From: boucher@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Teresa Boucher)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Non-toilet trained toddler in pool
Date: 2 Sep 92 14:00:54 GMT
Expires: 30 Sep 92 04:00:00 GMT
Reply-To: boucher@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Teresa Boucher)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

About 3 months ago, our community took a vote to find out if the community
members would be willing to fund a baby pool for non-toilet trained
toddlers.  The vote came back with an overwhelming majority voting "No".
Most of us felt that other items before the board,such as repairing
the existing community pool (where toddler's are not allowed unless
potty trained) and buying sufficient pool furniture (chairs, etc.),
and working on the common areas (pond area, sports area, playground
area) were needed more than a baby pool.  Others felt that it wasn't
fair that a baby pool be funded by the community to aid a minority of
families who would benefit because they had toddlers.  ALSO - when our
kids were toddlers, the community voted 'NO' on funding a baby pool
for our kids.       (Some of the same people who now want a baby pool
because they have recently started their families!)


As a result of the "NO" vote for the baby pool, our pool committee,
which consists of eight members (six of whom have toddlers) started
holding "special pool committee meetings".  There were held without
community notice and it was decided by these members that the pool rules
would change so that non-toilet trained toddlers could now use the community
pool.  Certain stipulations were also implemented along with this new
rule; (1) parents would be responsible for monitoring their toddlers
(2) toddlers would wear a clean cloth diaper with a tight fitting pair
of plastic pants covering the diaper; (3) if fecal matter was found
in the diaper at any time, the parent would notify the lifeguard immediately
and the child would be removed from the pool.  It should be noted that
if fecal matter is found in the pool, the pool MUST be shut down for
24 hours to super clorinate.  It should also be noted that the lifeguards
will not be monitoring for fecal coliform --- but only for chlorination.

My question is this:  The majority of the community is outraged that
this ruling was changed without community consent.  We need some "expert"
advice on what are the potential medical problems that may result from
exposure to urine and fecal matter which may be deposited in the pool.
We will be holding a community meeting (the third one in a month) to
try to overturn this ruling and I would appreciate any factual information
which may help in this matter.  We have talked to the Health Department
who have told us that while this could present a health problem, and
is still currently "on the books", that they do not enforce such matters
and leave it up to the community!!!  Our community consists of approximately
250 families (1/2 of us pay $250 a year to belong to the pool while
the subdivision pays $500 a year!!).  I would also be interested in
any legal rights that we as pool members.  Remember, this was a minority
decision - most of the families with toddlers who are non-potty trained
do not want this new ruling to go into effect as they feel it is unsanitary
and poses health risks for themselves and their families.
Thanks for any advice, information you can provide.

We are meeting on the 7th of September.  Short deadline to get info
but I think that's what the pool committee had in mind since they just
let us know on the 1st.

Thanks - Trese