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TITLE 26HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PART 1HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
CHAPTER 748MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR GENERAL RESIDENTIAL OPERATIONS
SUBCHAPTER QRECREATION ACTIVITIES
DIVISION 2SWIMMING ACTIVITIES
RULE §748.3757What are the child/adult ratios for swimming activities?

(a) The maximum number of children one adult can supervise during swimming activities is based on the age of the youngest child in the group and is specified in the following chart:

Attached Graphic

(b) When all of the children in the group are at least four years of age or older, in addition to meeting the required swimming child/adult ratio listed in subsection (a) of this section, at least two adults must supervise four or more children who are actually in the water.

(c) When a child who is non-ambulatory or who is subject to seizures is engaged in swimming activities, you must assign one adult to that one child. This adult must be in addition to the lifeguard on duty in the swimming area. You do not have to meet this requirement if a licensed physician writes orders in which the physician determines that the child:

  (1) Is at low risk of seizures and that special precautions are not needed; or

  (2) Only needs to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket while swimming and additional special precautions are not needed.

(d) A child must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket while participating in swimming activities in other bodies of water such as ponds, rivers, lakes and oceans if the child is:

  (1) Under the age of 12; or

  (2) Unable to swim, regardless of the child's age.

(e) So long as you comply with the child/caregiver ratios required in §748.1003 of this title, the ratios in subsection (a) of this section:

  (1) Do not include children over the age of 12 years old who are competent swimmers; and

  (2) Are not required when children are participating in water activities such as sprinkler play or splash pad or wading pool, as long as the standing water is less than two feet deep.


Source Note: The provisions of this §748.3757 adopted to be effective January 1, 2007, 31 TexReg 7377; amended to be effective January 1, 2017, 41 TexReg 10393; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909; amended to be effective April 25, 2022, 47 TexReg 2248

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