Dh3,000 fine if building pool has no lifeguard

It’s the perfect weather to take a dip and splash around in the pool.
 
With most Dubai residential complexes equipped with a swimming pool, many residents, whether they know swimming or not, are willing to jump in just to beat the heat.
 
But, not many are aware that they must ensure that a lifeguard is positioned at all times, because accidents come unannounced.
 
Just a day ago, an Egyptian man, who had jetted into the capital for a work, had drowned in his hotel pool. Initial reports suggested that the pool was unmonitored.
 
When Emirates 24|7 conducted basic inspections in a few areas around Al Nahda and Bur Dubai, we spotted quite a few buildings that sported swimming pools without lifeguards.
 
In some, the watchman doubled as a lifeguard.
 
“In our building, our watchman comes and sits around. I don’t even know if he is a swimmer, but he is stationed there in the evening,” said Sheila, a Bur Dubai resident.
 
Some swimming pools are locked away, and opened only when residents request for use.
 
“This is our watchman’s way of monitoring. He gives you the key when you need to use the pool, and once you are done you lock it and return the key,” said Rukiya, an Al Nahda resident.
 
With summer a perfect time for families spending longer hours in the pool, it’s time that the management of residential buildings ensured their residents are safe and protected while they use their facilities.
 
This, despite the Dubai Municipality stating it is mandatory to station a qualified lifeguard at every swimming pool in a residential building and in hotels.
 
This is an area where disaster is waiting to happen.
 
Emirates 24|7 spoke with Sultan Essa AlSuwaidi at the Dubai Municipality, and he emphasised the need for stationing a qualified lifeguard at every residential swimming pool.
 
“It can’t be a watchman doubling as a lifeguard. Every building must have a certified lifeguard exclusively for the swimming pool.”
 
This, he added, was highlighted even when a building’s blueprint is drawn out. “At the swimming pool, we clearly mark out an area that will station a lifeguard. Without this no building will get an approval.”
 
And, in case, they find any building in violation of this, they will be penalised. “If we find an unmanned swimming pool we will fine the building owner Dh3,000.”
 
He added that now they have introduced a self-compliance report that every building must submit. “It checks numerous features like – swimming pool safety, emergency services, life maintenance, quality of water in the tanks, among others.”
 
This exercise, Sultan claimed helped the civic body efficiently monitor residential buildings and ensured that they are aware where they needed to step in and make amendments.
 
He added that the lifeguard rule focuses only on residential buildings and not villas. He claimed it is almost impossible to monitor every single villa.
 
That said, he added that all villa pools must be properly barricaded

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