Safer Together: The Importance of Fully Guarded Facilities and Strong Procedures for Childcare Programs and Pools
- AOAP Drowning Prevention Committee
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
This blog is designed for both childcare leaders and aquatic facility operators, outlining why unguarded swimming environments pose unacceptable risks, the challenges of maintaining proper lifeguard staffing, and why partnering with fully lifeguarded facilities that follow established safety standards regarding childcare programs is the safest choice for everyone involved.
Protecting children around water is not optional, it is a fundamental duty of care. For childcare centers, camps, and youth programs, swimming is often seen as a fun enrichment or recreational activity and is one of the most common outings during the summer months. However, aquatic environments present significant risks, especially for younger children and non-swimmers. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related death among children, and many incidents occur during supervised recreational swim time, not during formal swim lessons.
The Hidden Risk of Unguarded Aquatic Facilities
Childcare programs often assume that if a pool, lake, or splash area is legally open, it must be safe. Unfortunately, regulations vary widely by state and locality—and some environments are permitted to operate without lifeguards, especially:
Apartment or hotel pools
Small community or campground ponds
Private waterfronts
Splash pads and wading pools
State and National Park beaches
Legal does not mean safe!
Drowning is silent, fast, and often unrecognized. It does not look like thrashing or calling for help. Children—especially non-swimmers and weak swimmers—can submerge in seconds while adults nearby are unaware. Without trained lifeguards whose sole responsibility is surveillance and rescue, these incidents can go unrecognized and quickly become a fatal incident.
Supervision Alone Is Not Lifeguarding
Childcare staff are excellent caregivers, especially when they are certified in BLS and First Aid programs,—but they are not lifeguards unless specifically trained, certified, and equipped.
Even well-intentioned staff face limits:
They are supervising behavior but are not trained to recognize what drowning looks like.
They are often responsible for multiple children simultaneously, both in and out of the water.
They may attempt rescues they are not trained to perform safely.
Staff Lifeguards vs. Contracted Lifeguards: What Programs Must Understand
Some organizations explore staffing their own lifeguards or contracting them for off-site trips. While both approaches can be done safely, they require significant responsibility and oversight.
Good Choice: Staffing Your Own Lifeguards
This option requires:
Current, verifiable lifeguard certification (including waterfront or special-use training when applicable)
Regular documented in-service training and rescue drills
Proper rescue equipment is provided. (rescue tubes, AED, oxygen, backboards, etc.)
Clear emergency action plans
Insurance approval and risk management review
For most childcare programs, maintaining this infrastructure year-round is logistically difficult and financially burdensome.
Better Choice: Contracting Lifeguards
Contracting can be safer—but only if:
The company provides licensed, insured professionals.
Lifeguard coverage is adequate for the size and complexity of the environment.
Proper rescue equipment is provided. (rescue tubes, AED, oxygen, backboards, etc.)
Emergency plans are site-specific and practiced on site.
Contracts include clear liability transfer and insurance provisions.
Without these safeguards, contracted coverage can offer a false sense of security.
The Safest Choice: Fully Guarded Aquatic Facilities
AOAP strongly recommends that childcare programs prioritize facilities that already employ trained, certified lifeguards as part of their operation.
Fully guarded facilities provide:
Rescue-ready lifeguards whose only job is patron surveillance.
Established and practiced emergency action plans.
Familiarity with the facility’s hazards, depth changes, and blind spots.
Proper rescue and medical equipment.
Consistent enforcement of safety rules.
When childcare programs choose fully guarded facilities, they reduce legal exposure, operational complexity, and most importantly, risk to children.
Choosing a Facility
When picking out a venue, we suggest that a senior leader visit in-person first. Below are some things to consider and ask yourself and/or the facility:
Age and Skill: Are the facilities’ activities age and skill-level appropriate?
Lifeguard Availability and Training: Do they have enough certified lifeguards to effectively guard all activities and areas of the water? Are they hosting ongoing in-service training? Are they properly positioned?
Emergency Response Planning: What are their safety-response mechanisms?
Preparedness: Do they have the proper equipment needed in the event of an emergency? (First aid stations, AED, oxygen, rescue tubes, etc.) Do they have enough life jackets of appropriate sizes for the youth in your programs? If not, will they allow you to bring your own?
Swim Testing: How do they manage swim testing? If the facility does not swim test, will they allow your organization to perform that upon arrival?
AOAP Tools Designed for Childcare and Youth Programs
As an Aquatic Risk Prevention Organization, AOAP has developed practical tools to support childcare providers before, during, and after aquatic activities.
AOAP promotes overlapping safeguards that work together:
Professional lifeguards
Water Watchers (program staff trained to support, not replace guards)
Buddy systems
Swim testing and identification.
No single measure is enough on its own.
A camp director should have a solid understanding of aquatics to ensure the safety and enjoyment of campers and staff participating in water-related activities. This document provides camp directors and leaders with basic information to start creating a safety plan for any aquatic activities. Below are a few topics that affect camp directors and supervisors universally.
Risk Management
Staffing and Staff training
Supervision
Emergency Procedures
Parent and Camper Education
Communication
Insurance
Record Keeping
Weather Policies
Swim testing
Buddy System and Checks
The Water Watcher by AOAP initiative is a critical layer of protection in drowning prevention. Drowning is silent and fast; having a dedicated observer significantly reduces risk and saves lives during aquatic activities. This program helps:
Teach staff what drowning really looks like.
Reinforce that staff are support eyes, not rescuers.
Clarify roles during emergencies.
Water Watchers add safety—but only when lifeguards are present.
Education materials focused on:
Early distress recognition
Life jacket use and fitting
Behavior expectations for children and staff
A Clear Recommendation for Childcare Leaders
If your organization serves children:
Do not use unguarded aquatic facilities.
Do not rely solely on staff supervision.
Do not assume “shallow” means safe.
Instead:
Choose facilities with on-duty, trained lifeguards.
Use AOAP tools to prepare staff and children for what to expect.
Keep aquatic activities aligned with age and ability.
Treat water as a high-risk environment deserving professional oversight.
Final Thought
Water activities should create memories—not emergencies. By committing to fully lifeguarded facilities and evidence-based safety practices, childcare organizations protect children, staff, and their mission.
AOAP is proud to support childcare providers with tools, training, and guidance that prioritize prevention, preparedness, and protection—every time children go near the water.
About the Authors
Alan C. Mogridge, Regional Safety Director / Aquatic Safety Specialist, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, has been a youth-serving organization professional at numerous organizations throughout the northeast. At the age of 15, he worked as a YMCA camp counselor, lifeguard, and swimming instructor, and rose to a CEO position within the Y movement in 2014 prior to joining Boys & Girls Clubs of America in May of 2020. You can reach Alan at amogridge@bgca.org
SJ Idel is the Director of Training for StarGuard Elite. He specializes in developing lifeguard training programs, emergency protocols, and learning management systems for aquatic facilities. You can reach SJ at stanton.idel@starguardelite.com.
Are you interested in submitting a blog post? Reach out to Kirsten at kirsten@aquaticpros.org to share your idea and learn more about the AOAP Blog.
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