Do we really need lifeguards at the pool?

My last gym did not have lifeguards at the lap pool.
It was a glorified unsupervised day care, and I felt extremely uncomfortable being the only adult in the pool while multiple children ran and horseplayed around. I would have MUCH preferred a lifeguard on duty so I did not feel responsible for other people's children.

My YMCA, on the other hand, has multiple lifeguards staffed at all times who actually enforce safety rules. Much preferred.  

if gyms potentially have kids in the pool then I think they are obligated to have a lifeguard.  Though this may be a state by state rule.

My gym back in Boston only had a lifeguard on sunday when kids were allowed in.

Here in NYC every pool I have been to has a lifeguard.

If it's just a choice of lifeguards or no lifeguards, then sure, why not.

But I think the OP's real question is, if the tradeoff for having lifeguards is restricted pool hours, then do you really require lifeguards?  Suppose that due to budget constraints your pool could only afford guards for one hour a day?  Would you rather have the guard, or open the pool with no guards?

My gym has lots of signs saying there are no lifeguards but they do have staff around including people sitting in a lifeguard chair with one of those floatie things lifeguards use to save people during certain times of the day/year.

So I think they actually do have lifeguards but say they don't for liability reasons.

Other jobs guards do...
Chemicals
Clean unwanted body fluids/objects out of the pool (and shock)
Basic Cleaning (vacuuming, spraying down the deck, etc)
and obviously, respond to emergencies.

I work in a recreation center and can't imagine NOT having a guard on deck.
Kids aside, I can instantly think of two situations in the past year in which the guards in our organization responded to emergencies in the pool involving adults.

Would "I" get in a pool w/out a guard on deck... likely so... would I swim the same? NO!  I'd be MUCH more cautious and not push myself.

COMPLETELY agree w/ the comment comparing it to having insurance

This +1000

My pool does not have guards.  It doesn't get much swim activity either.  We had a good masters style swim class for a while and I attended it, it fell apart n the past few months as the instructor took a new job.  The person that is covering that class isn't even a swimmer.  He puts workouts up on the white board and stands there.

Children under 15 aren't supposed to be in  the pool unsupervised.  Most people do abide by that.   However, if your kid is in the water you better be too, not sitting on the deck with your book, paper or cell phone. 

Kids aren't taught basic pool courtesy when there aren't guards.  They wind up getting in the way of a lap swim.  We have 3 lanes set up just for lap swimming and the rest is open for the aqua aerobic classes minus the small sections for a kiddie play pool and a hot tub. 

Do I swim in this mess?  Yes, at 5:45 in the morning when there are only other swimmers in the pool.  Going in at any other time of day means the water walkers and noodle ladies will be there.

My current gym, and my former gym both have pools, no lifeguards.  Both have signs that alert folks the lack of lifeguards.  In summer, there's lifeguards when the outdoor pools are open for kids swim hours.

Doesn't make sense to me why they need lifeguards for adult swim sessions.

I was a guard for 10 years and did very little beyond minor first aid and the odd spinal injury(usually due to the adjoining rink). But the one VSA (Vital Signs Absent ) rescue I did in 88 leaves me thinking that the insurance metaphor is worth a second thought.  I don't need a lifeguard...until I need one.