public safety

Pool’s safety queried

Victor Arosemena/LA PRENSA

pool safety a concern1048758

Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil (Sinaproc) officials have found that safety measures have not been implemented at Coronado’s La Gaviota pool in the wake of a near drowning at the facility.

Sinaproc officials visited the facility on June 18 to see if recommended safety measures had been put in place, but reported that they had not. There was no lifeguard on duty at the pool, and grills had not been placed over the filter system.

In May, a child almost drowned at the pool when he became caught in the filtration system. There was no lifeguard on duty at the time.

On June 13, the Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia imposed a fine of $5,000 on the facility in connection with the accident.

Sinaproc does not have any authority to cite pool owners for not following recommended safety procedures. However, it made 12 recommendations to La Gaviota's managers that officials said they hoped would be implemented.

There have been a number of deaths in Panama at public pools. Yet, legislation to require safety measures such as having a lifeguard on duty has not been approved by the Asamblea Nacional, despite having been on the table for months.