A man died after drowning at a swimming pool in a hotel in Umm Al Quwain in the second swimming pool death in the UAE this week. How can hotels keep guests safe, particularly in Ramadan, when people are at low energy during the day, but also more prone to attempt leisure activities at night, when it’s least safe?
The 25-year-old Chinese man was swimming in the unnamed hotel’s pool in Umm Al Quwain late Friday night. Family and friends were nearby but as it was dark, had not noticed that the man, who was in the pool alone, had drowned.
Lieutenant Ahmad Rashid Al Ghawi, director, CID at UAQ Police, said police received a call on Saturday at about 12.30am. The man was pronounced dead at the pool.
Hotelier’s calls to UAQ police station were unable to verify the name of the hotel.
Earlier last week, a 22-year-old man was pronounced dead from drowning at Al Nahda Plaza residential building in Sharjah, just before Iftar.
Sharjah police were investigating the death of the man – who is of Pakistani origin - and staff at the building have been questioned according to Gulf News.
Hotel swimming pool safety is a concern at the best of times, but especially during Ramadan it can be hard to keep guests safe.
Hotels operate a thinner crew during Ramadan and the hotter summer months in the GCC and may not have full-time life guards.
Many hotels don’t allow guests to swim after dark or employee similar rules to keep guests from pool-related harm.
Often, the only ‘safety’ measure that hotels employ is to put a sign up saying that no life guard is in attendance and that swimming is at the user’s own risk.
But most health and safety authorities say that is not enough.
Waseem Ahmed, director of risk for InterContinental Hotels Group Dubai Festival City, told Hotelier: “Signage alone will not help and will definitely not relieve hotels from the liability. It is critically important to have a Life guard on duty during operation hours of the pool.”
Ahmed said that lockdown procedures after operational hours are critical to ensure that no one can have access to the pool outside of operational hours.
He said that his hotel does regular unannounced drills to make sure their life guards are in top shape and can respond to all situations that can occur around the pool.
Hotelier’s advice: stay extra vigilant during Ramadan, ensure that your pool is inaccessible for guests who may want to take a midnight swim.
Increase security personnel and the number of patrols they do around leisure areas.
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