Why is our local YMCA's waterpark so much more careful than any commercial waterpark?

Question

Our local YMCA is extremely (often annoyingly) strict with enforcing rules in the waterpark (e.g. parents at arm's length - literally - even in areas where children can easily stand. Commercial waterparks don't seem to care that much. Do they have stronger insurance or a better waiver (however, you don't sign anything there, as far as I can tell)? I know that a lot of toddlers fall in pools and drown, but how many infants and children die in waterparks?

Answer 1

I worked for the Y last summer. Let me tell you this much first off. They are super strict (almost cult like) to their employee's. Thus why I quit and completely told off my jesus freak-of-a-boss.

The employee's there HAVE to be annoyingly strict or else they'll get yelled at. It's really a horrible job. The whole scheme of things is set up where the CEO's and high chair people that run the Y are so set on never having an accident that I think they go a little over-board with rules and regulations and it just trickles down.

But yeah, please don't blame the poor lifeguards. It's not our faults they force us to be complete @$$holes.

Answer 2

I won't try and add nor refute anything that's already been given as answers, but I have to agree that it must be about Safety (IMO)  I mean if you can honestly answer the question of how many people (or especially children) have to die at a waterpark before the place does EVERYTHING it possibly can to make sure that it NEVER happens again?  Then I think that you'd figure out that the number would be 1.  So instead, if a YMCA waterpark has never had anyone die there, they could look to prevent themselves from ever having to count that 1 person as a statistic that happened at their place.

Answer 3

YMCA is more careful because they care. Most waterparks are glorified child care. It is a safety issue and if you know somebody that had a kid drown at a waterpark or swimming pool, you wouldn't ask this question. Also, the answer above, sorry you do not like to follow rules, care about the public you are paid to serve.

We are in the me, me, me attitude with so many 25 & under people.

Answer 4

If I were you I'd be greatful that your YMCA has a water park. We have a public pool with a slide and diving board but that's it. The guards there are somewhat strict, but they're usually pretty cool.

Answer 5

Insurance , insurance, insurance...