About us

Watch Around Water

About us

Watch Around Water

Safety in the water

Help us ensure PINES Forest Aquatic Centre is a safe venue for the whole community to enjoy. Watch Around Water is an education and public awareness-raising program that defines the minimum supervision requirements for children in a pool setting.

Our lifeguards are essential for safety; however, they do not replace the close supervision of parents and guardians for young children around water.

Children under 5 years old

  • MUST be accompanied into the Centre by a person over the age of 18 and supervised within arms’ reach, at all times in the water.
  • MUST wear a yellow wristband to help identify their age while swimming.
  • Will not be admitted without a full fee paying parent/guardian who must also be in the water.
  • Groups will not be admitted entry where the number of parents/guardians supervising a group of children under5 years exceeds the ratio of 1:2.

Children under 10 years old

  • MUST be actively supervised by an adult over the age of 18. The adult must have a clear view of the child with no physical or structural barriers between them.
  • MUST wear a green wristband to help identify their age while swimming.
  • Groups will not be admitted entry where the number of parents/guardians supervising a group of children under 10 years exceeds the ratio of 1:4.

Children under 13 years old

  • MUST be accompanied into the Centre by an adult who shall remain accessible and who regularly checks on the child.
  • MUST wear a purple wristband to help identify their age while swimming.
  • Groups will not be admitted entry where the number of parents/guardians supervising a group of children under 13 years exceeds theratio of 1:10.

Conditions Of Entry
Conditions of entry:
  • Unsupervised children will be removed from the water and placed in a safe area until collected by the parent/guardian.
  • An unsupervised child of poor swimming ability regardless of age will be removed from the water by a staff member if we are concerned for the safety of that child.
  • When children are under the supervision of a teacher in a structured PARC Swim lesson, a parent/guardian must still maintain constant visual supervision.
  • Groups will not be permitted entry where the number of parent/guardians supervising a group of children under 10 years exceeds of 1:4 (1:2 for children under 5 years).