5101:2-12-17 Swimming and water safety requirements for licensed child care centers.

 

 

 

5101:2-12-17               Swimming and water safety requirements for licensed child care centers.

 

 

 

(A)   Swimming sites: all All swimming sites shall meet all state and local guidelines for environmental health inspections and for onsite and private pools. Verification of the inspections for onsite and private pools shall be maintained at the center.

 

(1)    Swimming activities shall not be permitted in lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, or other similar bodies of water with the exception of school children who have the written permission from the child's parent or legal guardian.

 

(2)   For onsite and private pools over two feet in depth, there shall be one lifeguard for every thirty-five children involved in the water activity at any one time.

 

(3)   Activities in bodies of water two or more feet in depth shall be supervised by persons who are currently certified as lifeguards or water safety instructors currently certified by the American Red Cross red cross or an equivalent water safety program, as determined by the department. If the lifeguard is a child care staff member, they shall not be counted as a child care  staff member in the staff/child ratio.

 

(4)   Adults Child care staff members and all adults accompanying the children shall be actively supervising children and shall be able to clearly see all parts of the swimming area including the bottom of pools.

 

(B)    Wading pools shall be filtered or emptied daily. Portable wading pools shall be sanitized daily, or more often, if needed.

 

(C)    Water safety: child Child care staff members shall review swimming and/or water safety rules with children each time they participate in water activities. Included in these rules there shall be a system for checking to ensure that each child is safe when in the water.

 

(1)  The use of saunas, hot tubs, and spas by children is prohibited.

 

(2)    Swimming pools, wading pools, and other swimming/wading sites shall be made inaccessible to the children when adult supervision is not available.

 

(D)   Parental permission: the The child care center shall have written permission from the parent or guardian:

 

(1)  Before the child swims in water two or more feet in depth.

 

 

 

(2)   Before the child participates in activities near water two or more feet in depth.

(3)   Before infants and toddlers use wading pools.

(4)   Before school children participate in swimming activities in lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks or other similar bodies of water.

(E)   The written permission shall be signed and dated by the parent or guardian, and be on file for review. The permission shall include the following:

(1)   The child's name and birthdate.

(2)   A statement indicating whether the child is a swimmer or a nonswimmer.

(3)   Location of the swimming site.

(4)   A statement of whether or not the center is providing additional adults or child care staff members above the licensing ratio requirements for this activity.

(5)     A statement that the parent or guardian grants permission for the child to participate.

Effective:                                                     09/01/2005

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         03/31/2005 and 01/31/2010

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

07/25/2005

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           5104.011

Rule Amplifies:                                  5104.011

Prior Effective Dates:                         2/8/82, 9/1/86, 1/2/92 (Emer.), 4/1/92, 4/1/03