Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5101:2 - Division of Social Services
Chapter 5101:2-12 - Licensing of Child Care Centers
Section 5101:2-12-24 - Swimming and water safety requirements for a licensed child care center
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 5101:2-12-24
Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) What are the requirements for swimming sites for a licensed child care center?
(1) All swimming sites shall meet all state
and local guidelines for environmental health inspections. Inspection reports
for on-site and private pools shall be on file at the center.
(2) A center shall have one lifeguard present
for every thirty-five children when children are involved in a water activity
for on-site or private pools over eighteen inches in depth.
(3) Activities in bodies of water eighteen
inches or more in depth shall be supervised by people who are currently
certified as lifeguards or water safety instructors by the "American Red Cross"
or an equivalent water safety program, as determined by the Ohio department of
job and family services (ODJFS). If the lifeguard is a child care staff member,
they shall not be counted as a child care staff member in the staff/child
ratio.
(4) Child care staff members
shall be actively supervising children pursuant to rule
5101:2-12-19
of the Administrative Code and shall be able to clearly see all parts of the
swimming area including the bottom of pools.
(5) The use of saunas, hot tubs, and spas by
children is prohibited.
(6)
Swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks or other similar bodies of water is
prohibited.
(7) Swimming pools,
wading pools and other swimming/wading sites shall be made inaccessible to the
children when not in use.
(8) A
center may use wading pools less than eighteen inches in wall height regardless
of the amount of water put into it.
(a) Wading
pools shall be filtered or emptied daily, and portable wading pools shall be
sanitized daily or more often if needed.
(b) The child care
staff member shall supervise
children at all times while a wading pool is in use and shall be able to
clearly see all parts of the wading area.
(B) What are the requirements for parental permission for water and swimming activities?
(1) A center shall have written
permission from the parent
when water is directly accessible to children and
for the following activities:
(a) Before the
child swims or plays in water eighteen inches or more in depth.
(b) Before the child participates in
activities in or on water eighteen
inches or more in depth.
(c) Before
infants and toddlers use wading pools.
(2) Written parental permission shall be on
file for one year at the center. Written permission for on-going activities
such as the wading pools shall be updated annually.
(C) What shall be included in the written parental permission?
(1) Child's name and date
of birth.
(2) Statement indicating
whether the child is a non-swimmer or capable of swimming.
(3) Location of the water activities or
swimming site by water of eighteen or more inches in depth.
(4) A statement of whether or not the center
is providing additional adults or child care staff members above the licensing
ratio requirements for this activity.
(5) A signature and date from the parent
indicating permission for the activity.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Ohio may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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