NEW YORK – New York City is getting ready to reopen its public swimming pools as uncertainty grows over a lifeguard shortage.
The pools are scheduled to officially open this Tuesday, June 28.
Due to a national lifeguard shortage, the New York City Parks Department recently announced that they will not be offering swim programs. In total there are four programs affected by this measure and that will leave New Yorkers unable to take these seasonal services.
Due to the national lifeguard shortage, unfortunately we will not be hosting swim programs, including lap swim, senior swim, and Learn to Swim, at our outdoor pools this summer. Outdoor pools will remain open each day for general swim from 11am-3pm and from 4pm–7pm.
— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) June 14, 2022
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The Parks Department’s announcement fell like a bucket of cold water due to multiple reports of drowning accidents, some of them fatal, and that these programs could help people learn to swim. In fact, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) asks parents to enroll their children in swimming lessons as a precaution.
Some cases have already been reported in the tri-state area. In mid-June, two people drowned in a New Jersey lake around the same time a toddler was pulled from a home pool on Long Island.. Another case occurred last month, when a 2-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool in New York’s Rockland Countyrk, authorities said.
NEW YORK POOL HOURS
The pools are scheduled to open to the public for swimming on June 28 daily from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Click here to view a complete list of locations in all five boroughs.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE POOL
You will need to have a bathing suit to enter the pool area. Parks Department staff may choose to search men’s shorts if they notice it is not a swimsuit. Do you feel the need to cover yourself from the sun? Put on a plain white shirt or a white hat and you’re good to go.
Shirts with colors on the cover are not allowed. And remember to wear sunscreen! The city provides free sunscreen at city pools in all five boroughs.
WHAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE POOL
Make sure you have a sturdy lock with you when you head to the pool. It will keep your valuables safe and allow you to dive into the water feeling more secure with your belongings. Locks are required for entry and we will not accept luggage locks.
WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT BRING TO THE POOL
You should leave food, glass bottles, electronic devices, and newspapers out of the house. Loose periodicals tend to fly around and create litter, food can be messy to clean up afterward, and there’s too much water around to ensure your electronics stay safe. Just to be safe, we also recommend leaving valuables like jewelry and credit cards at home. And obviously any dangerous objects or weapons of any kind.
IMPORTANT TO PARENTS
Are you thinking of wearing floats? It’s safer to leave them at home and stay in the shallow end of the pool until everyone learns to swim.
Looking to venture deeper? Not recommended if you don’t know how to swim. Some of the free swimming lessons could help but have been canceled for this summer 2022.
Babies or toddlers can put on swim diapers before they get in the water. Although it is possible to find a place to park the strollers, the Parks Department does not guarantee that they will be able to monitor them, so you can take them at your own risk.
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