*MOCK STORY* Changes coming to public pool following death of an eight-year-old

*The following is a report on a mock conference put on by HC Journalism, in partnership with HC Sports and Leisure. All of the voices here are S&L students, and all of the details are fake. It was to give both program's students experience in their trades.

By Daniel Brown

March 13, 2017

            New terms and policies will be put in place at the Victoria Park pool following the death of an eight-year-old, the facility manager said at a news conference.

        An eight-year-old boy drowned at the Victoria Park public pool around 12:30 p.m. on March 1. Facility manager Maria Walsh and others held a news conference on March 6 to discuss new policies that will be effective immediately.

“With these changes put in effect immediately, we are confident that there will not be a similar incident in the future,” Walsh said.

There will be required bookings for any groups with more than eight swimmers, and a maximum amount of swimmers that can be in the pool at once, Walsh said.

“This number will be determined in the near future.”

There will be a minimum of two lifeguards working at all open hours, or else the pool will not open, Walsh said.

Town council representative Mackenzie Leslie announced new training programs would be offered to lifeguards to prevent incidents like this from happening again.

Swimmers will also be required to pass a swimming test to enter the pool, which will be regulated by distributing bracelets to swimmers, Leslie said.

“The pool will be closed until new policies are put in place and finalized.”

Jenna McCarville is the head lifeguard coordinator. She helped construct and update the policies to reduce the chance of an incident like this from happening again.

Along with the mandatory two scheduled lifeguards, there will be two on call every day, McCarville said.

“The extra lifeguards on call are used if sick calls come through or if theirs a large number of users using the facility.”

The ratio of swimmers to lifeguards will also change to ensure lifeguards aren’t overwhelmed. Those working on March 1 did everything they could, McCarville said.

“The lifeguards on duty on the day of the accident have followed all proper protocol,” McCarville said.

Recreation director Andre Peach said this incident is not being taken lightly, and changes will be made.

“An incident like this is caused by poor policy structure and mistakes across the board,” Peach said.

With the family’s permission, a scholarship fund will be set up to honour the boy’s memory, as well as a memorial. The facility is reaching out in anyway they can to help the family adjust, Peach said.

“We do not wish to forget or move passed this. This will always stay with us,” Peach said. “To the family and friends of the child, we extend our deepest condolences.”

On March 1, six lifeguards were scheduled to work at the free outdoor pool. Three called in sick.

The pool was extremely busy due to unannounced groups showing up.

The boy dove to the bottom of the deep end. Lifeguards didn’t notice he wasn’t coming back up.

By the time they did, it was too late, Walsh said.

         “Our lifeguard did everything they could in an attempt to revive him,” Walsh said. 
         “Unfortunately he died right on the pool deck.”