phone at swimming pool

Dennis,

Absolutely yes.

The rules are set county-by-county, but this requirement is enforced across all counties.

To get an operating permit you will be inspected, and one thing they check is that the phone at the pool is operational. Also, a cell phone or wireless handset is not allowed. It must be wired into the wall.

You should check with your county to see all the requirements for operating a public pool -- there are a lot of them!

I would check with your county to find out the rules. Alot of areas like ours is cutting back on inspections and such. So pools rarely get inspected unless reported to the authorities. I do know a fence is required around pools. It's just a good idea to have a phone line if it's not the law. However, keep in mind this is an area exposed to moisture which can effect phone cords and connections after awhile. Try having one installed inside an enclosure or in the clubhouse. Many cable companies and some companies like Verizon are offering better deals on phone lines now a days. Call them up to find out some of the costs associated with it and if they can do it.

My ex-step brother nearly drowned in a pool at age 8 and was left severly brain damaged for over 20 years until he passed away a few years ago. He was under for more than 5 minutes. So sometimes you have to overlook the money costs and focus on the human costs...

Yes,

Georgia Department of Public Health – Rules and Regulations. Chapter 511-3-5 Public Swimming Pools, Spas, and Recreational Water Parks. Section 511-3-5-.18 Specific Safety Features: Per (8)(c), all public swimming pools must provide a hard wired and affixed telephone with posted names and phone numbers of the nearest available police, fire, ambulance service and/or rescue unit, and/or 911, if available.

Since when is a pool owned by an HOA public? I guess when I travel though Georgia I can take a dip in an HOA pool on my route.

No requirement in my city/county and maybe in my state. Condo multi-story built in 2001 with pool & spa. Everyone I see at the pool over the past several years has a phone with them.

In Ohio, any pool serving more than three residential dwellings is considered a “public pool,” which means that nearly every condominium and homeowners association pool is classified as “public” despite its private ownership and access.

This means that the community pool falls under the regulations outlined in the Ohio Health Code. Apart from chemical monitoring and equipment requirements, the Ohio Health Code mandates that public pools must have lifeguards on duty if certain conditions are met.

A blog post by an Ohio HOA/COA attorney:

Your Community Pool May Require Lifeguards

It happens.