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COVID Operational Plan for Tufts Pool


COVID-19 Operational Plan for Tufts Pool
 
 
The Medford Recreation Department is committed to providing safe recreational activities at Tufts Pool. While there will be some risk involved in visiting or working at the pool this Summer, the following rules and procedures must be adopted to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our employees and patrons safe.
 
Facility Closure or Staff Absences:
 
Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19: All Staff members should recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever above 100.4, chills, muscle pains, shortness of breath, sore throat, or loss of taste and smell. Anyone experiencing one or more of these signs should contact the Recreation Department immediately and not report to work. In addition, at each start of your shift, employees should take a temperature reading. Upon notification from the Recreation Department, a staff member is showing symptoms of COVID-19, the pool must be closed for 24 hours and disinfected before reopening. Employees who have worked the same shift as the person experiencing symptoms must not return to work for 14 days.
 
If the Board of Health or Recreation Department receives notification a person vising Tufts Pool is showing symptoms of COVID-19, The pool will be closed for 24 hours and disinfected before opening.
 
If the pool needs to be closed due to inclement weather, water quality, or from COVID-19, we will communicate to the public by posting an alert on our website (medfordrecreation.org), Facebook post, and email blast to the patrons who purchased swim passes. Everyone who purchased a pass will receive a credit on their account to be applied to a future date. We will not be able to process refunds.
 
 
 
 
 
Occupancy:
 
To help encourage and allow social distancing, Tufts Pool will have a maximum occupancy of 30 people at one time. 
 
Social Distancing:
 
Recreational activities including swimming and wading, should be conducted with adherence to social distancing recommendations of 6 feet between individuals and the proper use of face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
 
Social distancing of at least 6 feet is required for all individuals outside of a household group and applies to deck areas, bathrooms, or wading areas. No one should congregate in the water or on the pool deck.
 
Face coverings should not be worn while in the water.
 
Organized activities, including but not limited to camps, swim lessons, swim team, water aerobics and ball games is not allowed.
 
Designated Locations:
 
To help maintain social distancing, the pool will have designated 6x7 locations where families can set their belongings. The locations will be visible by lines on the concrete deck. Please refer to the map on the last page of this document for a visual explanation.
 
Bathhouse:
 
The bathhouse will be limited. The lobby will be open, and patrons will check in at the front desk and enter the pool deck from the lobby. Only the Men and Women handicap bathrooms (converted as unisex bathrooms) will be open to the public as a restroom. The Men and Women Locker Rooms will be closed including indoor showers and changing areas. Patrons should come into the pool dressed to swim. A diaper changing table will be available in one of the unisex bathrooms.
 
Showers:
 
One on-deck shower will be available. All showers inside the bathhouse will remain closed. 
 
 
 
 
 
Hours of Operation:
 
Tufts Pool will have adjusted hours to accommodate frequent cleaning, maximize the amount of people who can visit the pool per day, and to keep within our staff budget. The pool will be open for the season beginning Tuesday, July 7th to Sunday, August 23rd and will be open six days per week (Tuesday-Sunday). To follow the State guidelines, the pool will be closed on Monday’s for weekly shocking (increased chlorine). New for this Summer will be designated time blocks patrons can purchase as a swim pass. No individual of family passes will be sold this year. The hours will be as followed…
 
12:00pm-12:30pm: Closed for Cleaning / Disinfecting
12:30pm-2:00pm: Open for Swimming (Block 1)
2:00pm-3:00pm: Closed for Cleaning / Disinfecting
3:00pm-4:30pm: Open for Swimming (Block 2)
4:30pm-5:30pm: Closed for Cleaning / Disinfecting
5:30pm-7:00pm: Open for Swimming (Block 3)
 
Purchasing Tufts Pool Passes:
 
All passes will need to be sold on-line to eliminate cash handling and shared computers among employees. Medford Residents and Non-Residents can purchase online by visiting MedfordRecreation.org and logging into their household account. Select the Tufts Pool photo on the front of the website which will take you directly to the pass sales. First, select the time block you wish to visit the facility, followed by selecting the date. Once we reach maximum occupancy for specific dates and time blocks, you will not be able to purchase a pass. When you arrive to the pool, you will need to give the names of each person who has a pass.
If you do not have access to a computer, please call the Recreation Department (781) 393-2486 to complete your transaction over the phone. Staff will be scheduled to assist on the phone Monday-Sunday from 9am-3pm.
 
Chemical Testing & Water Balance:
 
In accordance to the state guidelines, the swimming pool will be tested six times per day. Chemical test time will follow...
11:30am
12:30pm
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:30pm
5:30pm
7:00pm  
 
Free Chlorine will be set to a higher range than typical years. While the Board of Health allows Free Chlorine to be between 1ppm-3ppm, the pool will be set to maintain a 2.5ppm.
 
Cyanuric Acid will be kept to a minimal level to maintain enough free chlorine.
 
Tufts Pool will be closed on Monday’s to allow for shocking. This includes increasing the chlorine to 6ppm for a minimum of one hour before decreasing the chlorine back to an acceptable level for swimming.
 
 
Cleaning/Disinfecting Directions:
 
During Pool Closures:
  • All staff should wash their hands with soap and water.
  • Restock bathrooms with paper products and soap.
  • Staff should remove face masks when social distancing is possible and rehydrate.
  • Clean and disinfect bathrooms including all handrails, door locks, knobs, diaper changing station, etc..
  • Disinfect break room including surfaces and chairs.
  • Clean and disinfect all picnic tables and umbrellas.
  • Disinfect all hand railings, swim lift, gates, and showers.
  • Disinfect all lifejackets used during the previous swim block.
  • Disinfect guard chairs, umbrella poles and rescue tubes.
  • Disinfect front lobby surfaces, railings, and doorknobs.
 
During Swim Blocks:
  • Bath House Attendant will be controlling the lifejackets by handing out clean PFD’s and making sure used PFD’s are in the soiled bin.
  • Bath House Attendant will also be the designated person turning on and off the on-deck shower.
 
Additional Pool Rules specific to COVID-19:
 
  • Equipment (except your own PFD) cannot be brought in from home including noodles, toys, and balls. Only ADA approved equipment for personal use is allowed.
  • If you use a loaner lifejacket from the facility, it should not be returned to the rack. Place it in the contaminated bucket for the staff to disinfected during the next cleaning time block.
  • Staff, visitors and patrons must wear face coverings at-all times, except for when in the water.
  • Deep end bracelets will need to be put on a child by a parent or guardian.
 
 
Lifeguard Management
 
The following information below is how the Recreation Department will manage our lifeguards and rescue procedures to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.
 
Lifeguard Personal Equipment:
 
In addition to lifeguard hip packs containing a pocket mask and gloves, two face masks will be in your pack in case you need to immediately provide first aid or assist in removing a person from the water.
 
Hand Sanitizer:
 
Hand sanitizers should be on both lifeguard chairs while open to the public. During rotations, lifeguards should sanitize their hands. Another bottle will be in the break rooms for employees to use.
 
Disinfectant Spray:
 
Staff should use the disinfectant spray at the beginning of their shift to sanitize their rescue tube for the day. In addition, sanitize the commonly touched locations of the lifeguard chair including the arm rests and umbrella while rotating stations.
 
Rescue Procedures:
 
The following modified rescue procedures has been approved by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.
 
  • If you need to provide immediate first aid, if the injured patron is not wearing a face mask, hand them one of your masks in your hip pack. The second face mask should be worn by the lifeguard.
  • For basic first aid, please send the patron to the Supervisor on duty. In addition to face masks, the Supervisor should wear their face shield.
  • When possible, lifeguards should limit their contact while making water rescues. Extending or throwing a rescue device should be prioritized if conditions permit.
  • If direct contact is needed for a water rescue, employing a rear approach and rescue will be ideal.
  • In-water ventilation will be temporary suspended. Lifeguards should remove a non-breathing patron from the water and provide ventilations using a Bag Valve Mask located in the medical bag.
  • While the first lifeguard responding to a water emergency cannot wear a face shield, secondary and responding lifeguards should put on a face shield in addition to gloves and assist the primary lifeguard in removal from the water.
  • If CPR or ventilations is necessary, a Bag Valve Mask should be used.