City Pool Guidelines

General Patron Pool Rules

  1. Follow Lifeguard instructions at all times, especially in case of emergency. Patron failure to follow the rules may result in loss of pool use privileges.
  2. Bathers shall take a soap and water shower before entering pool as per NMED regulations.
  3. Hands-off policy enforced. This means no horseplay, pushing, and wrestling, grabbing head or neck, dunking, and riding on another's shoulders.
  4. No inappropriate public displays of affection.
  5. No running allowed.
  6.  No drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, weapons, glass, food or pets allowed in pool area. Use of a service animal is allowed.
  7. Children eight years old and younger must always be accompanied by a responsible adult or legal guardian (18 yrs and older) physically in the water with the children within arm's reach. No more than two children 8 and under to one adult. Organization or Agency attending in groups will adhere to the following:
    1.   1-10 clients: at least one supervisor required and actively supervising in water.
    2.  11-20 clients: at least 2 supervisors required with one actively supervising in water.
    3.  21-30 clients: at least one supervisor to 10 clients required actively supervising in water
  8. Personal flotation devices, whether solid or inflatable, must be Coast Guard approved and the certified seal must be displayed on the flotation device.
  9. City equipment is to be used only during instructional classes. City kickboards and pull buoys may be used by lap swimmers with the Pool Manager’s permission.
  10. The City of Las Cruces is not responsible for missing or stolen personal property.
  11. Individuals with open wounds are not allowed in pool.
  12. Patrons must wear regulation bathing suits, with liner, in pool. The following are not appropriate swim attire:
    1.  T-shirts (colored), sports bras, basketball shorts, cut off jeans, or other cotton materials, shorts/cover-ups worn over swimwear that are not made of swim suit material, underwear or jock straps worn under swim suits, board shorts without a liner, thong bikinis or suits that are deemed too revealing for a family environment.
  13. All customers, swimming or not, must pay to enter the facility. No in-and-out privileges.
  14. Please use locker rooms for changing clothing and diapers.
  15. Staff will contact police to retrieve any children 17 years and under left on site 15 minutes after pool facility closes.
  16.  No sitting or hanging on lane lines, ropes or ladders.
  17. Please follow any additional rules posted in other parts of the pool facility. City personnel have the right to ask patrons to exit the pool and surrounding premises if a health or safety issue arises.

Swim Apparel Guidelines

What to Wear:

  • Swim trunks with liner
  • Aqua shirt, water shirt, or cotton t-shirt (white or grey only)
  • Standard bikini, bathing suit
  • Modesty Swimwear
  • Swim diaper

What NOT to Wear:

  • Basketball shorts
  • Cotton colored t-shirt
  • Cotton turtleneck
  • Lingerie, underwear, or boxers
  • Thong, G-string bikini
  • Jean skirts, jeans, or cut-offs
  • Disposable diaper

Lightning Guidelines


Indoor Swimming Pool Process:

1. Indoor swimming pools will not be evacuated during a thunder and/or lightning storm unless the Supervisor or Head Lifeguard on duty deems the storm to be a significant weather hazard to all individuals in the facility.

2. If a significant weather warning is in the immediate area, patrons will be instructed to exit the water and remain in the building. If conditions worsen and monitored weather reports confirm the storm will last a significant duration with “stay indoors” warnings patrons will be asked to vacate the building and the indoor facility will be closed.

Outdoor Swimming Pool Process

1. When the lightning or thunder is brought to the attention of the lifeguard on duty in the outdoor pool that lightning is present, he/she will call for the assistance of a secondary lifeguard by blowing two long whistle blasts. The secondary lifeguard will begin the “Flash Bang Method” to determine its’ rough distance and speed. 

2. The “Flash Bang Method” (F-B) measures the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. 

3. People will be directed to a safe shelter nearby. A safe shelter is defined as any building normally occupied or frequently used by people, i.e. a building with plumbing or electrical wiring that acts to electrically ground the structure. 

4. To activate the “Flash Bang Method”, begin a stopwatch when sighting a lightning flash. The stopwatch is stopped when the associated bang (thunder) is heard. Divide this number by five to determine the distance of the lightning flash, in miles. 

5. When it is has been determined that lightning is at least 6 miles a way, which is a count of 30 seconds between the flash and bang, the outdoor pool must be evacuated completely. The decision to evacuate the outdoor pool will be announced by one long whistle blast from the primary lifeguard on duty. 

6. Pool activities will remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard. During this time the Lifeguard Supervisor will monitor the storm at www.nws.noaa.gov or listen to a news radio station. When it is determined by the National Weather Service that a thunderstorm warning is no longer in effect and it is safe to go outside, the Lifeguard supervisor on duty will perform another “Flash Bang” count until it is determined that lightning is greater than 6 miles away. 

7. East Mesa Bataan Memorial Swimming Pool, Frenger Swimming Pool, and Laabs Swimming Pool will follow the Outdoor Swimming Pool process; although Frenger Swimming Pool has been covered; the enclosure is inadequate to be considered an indoor pool and will be treated as an outdoor pool. 

8. Refunds will not be given to those guests who have been evacuated and have paid the daily session fee, however a “rain check” will be issued and is valid for 7 days after the evacuation.