Typhon Lagoon Questions

[RapunzelIsMyFav]

Wondering if anyone knows why you can't wear face masks at TL? You can wear goggles and a nose plus but not face masks which are pretty much the same. I can't think of any reason and I am tired of telling the kids I have no idea. Does anyone know? Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

If you mean snorkle maskes it is because of how much of the face they cover not that it blocks your nose or anything like that.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Our local water park doesn't allow them either

 

[Klayfish]

I'd assume it's because of how much of the face they cover, and they may have concerns of them banging around on the slides. But not sure why you'd wear one anyway? They're not the same as small goggles or a nose plug.

 

[RapunzelIsMyFav]

In the wave pool I mean and yes snorkel masks minus the snorkel. It's just like goggles with some plastic to cover the nose so I don't get it.

 

[Klayfish]

In the wave pool I mean and yes snorkel masks minus the snorkel. It's just like goggles with some plastic to cover the nose so I don't get it.

Ah, I see. I'd bet that it's a safety issue. Face masks are much larger than goggles and nose plugs. I don't think they want a big face mask either coming off and hitting other guests, or the child wearing it getting hit in the face by a wave and having the mask get pushed back into their face. Those masks are really meant for swimming in calm waters, not getting hit by a powerful wave.

 

[RapunzelIsMyFav]

Thanks

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

Those masks are really meant for swimming in calm waters, not getting hit by a powerful wave.

Dive masks are actually designed for taxing conditions, not just calm waters. Our Coast Guard swimmers wear dive masks during rescues in 20' ocean waves.

That said, Klayfish is probable right about the bigger dive masks being banned for their size and weight. But that's a shame. Dive masks can have prescription lenses (not sure about goggles). Swim goggles are constantly being knocked off my face in the wave pool, so I no longer use them there. Swim goggles are better for actual swimming, but I wouldn't use either on a water slide.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

[duplicate]

 

[flortlebap]

I guess because they're heavier and can cause more damage!

 

[chartle]

I googled "Why are face masks banned in pools"

In one of the pools I visit, use of diving mask (masks covering the nose) is not allowed. One of the reasons they give is that both airways should be open. A noseclip is easy to take off, they say, so this is allowed. Is there anything to what they say?

But the management of his local leisure centre decided the goggles did not meet safety standards because they were not shatterproof and could cause him breathing difficulties because they cover his nose.

A spokesman for Fusion, who run the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre said: 'In the interest of the safety of all our customers, we follow industry wide guidelines on the use of face masks and, as such, ask our customers not to wear masks that are designed for specialist activities and cover the nose when participating in general swimming sessions at all our facilities.'

By reading a few more one reason was that even a small amount of water in a mask can be inhaled causing drowning or issues removing the mask quickly by a lifeguard.

It seems like this is like a "best practices" rule for all or most pools. Possibly from some larger organization like something like the Red Cross.

A few site masks being made of glass.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

Chartle, I appreciate your time to research, but I found some of those quotes laughable. Again, nothing on you.

A Scuba Diving website says: Having tempered glass in your mask means you aren't at risk for cracks and breakage. Tempered glass in your dive mask keeps you safe, much like the safety glass in your car's windshield keeps you safe from flying debris and the elements.

Dive mask manufacturers stopped using untempered, flat glass 50 years ago. The Red Cross policies were likely written before then.
Unfortunately, the outdated Red Cross policies get reiterated into new ones and become adopted fifty years later as current "best practices" policies.

[Dive masks] could cause breathing difficulties because they cover his nose. One of the reasons "they give" is that both airways should be open.

LOL. The mouth is also a breathing airway, and is not blocked by a dive mask. If they literally mean that the mouth and nose should always be open, I can't help but laugh when I envision all the pool guests playing with their mouths open. Again, lol.


I don't see any safety issues associated with using a dive mask. Just antiquated policies and lawyers.

 

[wilkeliza]

Chartle, I appreciate your time to research, but I found some of those quotes laughable. Again, nothing on you.

Dive mask manufacturers stopped using untempered, flat glass 50 years ago. The Red Cross policies were likely written before then.
Unfortunately, the outdated Red Cross policies get reiterated into new ones.

LOL. The mouth is also a breathing airway, and is not covered by a dive mask. Quite usable for breathing.


I don't see any safety issues associated with using a dive mask. Just antiquated policies and lawyers.

If you see it says both airways should be easily opened. Also we are talking what are probably cheap masks bought at the local super market not what trained Coast Guard use for rescue. Again the coast guard is trained for water rescue and retrieval using dive masks. Your average swimming pool or water park attendee is not.

To answer an earlier question regular standard goggles can come in prescription and can easily purchased for 20 bucks on line.

 

[chartle]

Chartle, I appreciate your time to research, but I found some of those quotes laughable. Again, nothing on you.

Dive mask manufacturers stopped using untempered, flat glass 50 years ago. The Red Cross policies were likely written before then.
Unfortunately, the outdated Red Cross policies get reiterated into new ones and are adopted fifty years later as current "best practices" policies.

LOL. The mouth is also a breathing airway, and is not blocked by a dive mask. I have also found it quite usable for breathing.


I don't see any safety issues associated with using a dive mask. Just antiquated policies and lawyers.

Some are laughable but I think its because some of these people don't know why they have these regs and make stuff up but it appears to be a universal thing across all pools unless they are doing some specific scuba style training going on.

It may also be why some only allow Coast Guard approved flotation devices, its to keep them from having to make judgement calls that they aren't qualified to make.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

That's true, wilkeliza, I hadn't thought about toy and cheap masks, but universally, even those don't have glass faceplates, due to cost constraints.

Its because some of these people don't know why they have these regs and make stuff up but it appears to be a universal thing across all pools...

Well said. And probably the best answer to the OP's question. We don't know. We have some theories, but we don't know. If I had to give a reason to the kids, I'd blame it on the overly cautious regulations of the Coast Guard. But I wouldn't want to scare the kids away from swim masks forever.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

If you see it says both airways should be "easily" opened.

Yeah, I let that one slip by because I thought the author (not you) was ridiculous. When did the time required for removing a face mask become a safety issue? Maybe a half a second for the nose plug and a full second for the face mask. That's negligible. Less than a heartbeat. Why the author chose to exploit this meaningless stat is beyond me.

 

[chartle]

Yeah, I let that one slip by because I thought the author (not you) was ridiculous. When did the time required for removing a face mask become a safety issue? Maybe a half a second for the nose plug and a full second for the face mask. That's negligible. Less than a heartbeat. Why the author chose to exploit this meaningless stat is beyond me.

I read a few of them and it was posted about suction on the mask for what thats worth.

 

[chartle]

Now as a side note some referred to using snorkels. Which in a pool its hard to tell a swimmer just keeping still and well a dead body.