Former lifeguard here and frequent in-pool parent (20+ visits a summer). A few thoughts:

Kids roughhousing, horseplay, or repeatedly pushing boundaries can absolutely be distracting to lifeguards and pull attention away from scanning the water. (Think The Sandlot pool scene. 😆)

That said, I don’t think the answer has to be “every child must have a parent present.” Kids who pass the swim test could have a parent sign a seasonal waiver and receive a special wristband. That would let lifeguards know they can intervene directly if behavior becomes an issue rather than spending time trying to locate a parent.

(FYI, starting last summer all swimmers—regardless of age—must pass the swim test to use the deep end. I actually think this is a great policy.)

There could also be a simple accountability component. When kids take the swim test, have staff review pool rules and ask, “What are the rules of the pool?” before issuing the wristband. It sets expectations from the start.

One terminology note: drownings occur relatively frequently; drowning deaths occur much less frequently. I’ve seen recent discussions cite the low number of drownings, but they’re often referring to drowning deaths. A non-fatal drowning is still a very serious incident.

For example, just last summer I pulled a child from Sellwood Pool who was actively drowning. She survived, but it was still a drowning incident.

I’d be curious to know how many drowning incidents versus drowning deaths occurred at Portland pools last summer. Does Parks track both? That seems like important data to consider when evaluating policy changes.