Coronavirus Water Park Safety Tips

Water parks and cool pools are summertime staples. Several parks across the country have reopened for the summer following a long winter and coronavirus closures, and the CDC has some recommendations to stay safe. 

How to Keep Your Family Safe at the Beach This Summer 

Like at reopened shopping malls, gyms, restaurants and the office, staying safe at a reopened water park involves practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene. Water park guests are also advised to wear face masks whenever they are out of the water. Cloth face coverings, once wet, will become difficult to breath through.

At water parks, visitors are discouraged from sharing items like goggles, nose clips, snorkels and other objects that are difficult to clean or disinfect. Food, pool toys, provided equipment and other supplies should not be shared with any other guest whom you do not live with. 

As much as possible, water park operators are encouraged to ensure adequate amounts of safety equipment and other supplies like kick boards and pool noodles to limit guests' use of equipment to just one group of users at a time as well as to allow cleaning and disinfecting between use.

The CDC recommends that on-duty lifeguards not be held responsible for monitoring guest adherence to coronavirus precautions. Lifeguards should also be exempt from following precautionary measures should they need to rescue a distressed swimmer or provide first aid. 

The World Waterpark Association has issued similar reopening, social distancing and PPE considerations and recommendations for water parks. Temperature checks, although not currently mandated by the CDC, should also be considered or could even be required under local law. 

Of course, there are a slew of other typical pool safety tips that must be followed at all times as well. Do not forget to stay safe in the heat and look out for signs you or your child may be dehydrated.