(a) Adult waterfront director required at youth camps.
An adult waterfront director, who holds a current lifeguard certificate
or its equivalent, shall be in charge of all waterfront activities.
While waterfront activities are in progress, the waterfront director
or an adult certified lifeguard assistant shall be in the immediate
vicinity (within sight and/or hearing) of the campers, supervising
the program.
(b) Responsibilities of the waterfront director. The
waterfront director is to be responsible for all waterfront supervision
procedures and is responsible for ensuring that the waterfront procedures
are strictly enforced. The waterfront staff shall not engage in personal
recreational swimming, boating or any other waterfront activity while
on waterfront duty. For every 35 campers, or fraction thereof, engaged
in waterfront activities, there shall be one certified lifeguard and
one additional person (either a certified lifeguard or trained adult
lookout) on duty. Camps utilizing natural bodies of water such as
rivers, lakes, or creeks may need to increase this ratio.
(c) Maintenance and operation of swimming areas.
(1) Swimming areas shall be maintained and operated
in a safe and clean condition. Youth camp swimming pools are class
C pools, and shall be built, operated, and maintained in accordance
with 25 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 265, General Sanitation,
Subchapter L, Standards for Public Pools and Spas.
(2) Interactive water features and fountains at youth
camps shall be maintained and operated in a safe and clean condition.
Interactive water features and fountains at youth camps shall be built,
operated, and maintained in accordance with 25 TAC, Chapter 265, General
Sanitation, Subchapter M, Interactive Water Features and Fountains.
(d) Camper's swimming ability shall be determined in
accordance with the camp's written swimming test policy. Camps shall
test to determine each child's swimming ability. Children shall then
be confined to the limits of swimming skills for which they have been
classified. Also, the swimming area shall have areas for non-swimmers,
intermediate swimmers, and swimmers clearly marked.
(e) Checking campers in and out of the water. A method
of checking campers in and out of the water shall be established and
enforced.
(f) Waterfront lifesaving equipment shall be provided.
Lifesaving equipment suitable for the waterfront activity shall be
provided at the waterfront activity area and placed so the equipment
is immediately available in case of an emergency. All lifesaving equipment
shall be kept in good repair and ready condition. At a minimum, this
equipment shall include the following.
(1) A rescue tube or rescue buoy with strap, or a ring
buoy that is approved by the United States Coast Guard that has an
outside diameter of 15 to 24 inches attached to a throwing rope that
is at least two-thirds the maximum width of the pool with a diameter
of 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch.
(2) One or more backboards with a minimum of 3 tie
down straps and head immobilizer for back and neck injuries.
(3) A first aid kit that includes the items listed
in §265.15(f) of this title (relating to Medical and Nursing
Care).
(g) Providing a personal flotation device. A Coast
Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) shall be readily available
for each occupant of a watercraft. Each occupant of a watercraft 12
years of age and under shall wear a United States Coast Guard (USCG)
approved inherently buoyant Type II PFD, or Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest
at all times while in the watercraft. A non-swimmer shall wear a USCG
approved inherently buoyant Type II PFD, or Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest
and not be permitted in a watercraft unless accompanied by a counselor.
A camper shall wear a vest type USCG approved preserver before entering
and while in white water or before entering and while on a lake when
the water is rough or while waterskiing.
(h) Location of swimming areas. Swimming areas shall
be used exclusively for swimming while swimming is occurring. A watercraft
docking area shall not be allowed in the swimming area and water skiers
shall not launch, cross, or stop in the swimming area while swimming
is occurring.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §265.16 adopted to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3049; amended to be effective May 16, 2010, 35 TexReg 3815; amended to be effective March 13, 2014, 39 TexReg 1713; amended to be effective June 25, 2020, 45 TexReg 4202 |