The Alpena Plaza Pool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, natural origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Alpena Plaza Pool prides itself for being open to all members of the community. Though we strive to create a warm and welcoming environment, pool staff cannot provide individual assistance to all patrons. Such individual assistance interferes with a lifeguard’s responsibilities. The Alpena Plaza pool reserves the right to require a patron provide an auxiliary aid such as a personal assistant or the use of a flotation device.

A lifeguard cannot perform adequate surveillance duties while also providing individual assistance to a patron with special needs. Such an intrusion can result in the failure of a lifeguard to notice other potential emergencies.

According to the American Red Cross 2007 Lifeguarding manual, drownings are most likely to occur when lifeguards fail to notice that a victim has slipped below the surface. Drownings in areas where lifeguards are on duty result from one or more of three causes, summarized as the RID factor (Pia, 1984)—Recognition, Intrusion and Distraction:

•The failure of the lifeguard to recognize the instinctive drowning response
•The intrusion of secondary duties on the lifeguard’s primary responsibility of patron surveillance
•Distraction from surveillance duties

Anyone entering the property of the Alpena Plaza Pool must adhere to the appropriate policies and procedures to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

For the safety and well-being of all concerned, patrons wishing to use the deep end of the Alpena Plaza Pool must complete a skills observation test. The test may include but is not limited to, the observation of swimming one length of the pool (25 yards) without stopping, standing or grabbing onto the rope or side.

A patron must demonstrate safe and consistent swimming techniques. If a patron fails to pass the swimming skills test, they can use a life jacket or stay in the shallow end of the pool.

Patrons recovering from surgery or serious illness are encouraged to seek the advice of medical professionals before returning to pool activities. Patrons requiring individual assistance are encouraged to bring an assistant with them when visiting the Alpena Plaza Pool. For example, patrons with severe psychomotor or cognitive impairments would be best served by swimming with a personal assistant to care for any non-emergency needs that might arise.