Meanwhile everything at the pool proceeded as normal, wait. What?
I started taking notes when lessons began about what I had seen and witnessed. My notes left me with one
stomach turning thought, I have grave concerns about the safety at Memorial Pool and I don't think it's a safe
pool for anyone to be swimming at. I know that's a bold statement, please let me explain.
These are the safety violations I witnessed (please note that I'm not addressing the issues that lead to the
rescue, because I didn't witness it) :
• The girl was pulled out of the pool, but not fully, her feet remained in the pool. The Red Cross teaches
that you must pull a victim completely out of the water so they can received appropriate aide. If CPR
was needed, other guards would need to walk around her (never across the victim) so they could be in
position to take over CPR. Additionally, if she had a spinal injury, you would need to stabilize her
spine. If her legs are bent, with her feet in the water, it would make it impossible to stabilize her spine.
• A general emergency wasn't declared, or if it was, it wasn't obvious to anyone at the pool. When the
guard entered the water, did he whistle four times? Four whistles indicates a passive victim and
declares a pool emergency. Assuming he did, why didn't all pool activity stop immediately? Why wasn't
the pool emergency plan put into action? The pool and deck should've been cleared of all patrons, all
guards should've been assisting in the emergency (each of them should have a role to fill) and the pool
doors should've been closed or should've at least stopped more people from coming out to the pool.
o If he didn't whistle four times, why didn't he? And, why didn't the Pool Manager declare an
emergency? Assuming the Pool Manager was busy with the victim, why didn't the Head Guards
take over and begin emergency procedures?
• The AED wasn't deployed. This was obvious because when an AED is removed from it's storage
position, an alarm sounds (although, not always). While she didn't appear to need an AED, this should
be a part of your emergency protocols, especially for a victim that isn't breathing and has been pulled
from the bottom of the pool.
The victim wasn't on a back board, nor was a back board deployed. If a victim is at the bottom on the
pool, it is always assumed that they have a spinal injury and guards proceed with that assumption until
told otherwise. However, no back board was used, which would've secured her neck and head. Instead,
one guard was bracing the victim's head between her arms. However, that guard didn't remain diligent
at her position. She was turning to talk to different people and in the process moved the victim's head
multiple times. It should also be noted that holding a victim's head between your arms isn't the correct
way to hold a victim's head.
• The guards that were working on the victim weren't wearing gloves. Were they missing gloves in their
hip packs? The Red Cross mandates all lifeguards must have gloves and a resuscitation mask available
instantly (a hip pack). This is for the protection of the victim and the guards.
• What happened this morning was horrifying. A nonresponsive girl was laying on the deck, with her
mom crying beside her, while 10 ft away swimming lessons proceeded as normal. When the swimming
session ended the kids got out of the pool and milled around on the deck. Meanwhile, the paramedics
have arrived and they don't have a clear path to the victim. The police that were present realized this
and began moving people out of the way, but lifeguards still didn't assist. They remained in the water,
on the deck, going about their business with swimming lessons.
• The pool manager called all the guards together beside the pool after the ambulance had left. I don't
know what was said, but after a few minutes they adjourned and the next swim session began. The
victim was a girl on the swim team and she likely took lessons from a few of the guards. And, although
the whole situation might have passed with no consequence for some of the guards, it most certainly
had to affect others (it affected me greatly). But the guards were only given a few minutes to process
what had just happened. This means they all went into the next session of lessons distracted or at least
preoccupied, which puts the safety of all the kids present at risk.
• After lessons started, I looked across the pool and the guard that was crying in my arms a few minutes
before was back out on deck lifeguarding! Where was the Pool Manager? Where were the Head
Guards? He shouldn't have been left alone and definitely shouldn't have been back on deck. I made the
Pool Manager and two men from the city aware that he was back on duty; they agreed that he shouldn't
be and went to talk to him a few minutes later.
• During lessons, there was a lifeguard on deck that caught my attention. He was carrying his lifeguard
tube, with a whistle in his mouth, presumably he was the roving lifeguard. The problem was that he
was fully clothed, shirt, pants, light coat and tie up shoes on. How could he possibly save someone?
What I witnessed this morning were egregious safety violations that made me question the culture of safety at
Memorial Pool. The nine items above are each very serious safety issues. Are all the lifeguards certified? Do you
run emergency drills multiple times per month? Do you have a written safety plan? If you do, can everyone
recite it? Until each and every item has been reviewed and staff are retrained, Memorial Pool will continue to be
an unsafe pool for people to swim at.
The people of Pasco are depending on you to keep their kids safe at Memorial pool. What immediate steps are
you going to take, to correct these critical safety issues? For reference, I've attached the Red Cross Lifeguard
Handbook. If you have any questions, please contact me at the number below.