We received the following report from a female reader:

(…) a night swimming event called Otyliada was held at the Orka swimming pool. As a participant in this event, I am concerned: for such a large event, was one lifeguard – because only one such man sometimes walked around the pool – according to MOSiR a sufficient number? Swimming all night is quite a serious challenge. What if something had happened?

She added: – Every day, the large pool is supervised by at least two lifeguards in red uniforms, and they are visible; here, it was as if no one was there?

She also added: – As far as I know, under the regulations, a 25-metre pool must be secured by two lifeguards? Does MOSiR not care about the safety of Otyliada participants?

She also summed up:

This situation worries me somewhat, and next year I will choose a pool where I will feel safer.

We asked MOSiR about the matter. Zbigniew Kowalczyk, the centre’s coordinator for Otyliada, explains:

In response to the questions sent by the editorial office and with regard to the concerns raised by (...) the female reader, we inform you that:
In the case of the swimming marathon held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the safety of swimmers and competitors was ensured by three lifeguards. After the facility closed at 9:00 p.m. and the recreation area was taken out of use, when only marathon participants used the sports pool (approximately 30 people; some participants had already finished competing, and the number of competitors was also gradually decreasing—at around midnight there were 15 competitors, after 2:00 a.m. 8, and from around 5:00 a.m. only 1 person was swimming in the pool): one lifeguard on duty and two members of staff who had completed a water-rescue course.

He also stresses: – From our point of view, and also in terms of the participants’ safety, it was important that the water surface was additionally monitored by eight people (thereby also fulfilling one of the lifeguard’s most important duties—observing the designated water area), namely: six lane judges (a maximum of six competitors swam in one lane), the chief judge and the observing judge.

He adds: – Quite apart from their natural reflexes and reactions in the event of anything concerning, they were also required to intervene immediately and promptly and to inform the organiser if they observed any concerning incidents or problems. The competition was also supervised by the organiser’s staff (4 people).

He notes: – For the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre in Bolesławiec, the safety of participants in organised events is a priority.