Life guards are mandatory at all swimming pools

The officials of the municipalities have also urged residents to take all precautionary measures while using the swimming pools.

With the summer season round the corner, more and more people are set to frequent the pools. Both Dubai and Sharjah have witnessed a number of swimming pool mishaps in the past, especially involving children.

Officials of the two municipalities have called for hiring professional divers at the facilities, who should always be around when children are in the pools.

Abdullah Al Shuaikh, the spokesman of Sharjah Municipality said full time lifeguards were required to ensure safety of residents.

As for the construction of indoor swimming pools, the Engineering Section at Sharjah Municipality regularly inspects the buildings to ensure that they meet the safety and health specifications earmarked by the civic body, Al Shuaikh pointed out.

The municipality said Al Shuaikh pays special attention to the swimming pools meant for public use.

The Municipality can order closure of a public swimming pool if it poses threat to the health of the users, or if there is an outbreak of an infectious water-borne disease.

Al Shuaikh also clarified that apart from inspections, the Municipality also carries out regular maintenance work, which too requires proper equipment and the presence of full-time qualified lifeguards at the facilities.

Municipality inspectors conduct regular visits to the hotels, clubs and public swimming pools to ensure they abide by the safety regulations.

Similarly, Dubai Municipality officials have asked owners of buildings having swimming pools to hire professional lifeguards.

“We keep inspecting swimming pools in the hotels, recreations centres and apartment buildings throughout the year,” said an official of the Environment Protection and Safety Section at Dubai Municipality.

“Facilities at these places are often inspected on a random basis to ensure constant compliance of the law,” added the official.

“A violation of the safety standards can result in the closure of the pool and the imposition of a penalty ranging between Dh500 and Dh500,000,” he pointed out, adding that the inspections are intensified during the summer months.

“We look into every aspect of the pool, including the quality of water and the presence of a qualified lifeguard at the facility.”

The official further informed: “We first issue a warning notice to the violators and then start keeping close tabs on them. A repetition of violation can invite penalty or closure of the pool, depending on the seriousness of the violation.”