COVID-19 FAQ

Safe environment

SwimWest continues to follow the guidelines provided by the governing state and local authorities; the experiences of swim schools in other parts of the country; and the experiences of excellent swim schools we regularly work within other countries who were ahead of the U.S. in COVID procedures and protocols.   We are confident that we provide a safe environment for your children to continue their swimming journey.

Is it safe to swim?

Yes. The CDC issued guidance that it is safe to swim as the virus cannot be spread via properly chlorinated and maintained pool water.  Both SwimWest pools meet or exceed the health standards set by the CDC.

• Here is a LINK to the CDC direction on swimming and pool water.
• Likewise, HERE is an article outlining how the virus cannot be spread in a properly maintained pool.

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What is SwimWest doing to comply with social distancing?

We are encouraging families to bring in only one caretaker per child inside the swim school. 

• Chairs in the observation rooms and pool deck will be spaced out and we ask that you be mindful of others and patient while occupying shared spaces.
• We ask that students arrive only five minutes before their scheduled class time to keep the congestion in the buildings low, and walkways clear. Likewise, please “wrap and go”  and exit the building as soon as possible following your child’s lesson. 
• Lesson start times will be staggered to ensure we have a controlled flow of people into the facilities.

How many people are going to be in the facility with me?

• If you would like to get a sense of how many people will be in the facility during your lesson, please call a customer service representative. If you would like to schedule your class at times when the facility loads make you most comfortable,  we will be prepared to work with you.

Face Masks  

• SwimWest is recommending but not requiring masks to be worn in the building.
• SwimWest recommends but does not require Parent Tot parents to wear a mask or face shield in the water.   
• Swimmers will be required to remove their face covering/mask while swimming.  
• Teachers will be wearing face shields. While a face shield may be a strange sight to your child, we will be working on making the shields as fun as possible.  Our goal is to maintain SwimWest’s commitment to creating a warm and loving environment while also keeping your children and our valued teachers safe.

What is SwimWest doing to keep the schools clean?

We have always followed CDC cleaning protocols and those set out by other health professionals and authorities.  We also use CDC-recommended cleaning products.

• The use of pool toys in our lessons is being scaled back.
• Additional deep cleans will be utilized as needed or recommended.
• Hand sanitizer will remain available at all locations but since supplies are so limited, we encourage families to bring their own.

What can I do to keep the school a safe place for me and my family?

If you have visited SwimWest Swim School and have come in close contact with anyone who has experienced symptoms, we ask that you please notify the school immediately before returning. You may be asked to obtain medical clearance before returning to swim school.

• Any individual with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 is asked to notify us and remain out of the swim school until receiving written medical clearance to return.
• In general, if you or anyone in your household are sick or exhibiting symptoms of any illness, we ask that you fully recover before returning to swim school.
• SwimWest is continuously updating its safety measures so you may see additional precautions being implemented or existing protocols modified at your school.

What steps does SwimWest take to properly maintain their pools?

Since its inception, SwimWest Swim School has been at the forefront of building and maintaining pools that fight the spread of viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19, as well as the flu and other common childhood viruses.

• Providing a safe and clean environment is why SwimWest Swim School has invested heavily in the infrastructure of our pools.
  • In addition to the appropriate use of chlorine, each pool has a high-quality UV water purification system that keeps the water clean. When water is pumped through our UV system, ultraviolet light rays kill dangerous germs and inactivate viruses.
  • SwimWest’s cutting-edge air filtration systems continuously expel stale air from the pool room and replace it with 100% ambient, fresh air. 
  • Our dehumidifiers have features like antimicrobial filters and controls that enable us to maintain healthy humidity levels that reduce the survival of bacteria and viruses.
  • SwimWest pools are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that monitors pool chemicals electronically and, in addition, we perform scheduled and documented manual water tests throughout the day to maintain healthy and balanced pools.
  • SwimWest pools are permitted by the governing Health Departments and are periodically inspected without notice by local authorities. 
• SwimWest pools are some of the cleanest and safest places for your children and our instructors.
• SwimWest has an air filtration system for the Observation Room and Changing Room areas that keeps our air cleaner and filtered.