SHERE SWIMMING POOL CLUB
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN – Summary for members
This summary Emergency Action Plan (EAP) sets out what members should do in the event of an emergency. (Greater detail is provided in the full EAP kept next to the First Aid Box, in the signing-in room).
Members should recognise that in the event of an emergency, they need to take responsibility for their own safety, as well as to offer help to other users of the pool. The responsibility for dealing with accidents – both in and out the pool – is therefore with the users of the pool at the time the incident occurs.
Firstly you will need to decide, as a matter of urgency, whether you need to contact the Emergency Services (ambulance, fire or police) by calling 999 or only to contact an appropriate Committee or Rota Team member, as well as taking any action yourself.
Committee members with their roles and contact phone numbers are displayed on the wall to the left of the emergency-only telephone.
First aid provision and emergency equipment
A First Aid Box is located on the wall in the signing in room. An eye wash kit is located on the wall inside the pump room (normally locked).
An Emergency Telephone capable of dialling only 999 is provided (you may prefer to use your personal mobile phone).
A Defibrillator is located on the wall of the Co-Op in Shere (see map).
A reach pole and hook is located on the wall next to the pool.
Life buoys are located on the wall outside the pump room and next to the signing in room.
First aid procedures
Where an accident is deemed to be serious the emergency services should be called using the Emergency Telephone.
The address of the pool is displayed by the emergency telephone.
All accidents and details of any treatment must be recorded by an adult in the Accident Book. This can be found in the signing in room.
Precautions should be taken where possible to protect individuals from the risk of infection, e.g. the use of gloves (kept in the first aid box) to prevent contact with the victim’s blood.
Serious injury to a swimmer
Casualty in the water – where possible, get help from another pool user.
Recover the casualty – use the reach pole if this helps – and carry out First Aid.
In the event of resuscitation being required, evacuate the pool area and move bystanders/spectators away.
In cases of serious injury, broken bones, suspected spinal cord injury (SSCI) or unconsciousness do not move the patient until first aid has been given and a Paramedic/Doctor has authorised the movement of the casualty.
Ensure that a crowd does not gather around the casualty.
If the heart has stopped beating commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Continue CPR until the casualty restarts breathing and a pulse is found, or until Paramedics take over. Patients who have been resuscitated shall be treated for shock until the ambulance arrives.
If the ambulance is called, one person should be designated to meet the ambulance at the main road to escort them to the scene of the incident as speedily as possible.
All cases of head injury or SSCI shall be treated as serious and an ambulance should be called. In no circumstances, should the casualty be permitted to return to the pool at any stage even if they appear to be well. Delayed concussion is a real possibility and may lead to loss of consciousness in the pool.
Fire & Evacuation Procedures
- Raise the alarm (if necessary use the whistle in the signing in room)
- Ask all pool users to leave the pool compound eg.
“Attention please, due to a fire you are asked to leave the pool area as quickly as you can and to assemble on the field outside the pool compound. Stay calm - there is no need for panic.” - People should not be allowed to get fully changed, but only to dress for decency, so long as this does not put them in any danger.
- Ideally another person should be asked to report the fire to the Emergency Services – either by using the Emergency telephone provided or from a mobile phone. Please note the time the report is made.
The location of the pool is Shere Swimming Pool,
behind Shere Infants School on Gomshall Lane, Shere.
The nearest postcode is GU5 9HB The grid reference is TQ074478
The What3Words location of the gate is asserts.admiral.assist - Remain in a safe location by the gate (inside if possible) to await further instructions from the Fire Brigade.
- Do not allow any pool users to access the pool compound.
DO NOT TAKE ANY PERSONAL RISKS
ONLY attempt to extinguish a fire if you have been trained and you believe you can do so without putting yourself at an unacceptable risk.
A fire extinguisher is located within the plant room (normally locked).
Toxic Gas (chlorine) Escape
- In the unlikely event of a fault in the plant room that results in a significant emission of chlorine gas, pool users should move or be led away from the danger area upwind of the source.
- If evacuation of the pool area is considered necessary users of the pool must leave immediately via the main exit and ensure they stay upwind of the leak.
- Any person who has been gassed with chlorine must be taken to hospital as serious symptoms may develop at a later stage. Appropriate first aid should be given.
- If present, the above evacuation procedures are the responsibility of the Pool Operator/ Deputy and/or Rota Team members or other members of the SSPC Committee. If not present, inform any of these of the situation as soon as possible after the incident.
Significant Lack of Pool Water Clarity
If the water begins to become cloudy, contact the Pool Operator/Deputy or another Rota Team member to arrange for appropriate measures to be taken
Blood and Vomit in the Pool
- Clear the pool
(if necessary use the whistle in the signing in room) - Allow the pollution to disperse and any infectious particles to be neutralised by the disinfectant in the water
- If the volume of pollution is significant and/or dispersal is not proceeding, contact the Pool Operator/Deputy or another Rota Team member to arrange for appropriate measures to be taken
Diarrhoea or Solid stools in the Pool
- Clear the pool
(if necessary use the whistle in the signing in room) - Contact the Pool Operator/Deputy or another Rota Team member to arrange for appropriate measures to be taken
Lightning Storm
If a lightning storm threatens leave the pool and the pool compound and seek refuge in a car or in buildings. The changing rooms and signing in room areas are unlikely to be completely safe to shelter in.
Disorderly behaviour
Steps need to be taken to stop any behaviour which is likely to cause a nuisance or is dangerous to other pool users.
If the action represents a contravention of the rules of the pool, then any member is entitled to point this out to those who are behaving in a disorderly manner, and, should the behaviour continue, to report the unacceptable behaviour.
Ultimately it the responsibility of any SSPC Committee Member to take appropriate action, so if the issue is urgent and intervention is necessary, use your own phone to call a Committee Member to inform them of the situation.
Exceptionally, it may be appropriate to call the police, but only if there is really a serious emergency requiring their involvement.