Kiddie Swimming

Is it safe for 1 daycare provider to take 4 children to a Swimming Pool where there is no lifeguard on duty?

All of the children are under the age of 4 Years Old.

None of the children can swim.

There is not a Kiddie Pool at the location - only one regular size pool from 3ft to 5.5ft.

None of the children are tall enough to stand up in the 3 ft section.

She started the outting to the pool from the daycare at 11:00 am; it was already 80 degrees outside. And when I asked her if she had already put the sun screen on my 11month old son, she informed me that she had not.

The pool is close to a 5 minute walk from her home.

The daycare provider is CPR-certified by law, BUT she, herself cannot swim.

When I asked her who all was going to the pool with her, she neglected to inform me that a 7 Year Old child also went with them. She only devulged that bit of information AFTER I told her that I was concerned while she was at the pool that day.

Note: Yes, the children all supposedly had on suits that had built-in flotation devices/cushions.

Hmmm... as a daycare provider myself, I would not want that responsibility. I am also CPR certified (and CAN swim), but I would not take that chance with that many children in the pool at once. It is impossible to keep your eyes on each of them at the same time. Water is SO dangerous for toddlers... something bad is going to happen eventually. Maybe not to your child, maybe not this summer, but eventually it is just a matter of not being able to adequately supervise all these young children at once. My husband and I have two children (ages 8 and 3), and whenever we go to the pool, one of us keeps a constant eye on one, and the other adult watches the other child. I would make certain that my child DID NOT go to the pool with her again. This is far too dangerous an outing to not have more competent adult supervision. Built-in floatation suits are NOT a substitute for competent supervision. A toddler can easily get turned face down in those suits, and not be able to right themselves. It only takes 1 minute for a toddler to lose consciousness, 3 to cause permanent brain damage from lack of oxygen, and 4 to cause death. This is not something you want to gamble with. Tell your provider that you will NOT allow your child to attend any more pool field trips, unless she has one adult to each two children (minimum). It is just too risky. I'd think that she'd be worried about the liability if something did happen- I know I would as a provider.