LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Last week, Governor Andy Beshear announced pools in Kentucky will not be opening this summer.
But, the General Chair on the Kentucky Swimming Board of Directors believes some facilities can open safely. And 8,000 people in Kentucky have signed a petition, backing up that statement.
Safe Splash, in Louisville, focuses on teaching people of all ages how to swim and offers individual training for competitors. Amy Albiero and her husband both coach swim teams and own the facility.
"To be on deck as a coach, there's a lot of things you have to do, as far as even keeping the chemicals balanced, making there's enough chlorine and disinfectant, to again, having CPR and life guarding certification," Amy Albiero said.
Albiero is also the General Chair for the Kentucky Swimming Board of Directors. Her hope is that each facility will be looked at individually and determined if it can abide by CDC guidelines.
"We'll filter every hour to two hours every group, having one way in, a different way out, no use of locker rooms, lobbies," Albiero said.
Shelly Adams' two teenagers have been swimming since they were four and five years old. Adams says she was inspired to start the petition, because of her family and community's love for summer swimming.
"These are kids who may not play another sport during the year, they're not competitive swimmers, but this is a huge confidence boost for them and it's a team building activity for them," Adams said.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children from ages one to four. Their fear is, with community pools closed, kids will find an alternative.
"If you want to get into the water, you're going to find water this summer. You will find it. And it's going to be in backyard pools, it's going to be in lakes and rivers, that are not properly regulated or properly supervised," Albiero said.
