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Weekday: 6am-9pm Weekend: 7am-9pm

Aquatic Safety Rules & Guidelines

OTHS Aquatic Safety Rules & Guidelines

  • Although lifeguards are on duty, parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children.
  • Professionals such as coaches and swim instructors wishing to use the pools for instruction must rent space in advance and have an certificate of insurance on file.
  • For the safety of our guests and employees, Old Town Hot Springs reserves the right to alter these rules at any time.

General Rules

  1. Children under 10 years of age must be supervised by a parent, relative or person assuming legal responsibility for the child who is at least 14 years of age, and is outside the building actively watching their children. A lifeguard may request closer supervision, including the supervisor entering the water, if he or she is uncomfortable with a child’s swimming ability.
  2. Lifeguards have the authority to stop any behavior they deem unsafe or inappropriate.
  3. Patrons must take a shower before entering the pools.
  4. Spitting, or blowing the nose in the pool is prohibited.
  5. Persons having any considerable area of exposed sub-epidermal tissue, cuts, or known or recognizable contagious diseases, are not permitted to use the pools.
  6. Glass containers and bottles are prohibited.
  7. Appropriate bathing attire is required and public nudity is not allowed. Changing of clothes or diapers must occur in the Locker Rooms.
  8. Children still in diapers must wear non-disposable swim diapers or tight-fitting plastic pants. Disposable swim diapers are not allowed.
  9. Street clothes, underwear, pajamas, sweats, or anything else deemed inappropriate as swimwear by staff are not allowed in the pools.
  10. Tobacco (smoking or chewing), e-cigarettes (vaping) and alcohol are prohibited on OTHS property.
  11. Food and gum must be kept at least 5 feet from the pools.
  12. Extended breath holding, including practices involving breathing exercises and/or hyperventilation, are not allowed.
  13. No diving, except in the deep end of the lap pool.
  14. No running on the pool decks.
  15. No throwing others into the air, riding on shoulders, or engaging in excessive horseplay.
  16. No hanging on the floating safety lines or lane lines.
  17. No hard balls, Frisbees, or large tubes and rafts.
  18. No talking on cell phones in or near the small spas.
  19. No digitally produced audible sounds such as Bluetooth speakers, speakerphone, listening to audio from cell phones.
  20. Please refrain from excessive public displays of affection.
Air Quality Policy

When AQI measured on Purple Air at the Routt County Courthouse for one hour average reaches the categories below, the following actions will be taken:

  • 150-200: OTHS will consider programming modifications in intensity and location if possible.
  • 200-250: OTHS will cancel and/or reschedule outdoor programming such as swim lessons or exercise classes. Pools will remain open with lifeguards on duty. Staff will only perform essential outdoor duties.
  • 250+: All outdoor operations at OTHS will close. Members and guests will be asked to leave the outdoor area.

View current air quality.

Pool Lightning Policy

Everyone is asked to leave the pools and go to the lobby if a lightning strike, or thunder is observed. A lightning call lasts at least 30 minutes. No one is allowed back in the water until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or thunder. Pool admissions are not sold during lightning calls. There are no refunds for guests who are already in the pool.

The National Lightening Safety Institute recommends that bathing facilities monitor storm activities, suspend swimming activities when lightning is within 6-8 miles and wait until 30 minutes after thunder or lightning has been observed before resuming water activities.

Cold Weather Policy

All pools and outdoor areas are closed when the temperature is -10° Fahrenheit of less. Before 9:30 AM, the temperature needs to be 0° or above to open. After 9:30 AM, the temperature needs to be -5° or above to open.

This is a safety precaution for our guests as well as our employees. There will be no refunds due to weather. Aquatic fitness classes will be held if the temperature is 0 degrees or above.

Old Town Hot Springs reserves the right to close the pools in extreme weather conditions including air quality. Click here to view the current weather at Old Town Hot Springs.

Swim Test

Children under the age of 14 must pass a swim test to swim in the Deep End of the Lap Pool or to swim laps unsupervised in the winter.

Criteria to pass swim test:

  • 25 yards continuous swim freestyle or breaststroke
  • Swim with a horizontal body position at the water’s surface
  • Must not swim in a “doggy-paddle” or underwater fashion

Upon passing the swim test the child receives a yellow wristband. A lifeguard may revoke the wristband or ask the child to take a break if he or she feels the child is unsafe at any time. Members who pass the swim test may log their test at the front desk.

Hot Pool
  1. No sitting or standing on the fountain platforms, or impeding the fountains’ flow.
  2. No hanging from the bridges.
Spas
  1. The Heart Spring is reserved for guests 15 years of age and older.
  2. Children are strongly discouraged from using all spas for safety reasons.
  3. Flotation devices not attached to the body, such as rafts, rings, and noodles, are not allowed in any spa.
  4. The spas are places for quiet relaxation. Toys, swimming, splashing, or playing are not allowed.
Water Slides
  1. Sliders must be 44” tall and strong swimmers to ride the slide.
  2. One person is permitted at a time down the slide. The slide attendant tells sliders when to start.
  3. Sliders must ride on their backs, feet-first, with arms crossed at the chest. Deliberately slowing down or stopping in the slide is not allowed.
  4. No glasses, flotation devices, or footwear allowed in the slide.
  5. Sliders must exit the pool at the stairs immediately after riding the slide. Catching or waiting for others in the slide pool is not allowed.
Aquatic Climbing Wall
  1. One climber may attempt a single climb, starting from the water. All others wait in line behind the floating safety line. After reaching the bell or falling into the water, the climber swims to the end of the line.
  2. No dives, flips, or other tricks off the wall.
  3. No flotation devices on the wall.
  4. No climbing above the bell, or using the sides or back of the wall to climb.
  5. Adults may assist small children with getting started on the wall, but must not remain underneath the climbing child.
Shallow Pool

Patrons are not permitted to walk or stand on the wall dividing the shallow and lap pools.

Lap Swimming Etiquette
  1. Lap lanes are intended for multiple lap swimmers.
  2. Two swimmers may split a lane.
  3. Before joining an occupied lane, the arriving swimmer must inform all swimmers in the lane of his or her presence.
Lap Pool
  1. Lap lanes are reserved for lap swimming and aquatic exercise only.
  2. Do not impede swimmers when crossing the lanes. Please go under the lane lines when moving to and from the step ladders.
  3. In the winter, children under 14 years of age must pass the swim test to swim laps unsupervised.
Lap Pool – Deep End
  1. Children under 14 years of age who pass the swim test may use the Lap Pool Deep End during open times without adult supervision.
  2. Children who can not pass the swim test may still use the Lap Pool Deep End during open times if supervised by an adult 14 years of age or older. Lifeguards may request more vigilant supervision at any time.
  3. Those over 14 years of age who do not need to pass the swim test may use the Lap Pool Deep End during open times without adult supervision.
  4. Forward jumps and dives are permitted from the side of the deep end. Flips, spins, back dives, and other tricks are not allowed.