Section 27 in Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Regulation and Monitoring of Swimming Pools) Rules, 2015
27. Specific Safety Features.
(1)A chair placed on the top of a removable stand of three and a half foot high shall be provided for seating of the lifeguard at a location so that all areas of the pool are visible to the lifeguard. A lifeguard shall be dressed in uniform swimming attire and be identified as a lifeguard. The coach/instructor and the lifeguard shall have undergone the training for giving first aid.(2)The owner or occupier of the pool shall provide necessary life saving devices in adequate numbers such as First aid box, oxygen cylinder, breathing equipments, artificial respirator, buoys for beginners, at least two life jackets, life belts, stretcher, life saving hook, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation pocket mask, rescue tubes, life guard stand, etc.(3)The owner or occupier of the pool shall -(i)place a life saving instructions chart at the pool.(ii)place the safety/sanitary rules board at the pool.(iii)provide necessary fire fighting appliances in the premises which must be maintained in proper condition.(iv)not allow undesirable elements in the vicinity of the pool and shall take adequate precautions to prevent harassment of women.(v)require a beginner to wear red cap for easy identification.(vi)provide proper uniform to the life guards.(vii)install a Flag to indicate that a life guard is on duty.(viii)insure all the swimming pool users against any mishaps.(ix)display emergency contact numbers at a conspicuous place of the pool.(4)Rescue Equipment - (i) General purpose first aid kit shall be provided to handle minor bumps, bruises and sprains. A swimming pool facility shall have a first-aid kit which contains at least the following items, namely:-(a)Band-Aids.(b)Sterile 100 x100 mm bandage compress.(c)Self-adhering gauze bandage.(d)Disposable gloves.(e)Chemical cold compress.(ii)The first-aid kit shall be prominently mounted in the swimming pool enclosure, or a sign stating its location shall be posted near the swimming pool. The first-aid kit shall be accessible when the swimming pool is open. Items which have a shelf life shall be within the period of expiry.(iii)An emergency response kit shall be provided which includes items like emergency survival blanket, 10 cm (4 inch) offset bandage compress, rescue breather, ambu bags, gloves, wipes and a thunderbolt (low frequency) whistle with lanyard.(5)The following life saving equipments shall be provided:-(i)Life buoys (Ring Buoys). - Life Buoys of the following specifications shall be used in rescue operations in water.(a)Material: Cork with polyurethane covering. A grab line secured to life buoy at four equidistant points by cotton cord.(b)Dimension: Circular in shape with elliptical cross section.(c)Colour: Orange(d)Life Buoys shall be tested for strength and buoyancy.(e)The type, date of test, manufacturer's batch number shall be marked on all life buoys by intelligible colour.(f)It shall be marked with Bureau of Indian Standard certification.(g)Reflectors in the form of strips shall be provided for use in night.(h)All other specifications shall conform to IS 5326 - 1969 and requirements under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and the rules made thereunder.(i)Buoy surface shall resist weather and temperature extremes and shall feature an integral rope of 6 mm diameter line that has a length of 1.5 times the maximum width of the pool or 15.2 m whichever is less for easy handling.(ii)Life Jacket. - Life Jackets (size 1) of the following specifications shall be used for providing means of safety for the wearers while performing rescue work connected with water.(a)Material - Unicellular plastic with Kapok fiber filler of first grade flotation quality.(b)Colour - Orange or light yellow(c)Design - It shall be provided with a collar or other suitable means for supporting the head of floating unconscious wearer above water. The buoyancy shall be obtained essentially by the use of buoyant materials as given in BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARD specifications.(d)Donning - It shall be capable of being donned and secured within 30 seconds by a wearer. After having been familiarized with the method of donning, the jacket shall fit securely the body of wearer. It shall afford reasonable comfort and to allow freedom of movement to the wearer both in and out of water.(e)All other specifications shall confirm to Bureau of Indian Standard 6685-1972;(f)The jacket shall be legibly marked with following information:-(A)Trade Mark of manufacturer;(B)Size and date of manufacturer;(C)"Front" and "Back" words in appropriate position where a possibility of confusion exists;(D)Self illuminated light may be provided for use in night;(E)Jacket shall be marked with Bureau of Indian Standard certification.(iii)Life vests (Buoyant Life vests) - It is like life jackets and are made of nylon and Poly ethylene foam and feature 3 buckles and open side with visible colours in red and blue.(iv)Rescue boards (Spine boards) - The most versatile and easy to handle board especially good for two guard rescues. Made of 5/8" marine plywood with capped wood runners on the bottom and capped bombers. Head immobilizer secures to board with pressure sensitive Velcro for quick and accurate immobilization.(v)Emergency survival blanket - This blanket shall be made of thermal material (blend of wool or manmade fibres) that retains 90% of body heat.(vi)Ring Buoy line (Throw rope or rescue lines) - Made from heavy duty floating line.(vii)Rescue cans - Rescue can shall be constructed of rotationally molded polyethylene to be both light weight and durable.(viii)Rescue hook - It shall meet International Red Cross specifications and features a blunt end life hook large enough to safely encircle a victim. It is made up of heavy duty aluminium mounted on a light, super tough, highly visible fibre glass pole with rubber end cap.(ix)Storm whistle - Professional life guard whistle can be blown under water with whistle lanyards.(x)Underwater goggles - One piece flexible Poly Vinyl Chloride frame with water tight seal.(xi)Emergency Eyewash Station - This self contained system shall provide victims with immediate eye flushing with a sterile, soothing, normal saline wash that neutralizes varying quantities of acids or caustics depending on the concentration.(xii)Body flush station - Self contained system for immediate body flushing with a sterile, buffered isotonic saline solution. It shall be fitted with highly visible back plate.(6)Emergency Telephone and Emergency Contact List - A telephone shall be accessible in the vicinity of the swimming pool, in or within 90 m of the pool enclosure. The telephone numbers of the local police, State Police, fire department, physician, ambulance service, and a hospital, shall be displayed in a conspicuous place near the telephone. The location of the emergency telephone shall be displayed in the swimming pool area unless the telephone is located in the pool area.(7)Depth Markers - (i) The depth of water shall be marked at or above the water surface on the wall of the pool and on the edge of the deck next to the pool so as to be readable by persons entering or in the pool. Depth markings shall be provided at the shallow and deep ends of the pool, the transition point, and the point of maximum depth, and shall be spaced at not more than 7.5 m intervals measured peripherally, except that depth markings are not required at a zero-depth edge.(ii)Depth markers shall indicate pool depth in metric system, and shall be of a color that contrasts with the background. Numerals indicating depth shall be a minimum of 10 cm high.(iii)In shallow areas, "no diving" markers or symbols at least 10 cm high must be located at not more than 7.5 m intervals around the pool perimeter except at a zero-depth edge.
