Accidents in tourist rental pools that could be avoided

PalmaThe two drowning deaths of two three-year-old children in swimming pools in Mallorca in less than a week have reopened the debate on safety measures in houses dedicated to tourist rentals. Beyond the responsibilities that the investigations determine, maritime rescue professionals, such as pool lifeguards, agree that there are actions that could reduce the risk of an oversight ending in tragedy.

Samuel Yanze Adrover and Renzo Gonzalez Falconi, both currently lifeguards at a hotel pool, and Aroa Fidalgo, who was a lifeguard at a water park in Mallorca, believe that active and constant adult supervision is the main preventive measure. "No system replaces an adult watching the child," they agree, and warn that a child can drown in a matter of seconds.

However, based on their experience, they also believe that tourist rental homes could incorporate a second layer of protection if physical measures and safety protocols were applied. Among the proposals they put forward are the installation of approved fences with self-closing gates, alarms that detect falls into the water, safety covers when the pool is not in use, as well as visible rescue equipment with life buoys, poles, and first-aid kits.

They also point out that it would be convenient for owners to provide clear information to clients upon arrival. According to them, in many accommodations, safety regulations are either non-existent or go unnoticed. "Where I used to work, the signs were hidden and tourists practically didn't know what they could do around the pool and what they couldn't," explains one of the lifeguards.

The accumulated experience in hotels also highlights that many risky situations originate from reckless behavior. "No matter how many times you repeat the rules, many tourists don't pay attention. Children run around the pool, some adults leave glass cups and other waste, and when alcohol is consumed, the risk increases even more," points out another of the professionals consulted.

They agree that prevention should not fall solely on lifeguards. They consider that owners, managers of tourist accommodations, and staff working there should receive basic training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, so that they can act during the first minutes of an emergency if no rescue professional is present.

One of the lifeguards recalls an accident that, in his opinion, could have been avoided. During an activity organized by the entertainment team of a hotel, several guests were participating in a game that consisted of pushing their rival into the pool. "Five minutes later I was notified because one of the participants had broken an arm. They were all going wild," he points out, an example that highlights the importance of assessing risks before organizing certain activities.

Precisely for this reason, they believe that in some tourist accommodations, especially those with large capacity or in complexes that market various villas with pools, measures must be put in place to help prevent accidents or minimize their consequences. Without raising this issue for all dwellings, at least not in an obligatory or permanent way, they believe that the presence of lifeguards on special occasions could prevent risky behavior, especially when there are many children. "A few days ago I attended a birthday party in a rental house and there were many children running, playing games, and pushing each other into the pool. With a lifeguard, or at least with a visible sign near the pools with various rules of use, many of these behaviors would not have occurred," explains another lifeguard.

The professionals also propose incorporating visible protocols for action in case of drowning, improving the signage of safety rules, and creating specific certifications to identify dwellings that comply with reinforced child protection standards. In any case, lifeguards insist that there is no single solution. Prevention, they assure, involves combining adult supervision, safer facilities, better information for users, and more preparation for those who manage tourist accommodations. "When it comes to saving a life, all layers of protection add up," they conclude.