Swimming Pools, Public Safety and The Aquanat Approach
2020 has been a tumultuous year for everyone and it is understandable that we are all feeling a little worn out and stressed.
Firstly the team at Aquanat would like to thank our beautiful clients, families and little ones for your patience this year while we closed our doors like so many businesses and held our breaths, hoping for the best.
We are so fortunate to be in beautiful Western Australia. We have fared better than most during this pandemic and were able to open for term four in 2020 to our great relief! We have been touched by the loyalty of our clients and the interest of so many new members of the public, eager to get into the water and learn or heal.
As 2021 begins, we know that the pandemic is not over. We know that businesses and families are still struggling and that public safety is still of importance. As our borders open and life hopefully begins to return to a new normal, we want to assure you that we are being proactive to protect your little ones, your own health, and the health of our community in all ways possible.
Here are the ways Aquanat is working to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in 2021:
1. Keeping Classes Small
At Aquanat we have always had a strong belief in keeping our classes small and intimate as well as limiting the number of sessions or classes being held in the pool simultaneously.
At any given time, there are no more than just 1 or up to 2 classes running side by side in the pool at the same time. Furthermore, the number of students per class range from just 1 to a maximum of 6.
This is all the more important during this time to minimise the number of people in our change rooms, swimming pool and at the Rocky Bay facility. While social distancing is not directly possible in the pool as contact is needed between our teachers and students, keeping classes intimate and small helps keep our clients safe.
Read more about our Parent and Baby Swim Classes and Toddler and Kids Swimming Lessons.
2. Communication Is Key
As of the 9th of December, we have implemented the visitor check-in requirement as per the new direction given by the Australian government to monitor all visitors to Aquanat. This means we are well prepared to meet any new requirements asked of us by federal or state regulations.
In the upcoming Term 1 of 2021 we will also have the option for you to check-in by scanning the QR code using your SafeWA app, or if you prefer to write your details down at the door you may do so as well.
Should we discover any exposure has occurred we will act swiftly and notify all those potentially affected.
We want you to feel safe and secure in the knowledge that we are taking yours and your family's health seriously.
We also ask for our clients’ cooperation. If you or your child have been unwell or had flu-like symptoms in the previous fortnight please notify us and do not attend that week's class to help protect others. Please note - a runny nose is quite a common and ongoing issue with young ones but it is not reason for concern and does not constitute illness.
3. COVID-19 Cannot Survive in Chlorinated Water!
According to the CDC (Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention) there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus can proliferate or survive in chlorinated water.
Speaker, coach and author Joanne love summarised that “Swimming pools are one of the safest environments during COVID”. To read her complete literature review "Exploring the Relationship Between Swimming Pools and COVID-19" visit: www.proactiveperformanceaustralia.com/media
Much of the research available concerning swimming pools and COVID-19 supports this overarching claim.
What happens to the virus in chlorinated water?
A virus is a single strand of DNA or RNA enclosed in a protein envelope. A virus is not exactly alive and is not exactly inanimate.
The virus envelope has a type of receptor, a "dot connection", that can attach to a very specific cell and then insert the same component of DNA or RNA into the cell and only then the virus would be able to multiply.
Coronavirus is said to be very sensitive to chlorine, in the correct dosage, chlorine destroys the protein envelope and therefore the DNA strand or RNA cannot penetrate cells, so the chances of catching the virus in swimming pools is small.
What about salt treated pools?
Being able to treat pools with salt is a myth and there is no such thing as 'salt disinfectant'! The salt pool system is a device that produces chlorine from salt, similar to the usage of liquid / solid chlorine. The high salt concentration in the water does not neutralise the virus as the virus is not exactly a living being like bacteria.
Read more about COVID-19 and swimming in "Can You Catch Coronavirus in a Swimming Pool - and Does Chlorine Kill the Virus? Here's What Experts Say".
And the Aquanat pool?
We at Aquanat care about the health and maintenance of the pool environment we use. We believe that the water you and your family swim in should always be properly sanitised, the environment properly ventilated, and the water heated to the optimum temperature (around 34°C) for your comfort and health, and for young babies' safety.
To make sure that the pool we use answers all requirements that minimise the risk of disease spread we are in continuous communication with our Rocky Bay facility in order to maintain the appropriate levels of chlorine and PH.
Learn more about the pool we use here.
Aquanat will act to keep you informed of any changes or new information as the new year progresses.
We hope that during the summer holidays you are all healthy and happy and we look forward to seeing you in the pool in 2021!
Stuck for swimming inspiration during the summer break? You might like to read "Ten Tips for Swimming With Your Child Over The Summer Holidays".