COVID-19 Safety

 

Peggy has an extensive safety protocol for aquatic courses.


She has already successfully used this protocol for courses in the USA.  

She will make adjustments as needed in each unique international location.

For example, below is the protocol Peggy plans to use for courses in South Africa.

Please email Peggy at pegaquatic@aol.com if you would like more details.

 

Peggy’s Covid-19 Protocol for Aquatic Courses in South Africa

   
Peggy has read extensively the available research regarding Covid, and has also spoken with healthcare leaders around the world – especially ICU and ER doctors and nurses, ophthalmologists and dentists because they all work very close to patients’ faces, just as all of us who work in water do.  

Peggy uses a detailed regime to keep everyone in her courses as safe as possible.  Her extensive personal plan is shown below.    

She may make some adjustments for South Africa, and will continue making adjustments before and during ALL courses as needed in each unique international situation.

 

Before your course

  • Course participants are to self-quarantine as much as possible for two weeks prior to the course.
  • Everyone is to wear a mask whenever in public during the two weeks prior to the course.

At the start of your course

  • Everyone will arrive for courses wearing masks and safety glasses.  Then we will all sit (outside if possible) where we can be apart and well-spaced without safety glasses or masks, to get to know everyone’s warm, smiling faces.
  • A waiver form will be signed by every person at the start of your course.

Throughout your course

  • A health questionnaire will be completed by each person each day.
  • Everyone’s body temperature will be taken each morning.  Body temperatures must be below 37.7°C.
  • Everyone will swish and gargle for one minute several times per day with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide.  (Hydrogen peroxide purchased in pharmacies is 3%, so will be mixed 50/50 with water.)
  • Everyone will wear a mask throughout the class.  
    IMPORTANT – scroll down to read Essential information about masks. 
  • Course participants will bring safety glasses to wear when in the pool and during land activities that require everyone to be close to each other.  (Safety glasses can be purchased at hardware stores.)  Face shields will not be used in the pool.  
  • Windows around the pool will be left open as much as possible and a fan may be used to help circulate fresh air.  Water will be maintained at a warm temperature.  Participants should bring a snugly fitted shirt or rash guard to wear for a little extra warmth if needed due to the breeze from open windows.
  • Water bottles will be kept outside of the pool where they can be accessed when going to the restroom.  Each time someone goes to the restroom, he/she will drink water, then gargle with hydrogen peroxide (see above), then replace face mask, and then wash their hands before returning to the pool.
  • Single use paper towels will be used for all hand washing.
  • Cleaning ‘high touch’ areas with disinfectant will be done multiple times each day.  

After your course

  • Everyone will be advised to self-quarantine at home for two weeks after attending a course.
  • If a participant develops Covid-19 or flu symptoms or tests positive for Covid, he/she will contact the course instructor immediately.  The instructor will immediately notify all participants and anyone else who might have been exposed at the course during the hours of course instruction.

Essential information about masks

  • Please bring several masks, so they can be changed when a mask gets too wet.
  • Please choose your masks carefully.  Choose masks that fit your face without gaps.  When you breathe out, air should not rush out from anywhere around your mask.
  • Soft cloth masks that rest against the nose and mouth are NOT recommended, because they tend to get wet and become challenging to breathe through.   When damp they also tend to fall down below the wearer’s nose.  
  • Cloth masks made from somewhat stiffer material.  These work better, especially when they have a central seam sewn down the middle and are shaped to stay forward and away from the mouth and nose.   
  • Surgical masks may be used, but they only filter effectively when they are dry.  Therefore participants using surgical masks must bring multiple masks so they can be changed whenever they become wet. 
  • Neoprene (wetsuit material) masks with a central seam are comfortable, easy to breathe through, and according to the literature, they filter down to 0.1 microns (corona virus is 0.125 microns).  

This page was updated on August 3, 2020.