The Southern Nevada Health District announced this month it would no longer be allowing waivers of the lifeguard requirement for 29 pools across 20 private gym locations with waivers in place.
As reported by Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS, Las Vegas Athletic Club was granted it applications for a waiver in 2020 by the Board of Health that allowed for remote monitoring of its pools, according to SNHD. Other private gyms then applied for the same application and received permission from the Health District.
However, recently members at EōS Fitness and LVAC reached out to KLAS with company emails announcing their pools would be closing and upgrading following an end to the lifeguard waivers.
“The Health District took action to revoke LVAC’s variance,” Jennifer Sizemore, SNHD chief communications officer said in a statement. “Because [LVAC] has not followed the required safety measures.”
According to James Schaeffer of KLAS, the requirement for lifeguards at Las Vegas valley pools comes during a shortage of trained pool attendants across the country.
“The communities need to invest in their lifeguards, they need to pay them better,” Wyatt Werneth, a spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association said. “Give them incentives to come out and have this wonderful lifestyle.”
The lifeguard shortage has forced Eric McCauley, EōS senior regional vice president of sales, to question how many gym pools will remain open.
“EōS is arranging to add more lifeguards at multiple locations throughout the Las Vegas valley to align with the recent change in pool regulations from the Southern Nevada Health District,” McCauley said in a statement Tuesday. “This may result in the temporary closure of some pools as we build out the team to support these new requirements.”
McCauley added in an additional statement to KLAS that EōS has not determined any definitive pool closures as it seeks additional lifeguards.
EōS Fitness customers are encouraged to check their local gym’s website, which lists amenities and their availability.
However, the EōS Fitness pool at Alta Drive and Rainbow Boulevard appears to be facing either a closure or an upgrade, as photos show it is now unavailable for customers, Schaeffer reported.
Stacie Sanderford told KLAS that she is lucky her condo has a pool following cancellations at her LVAC pool. Sanderford said she, like others, relies on aquatic exercise due to injury or doctor recommendation, and a pool closure could cause a major life disruption.
“It’s almost like they don’t want to discuss it,” she said. “What you have to do is look at your schedule every day to see if you will even be able to go.”
Sanderford said the constant changes at the gym pool for rapid liquid cardio, aqua classes and other activities are difficult for customers who rely on those specific exercises.
“I have called LVAC several times and one time I asked them, ‘How do I put my membership on hold?” she said. “I was told I didn’t have a membership with a pool, I had a membership with a gym.”
