| Releases & Statements
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Contact: Frank Sobrino, Press Secretary
O: (212) 669-4193
Charlene Piper, Deputy Press Secretary
(212) 669-4691
Public
Advocate Gotbaum Sees Improvement,
But
Reveals Problems at City Pools
While investigators
dispatched by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum found conditions at
public pools improved from a year ago, they also came upon violations
of city and state codes and other hazards to city pool-goers,
according to a report released today by Gotbaum.
At the Tony Dapolito intermediate
pool in Manhattan, for example, an investigator from Gotbaum’s
office observed children diving into the diving well despite orange
cones around the perimeter of the well to keep the public out
of this deep-water section. The lifeguards on duty did not appear
to notice the children throwing the cones at one another and into
the water and did not intervene.
“By all means,
parents should feel free to take their kids to city pools on hot
summer days,” Gotbaum said. “I simply suggest they
be alert to potential hazards.”
“Parks and Recreation is gratified
that the Advocate found our pools with minor exceptions to be
safe, clean and secure places for summer fun and healthy recreation,”
said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “With
more than half a million visitors to date at our City’s
pools, we are thrilled to provide free, public access to our City’s
outdoor swimming pools this summer, allowing New Yorkers to beat
the heat.”
As a follow-up to a report done last
summer, Gotbaum sent investigators out on unannounced visits to
27 outdoor public pools to survey conditions. Particular attention
was paid to maintenance, quality of life-guarding, availability
of lifesaving equipment and chlorine levels.
Some of the 27 public pools visited
by investigators dispatched by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum were
in violation of city or state codes, or presented other hazards
to city pool-goers. While investigators saw improvement over conditions
found last year—indeed, inspectors from the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene were observed at one pool—some
problems remain.
In addition to what was observed
at the Tony Dapolito pool, investigators found:
--8 pools did not have
required safety equipment on or near the pool deck, as called
for in the city health code; at five pools, staff did not confirm
the presence of all safety equipment.
--At 6 pools lifeguards
failed to enforce regulations prohibiting running, jumping and
other disorderly behavior.
--7 pools had visible
slipping or tripping hazards.
--At 2 pools, ladders
were not properly secured to the pool deck.
--1 pool’s chlorine
level was below that required by the state’s sanitary code.
The levels at 7 other pools were potentially problematic.
Gotbaum, whose charter-mandated
role is to oversee government services, called on the Department
of Parks and Recreation to take these steps to make pools safer:
--Conduct an inventory
of first-aid and lifesaving equipment and ensure that pools are
provided with all necessary supplies.
--Conduct unannounced
visits to evaluate lifeguard performance and ready access to lifesaving
equipment and ensure lifeguards are attentive and in control of
pools at all times.
--Assess all pool sites
and correct safety and structural hazards and conduct periodic
follow-up checks so that hazardous conditions that develop during
the pool season may be quickly identified and addressed.
--Ensure that all pool
employees responsible for water treatment understand when and
how chemicals should be applied to the pool and at what point
a pool becomes unsafe for public use.
"We’ve seen
improvement over last year and following these recommendations
will further ensure a safe, fun summer for pool-going New Yorkers,”
Gotbaum said.
* * *
Testing
The Waters: A Look At Safety At City Pools (July 2006)
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