Yes, even the swimming instructors need to be kept safe too!

[fireheart]

bg: during the summer, several local pools and surf life saving clubs run what is known as Vacswim. The programs involve you going for your Royal Life Saving (or Surf Life Saving) skills. They are run over a few weeks in the summer. (and as much as I would've LOVED to have taught, my certification doesn't allow me to do so)

Today it is going to be around 44C. I am not kidding. Forty-four degrees Celsius. Or in other words, hot enough to fry an egg on a rock.

Due to the incredibly high heat and the fire risk, around 20 locations have closed for the day for safety reasons. A high number of these are outdoor locations. Among the reasons for closing are the obvious fire risk, along with the safety risk for staff (do you REALLY want to be in almost boiling hot water?!) and the health risks for both staff and students. Most of the pools are solar heated.

Predictably, parents have started abusing the staff who have closed for the day.

Yes, I can understand that it's incredibly hot and little Johnny or Suzy might want to go for a swim.
Yes, I can understand that they're missing out on a day of learning how to conduct a water rescue.
However, the staff (and students) are risking sunburn and other burns from walking around in bare feet. They are also running the risk of not being able to protect their OWN homes.

You can also access the pool for swimming, you just can't have a lesson!

[JPD]

Today it is going to be around 44C. I am not kidding. Forty-four degrees Celsius. Or in other words, hot enough to fry an egg on a rock.

I just looked it up, and that's 111.2ºF. If it were that hot here, I wouldn't want to do anything that required any type of movement.

But a definite plus for watching out for the staff.

[RetailWorkhorse]

111 degree F requires a squirtgun filled with ice water, not a solarheated pool.

On the one hand: ye GADS.

On the other hand; GET ME TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE STAT. I'm FREEZING up here!

[Draper Mel]

Holy heatstroke, Batman!! That's why God created air conditioning.

[RetailWorkhorse]

And walk-in freezers.

[Racket_Man]

111F necessitates Fireheart being thrown into a 10 foot pile of snow ***** looks around and sees MANY such piles just outside my door *****

But then again it is really funny when you walk inside and need to go INTO the walk-in freezer just to warm up.

[Hanzoku]

How humid is it there? 111 wasn't anything to sneeze at in California, but it was such a dry heat it was fairly possible to run around and play sports when I was a kid, as long as we had enough to drink during and afterwards.

Here in the Netherlands, I'd barely be able to think if we had that temperature - the humidity would just kill me.

[fireheart]

How humid is it there? .

My state is known for being the driest state on the driest continent (South Australia in case you're wondering). We do get periods of humidity, but it's more during the transition periods (from summer-autumn and spring-summer).

From what I'm aware of, the Surf life Saving programs (the ones that are run on the beach instead of a pool) weren't cancelled, it was only the Royal Life Saving ones (the ones done in a pool).

I would've LOVED to have done these kind of programs, but unfortunately the cut-off age is 17.

ETA: Also, thank you to Racket_Man for suggesting that I be thrown into snow. Unfortunately the only indoor tobogganing and tubing area has closed and is now just an ice skating rink.

[lordlundar]

I do need to correct you though. 44C Is nowhere NEAR boiling point. 100C (212F) is boiling point.

That said, it still is dangerous (it's over the average person's core body temp. So heat stroke and sun stroke are hazards as well as dehydration (yes, it is a threat in a chlorinated pool) so it makes sense to close the pool.

[Pagan]

On the other hand; GET ME TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE STAT. I'm FREEZING up here!

I'm with you there. I have been cold since the beginning of October and will be cold until April. I hate winter.

I've always said that if I should ever win one of those huge PowerBalls, I will have a place here and one in Australia so that I'm never cold again.

I actually prefer it to be hot. Where I was born and raised*, 111F isn't all that unusual at all. We're known for being rather dry also. (2011 we went for about 6 months with no moisture and I swear I've seen negative humidity.) I can always take off enough to get cool, I can never put on enough to get warm.

*Although there's actually snow on the ground down there right now!

[Victory Sabre]

I can't wait till late June to enjoy similar temps when I' rocking Las Vegas.

But, yes, I can understand why they cancelled the classes. That's pretty damn hot.

[Miss Maple Leaf]

Ugh. 44 Celsius? I would die.

Hell, anything above 20C and I'm begging for mercy. Around 10-15C is my comfort zone. Not too hot and not too cold. Like Baby Bear's porridge, it's just right.

[Seshat]

I'm not far from Fireheart - geographically speaking. I'm in the next state over. (Victoria, not WA)

I grew up in Queensland, however - and it was far, far too humid for me. Even at its dryest, the parts I was living in were usually 80+%, and 90% or 95% or higher was the norm.

Yes, that means it was often so humid the water was practically condensing out of the air.

Thankfully, it's much, much dryer out here.

[fireheart]

I'm not far from Fireheart - geographically speaking. I'm in the next state over. (Victoria, not WA)

I grew up in Queensland, however - and it was far, far too humid for me. Even at its dryest, the parts I was living in were usually 80+%, and 90% or 95% or higher was the norm.

Yes, that means it was often so humid the water was practically condensing out of the air.

Thankfully, it's much, much dryer out here.

We're starting to get SOME humidity over the last few years, but it hasn't been as bad as Queensland (and I HAVE been up there-my little sister is also up there at the moment)

Another thing that didn't occur to me until today either was that given most of the pools that run the program are outdoors (there are a few indoor pools that run the program), there is also the very very very high risk of heatstroke. For either instructor, lifeguard or deck supervisor (usually a combination of lifeguard and coach, they will assess students to move up a level if needed) or the students themselves.

*sigh* I REALLY hope I don't get those same parents when I'm teaching this year!

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Count me as one of those people who prefer cold to heat. When I'm cold I love bundling up and being all comfy in a heavy comforter (which I sleep under even during the summer... yes I am weird.) When I'm hot I can only get so naked before it is socially unacceptable, lol. Then again, I can handle both high heat and very cold weather and be comfortable, I just prefer one to the other.

But if it was 111F... holee crapola man. All I'd be able to do is clonk out and sleep the entire day. Take life saving classes? Wot?

Move? LAWL YOU KIDDING RAIT! XDDDD