Dear Editor,

I am writing in hopes that you will share this story with your readers to improve pool safety at our local YMCA.

Over the weekend, I overheard a mother (with two young sins close by) tell the father that the lifeguard was being a jerk about the lap lane. The lifeguard had just spoken to the father because he had gone off the slide and instead of climbing the ladder to exit the slide well, he had crossed over the lap lane, in front of a lap swimmer, to get where he wanted to be.

A swimming pool can be a great source of fun IF while using it you are not physically injured. A pool also offers a great source of exercise for those of us that support the YMCA with a membership. Personally, swimming offers me a workout that I can’t get in the exercise room because of problems I have with my feet. So, for me, the pool is where I go to work out, more so than to have fun or suntan.

Just about every time I go to swim laps, which is often, the lifeguards must tell people (children and adults) not to cross the lap lane. Earlier this year, while swimming laps, a teenage girl kicked me in the head so hard it flipped me. As I came up for air there was an adult (the lifeguard missed this one) fussing at her not to cross the lap lane.

With shock written across her face she said, “I didn’t see her.”

I then said to the girl “that is exactly why you shouldn’t cross the lap lane.” Most of the time it is a case of they didn’t see you because they didn’t look long enough or go underwater long enough to see if anyone was swimming underwater (as you do after a flip turn). Sometimes they see you but try to hurry in front of you or sometimes it is a game to swim under you.

To all YMCA members and especially those that join for the summer to use the pool for fun and sun, there is a reason for the rules.

What most people do not realize is that when you are swimming properly you are looking down and backward, not forward. What most people do not realize is that when rules are broken, even if you didn’t mean any harm, if I jam my fingers, arm or head it will hurt just as much if you did mean to harm me. If I kick your child because I didn’t see them jump in the lane behind me while I am looking down it would hurt just as badly as if I did it intentionally (which I personally would never do). And again, if your child gets a good kick by a strong swimmer, there goes the fun.

To the mother in the pool, the lifeguard didn’t mean anything personal; he was just doing his job. And his job is to keep you, your children and your husband (not to mention the innocent lap swimmer) safe.

It’s too bad he must be verbally abused (by the very people he is trying to help) to do his job properly. Be safe, exercise and have fun, but let’s keep it fun for all.

Lesa Berry
Powhatan