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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
12/26/2024 02:03 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=H&cosponId=43279
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 17, 2024 02:33 PM
From: Representative Brian Munroe and Rep. Tim Brennan, Rep. Melissa Cerrato
To: All House members
Subject: On-Duty Lifeguards at Health Club Swimming Pools
 
Recently, we were informed of a tragic incident in a fitness center’s swimming pool that took the life of a resident’s family member. The family member had a cardiac event while swimming in the center’s pool, which caused him to drown. Unfortunately, there was no on-duty lifeguard at the pool and, despite the efforts of bystanders to administer CPR, this person was not rescued in time to save their life.  
 
This preventable tragedy shows the need for our state to adopt additional safety measures for swimming pools. Our legislation would require health clubs that have swimming pools to have on duty at least one certified lifeguard for each pool during the hours that pool is open to members or guests. Pennsylvania currently has similar regulations in place for public pools, but these regulations do not apply to private pools. Further, other states such as Iowa and our neighboring Maryland have taken steps to ensure swimmer safety by requiring on-duty lifeguards at private pools, including pools in health clubs.
 
The family member who passed away was swimming alone and, had a lifeguard been on duty that day, it is possible that their life could have been saved. Pennsylvania regulations already recognize the importance of lifeguards for swimmer safety in public pools, and we should do the same for health club swimming pools. This legislation will make our health clubs safer by ensuring that a trained lifeguard is on duty at all times that a pool is open and so can quickly provide potentially life-saving intervention in emergency situations.
 
Please join us in supporting this legislation that will help provide for safer swimming in Pennsylvania and potentially save lives.
 




Memo Updated: October 17, 2024 02:34 PM