WeAquatics Safety Protocols

Your health and safety are the most important factors in our decision-making, which is why we’ve carefully designed our return-to-pool protocols to align with all federal, state, and local health guidelines; facility-specific rules; and WeAquatics guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated there is no evidence COVID-19 spreads through treated water. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.

As we return to the pool, here’s what you need to know:

WeAquatics Host Facilities Protocol

Specific precautions will vary slightly at each of our four facilities (Trinity, Gallaudet, Chinquapin, and Madeira). When you arrive at any of our locations, be prepared to follow the guidelines put in place by management while on the premises.

Given that, every facility will comply with the following:

Requiring face masks for entry into facilities. (Students under three years old will not be required to wear face coverings in the pool.)
Reducing the number of occupants in the facility and monitoring occupancy. (The WeAquatics schedule will be amended based on peak-usage times at most facilities.)
Putting up visual aids for space protocol.
Increasing disinfection efforts, with additional attention to high-traffic areas and commonly touched items.
Increasing availability of hand soaps and hand sanitizer in key areas of the facility.
Removing commonly shared amenities and limiting access to contact points, restrooms, and locker rooms. (Some facilities might not permit access to locker rooms. In those cases, all changing will have to be done outside of the facility.)
Enforcing a temperature threshold of 100 degrees. Ill students will not be allowed to swim until they have been symptom free without the aid of medications for seventy-two hours.
Requiring families and instructors to sign an updated release waiver acknowledging the inherent risk of being in public spaces and the contagious presence of Coronavirus.
Prohibiting eating or drinking around the pool area.
Conducting all lessons in designated spaces at our locations.
Prohibiting play time in the pool before or after lessons to ensure everyone has the space to maintain a safe distance.

Please expect periodic closures throughout the day for cleaning and disinfecting locker rooms, doorknobs, and high-traffic areas.

Safety Protocol for Everyone

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60 percent or more) before and after entering the pool.
Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) with unwashed hands.
Utilize all personal protection equipment. Face masks (covering your nose and mouth) should always be worn while in any common areas. Face masks should also be worn in the presence of others when practically appropriate and possible.
Maintain six feet of distance when interacting with others when practically appropriate and possible.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze.
Notify facility management if you are sick.
Consider removing shoes prior to entering indoor facilities.

DO NOT:

Come to the pool if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, chills) or COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell).
Gather without face masks in any large groups.
Share personal items (glasses, cups, high-touch items, cell phones, headphones, utensils, towels, etc.).
Make physical contact with others, such as shaking hands, giving hugs, or high-fiving.
Travel for nonessential reasons.
Participate in swim lessons if you are immunocompromised or are at heightened risk.

Coach/Instructor-Specific Safety Protocol

Instructors are required to wear provided silicon waterproof face masks or face shields, including during one-on-one lessons.
Instructors will maintain social distance from students where applicable but will assist swimmers while teaching.
Instructors will be evaluated upon arrival, and anyone who is not feeling well or has recently been exposed to COVID-19 will not be permitted to work.
Instructors will take their own temperatures daily prior to teaching.
Instructors will determine daily if anyone in their households has been ill in the last fourteen days, and they will cancel lessons if so.
Instructors will self-check pool chemistry daily and keep a written record.
Instructors will sanitize any shared surfaces or areas between lessons.
Instructors will stagger schedules and lengthen hours to reduce the number of students present at any one time.
Instructors will allow adequate time between lessons to ensure only one family is in the facility/area at a time.

Protocol for the WeAquatics Families

Ensure swimmers haven’t eaten less than 1.5 hours prior to the lesson and are potty-trained or wear two layers (including a swim diaper) to contain solid waste.
If a student exhibits any signs of illness leading up to his/her lesson or has potentially been exposed to COVID-19, cancel and reschedule that lesson. Please err on the side of caution. Makeup lessons will be provided as needed.
Arrive no more than five minutes before lessons with student/s fully dressed in swim attire. Plan to leave immediately following the conclusion of your lesson.
Use the BUDS (Bowel, Urine; Diet; Sleep) monitoring system daily for all ISR students. Parents are required to take their child’s temperature within an hour of lessons.
If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 or are suspected to have it, see a physician and be cleared before returning to swimming. There is no penalty for missing practice due to illness. If a student or any member of his or her family does not feel well, that student should stay home.

DO NOT:

Wring out swim diapers in the pool or around the deck area. Any disposable swim diapers, diapers, or any other trash should be placed in a bag and taken home by the parent.
Present cash. All financial transactions are to occur via the WeAquatics Portal.
Bring poolside visitors. One adult per student please. Any siblings who must accompany the parent can safely sit in the designated area.