SECTION 265.16. Waterfront Safety

(a) Adult waterfront director required at youth camps. An adult waterfront director, who holds a current lifeguard certificate or its equivalent, shall be in charge of all waterfront activities. While waterfront activities are in progress, the waterfront director or an adult certified lifeguard assistant shall be in the immediate vicinity (within sight and/or hearing) of the campers, supervising the program.

(b) Responsibilities of the waterfront director. The waterfront director is to be responsible for all waterfront supervision procedures and is responsible for ensuring that the waterfront procedures are strictly enforced. The waterfront staff shall not engage in personal recreational swimming, boating or any other waterfront activity while on waterfront duty. For every 35 campers, or fraction thereof, engaged in waterfront activities, there shall be one certified lifeguard and one additional person (either a certified lifeguard or trained adult lookout) on duty. Camps utilizing natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, or creeks may need to increase this ratio.

(c) Maintenance and operation of swimming areas.

(1) Swimming areas shall be maintained and operated in a safe and clean condition. Youth camp swimming pools are class C pools, and shall be built, operated, and maintained in accordance with 25 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 265, General Sanitation, Subchapter L, Standards for Public Pools and Spas.

(2) Interactive water features and fountains at youth camps shall be maintained and operated in a safe and clean condition. Interactive water features and fountains at youth camps shall be built, operated, and maintained in accordance with 25 TAC, Chapter 265, General Sanitation, Subchapter M, Interactive Water Features and Fountains.

(d) Camper's swimming ability shall be determined in accordance with the camp's written swimming test policy. Camps shall test to determine each child's swimming ability. Children shall then be confined to the limits of swimming skills for which they have been classified. Also, the swimming area shall have areas for non-swimmers, intermediate swimmers, and swimmers clearly marked.

(e) Checking campers in and out of the water. A method of checking campers in and out of the water shall be established and enforced.

(f) Waterfront lifesaving equipment shall be provided. Lifesaving equipment suitable for the waterfront activity shall be provided at the waterfront activity area and placed so the equipment is immediately available in case of an emergency. All lifesaving equipment shall be kept in good repair and ready condition. At a minimum, this equipment shall include the following.

(1) A rescue tube or rescue buoy with strap, or a ring buoy that is approved by the United States Coast Guard that has an outside diameter of 15 to 24 inches attached to a throwing rope that is at least two-thirds the maximum width of the pool with a diameter of 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch.

(2) One or more backboards with a minimum of 3 tie down straps and head immobilizer for back and neck injuries.

(3) A first aid kit that includes the items listed in §265.15(f) of this title (relating to Medical and Nursing Care).

(g) Providing a personal flotation device. A Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) shall be readily available for each occupant of a watercraft. Each occupant of a watercraft 12 years of age and under shall wear a United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved inherently buoyant Type II PFD, or Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest at all times while in the watercraft. A non-swimmer shall wear a USCG approved inherently buoyant Type II PFD, or Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest and not be permitted in a watercraft unless accompanied by a counselor. A camper shall wear a vest type USCG approved preserver before entering and while in white water or before entering and while on a lake when the water is rough or while waterskiing.

(h) Location of swimming areas. Swimming areas shall be used exclusively for swimming while swimming is occurring. A watercraft docking area shall not be allowed in the swimming area and water skiers shall not launch, cross, or stop in the swimming area while swimming is occurring.

Source Note: The provisions of this §265.16 adopted to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3049; amended to be effective May 16, 2010, 35 TexReg 3815; amended to be effective March 13, 2014, 39 TexReg 1713; amended to be effective June 25, 2020, 45 TexReg 4202