MTSC Masters' Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

How to reserve a workout
COVID-19 is a major topic of discussion these days.  At Sea Star Swim School, we are taking extra precautions for the health and safety of our swimmers, our staff and our community. 

Because of recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Executive Order 17 issued today by Governor BIll Lee, our regular team practices are suspended until at least April 6th. We will evaluate on a weekly basis about when to re-open our regularly scheduled workouts, and your monthly fees will be on hold until that time.  We hope to begin workouts on Tuesday, April 7.  We will email you when we get the "OK" to resume.

We know this is a stressful, uncertain time for everyone, including our staff whose hours have disappeared during this closure time.  Small businesses like Sea Star will suffer during this period. 

Is it safe to swim? 

Let’s answer that question first—YES, it is safe to swim!  It may be the best form of exercise available under the circumstances.

The most important concern is our pool.    We have already increased our frequency of cleaning heavily trafficked areas of our facility, like the lobby and the locker rooms by wiping down frequently touched surfaces with an approved disinfectant. 

Sea Star uses chlorine for sanitation of our pool.  We consistently earn 100% on our monthly inspections with the Tennessee Department of Health.  Our use of chlorine as a sanitizing agent is good news for swimmers because a study confirmed that coronavirus cannot be transmitted in drinking water or swimming pools if these mediums are properly chlorinated.  This study was completed by Ireland’s Health Service Executive, which is essentially the equivalent of the Department of Health & Human Services in the United States

To put this in perspective, drinking water from your tap at home would need to test at 0.5 mg/l of free chlorine to be safe.  For swimming pools, the state of Tennessee requires a free chlorine residual of 1.0-3.0 mg/l; Sea Star’s level is 3.0.

What does all of this mean to our customers and staff?  Our pool is clean and sanitized for your protection daily.  We meet and exceed all state-required levels of cleanliness. Since we know the Coronavirus cannot live in chlorine and does not thrive in humidity, our pool and pool deck are virtually a safe space for those who enter.  Read the latest news from the CDC on Water Transmission and COVID-19

We know that many of you have specific training goals, and many facilities have closed.   Since we know the Coronavirus cannot live in chlorine and does not thrive in humidity, our pool and pool deck are virtually a safe space for those who enter.  We hope you will all resume your training with us once this crisis is over.

What We Can Do To Help Each Other:

Whether you are talking about COVID-19, flu, strep or any other communicable disease, here are recommendations from the Center for Disease Control on preventing the spread of illness:
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.  It is much harder than it sounds, especially for kids. 
  • Stay home when you are sick!   If you or anyone in your family has exhibited any signs of illness, please stay home.  These symptoms include cough, runny nose, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or fever in the last 72 hours
  • Practice good respiratory etiquette by covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.  While in class, your swimmer should still cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze—an elbow or an armpit work fine!
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
We will get through this if we work together. This small business needs your support during this trying time if we are going to survive and continue to be a fixture in this community once this passes. We have overhead expenses that have to be paid regardless and our team sincerely need to continue working for their livelihood

Until then, take a walk.  Run.  Ride your bike.  Play with the kids.  Read a book.  Write a book. Be creative.  Wash your hands and maintain proper social distancing.  We will see you all on deck very soon!

 Again, should there be any changes to our schedule, we will contact you by email as soon as we can. 
For more information about COVID-19, check these websites:
Center for Disease Control:
To meet the safety guidelines of both the State of Tennessee and the US Swim School association, we will only be permitted to have 12 swimmers in the pool starting from opposite ends of the pool. This number will strictly enforce this until the USSSA loosens up the restriction.  To participate, you will be required each week to reserve a workout.
 HOW TO RESERVE A LANE:
  • Email Ron at swim4ron@hotmail.com on Monday after 2 p.m. I will let you know by 7 p.m. what day and what time is available for you to come in. I will only look at that email address to take appointments. Please don't call me, text me, or reply to the commando swimmer or to the mtscmasters@gmail.com email addresses. Those requests will NOT be considered.
  • It is IMPERATIVE that you are clear about the days/time you will attend. A 'no show' takes the opportunity away from another individual who would like to swim. If you commit to attending and fail to show up, you will drop to the lowest priority each week until we have space to include you again. When you return your first workout, you will be charged double as a penalty for the missed workout. It is extremely frustrating to me and others when you commit to the workout and do not show up.
  • If you cannot attend a workout you have scheduled, please notify Ron by email in enough time to allow another swimmer to take your place, preferably 24-48 hours in advance.  While we understand emergencies happen, please do NOT wait until that morning to cancel.
  • Reservations must be done weekly.  Do not assume your space is secured if you did not email Ron that week.  We have a lengthy wait list of swimmers who want to participate, so if you do not reserve each week, we will automatically go to the next swimmer on the list.
  • If you are working from home or if your schedule otherwise permits, please consider one of the later workouts.
  • LOCKER ROOMS REMAIN CLOSED!  NO SHOWERS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY SWIMMER; no exceptions! 
Workout Procedures:
  • Workout times are Tuesday and Thursday:  5:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and Saturday:  7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
  • Masks are required for ALL who enter the building.
  • When you enter, you MUST sign in and please indicate how much you paid and whether you paid by cash or check on the sign-in sheet. Credit cards are not accepted.  If you are paying for both sessions you scheduled that week, please write in the amount and that it is for both Tuesday and Thursday. Hand your payment to the coach on deck so they can account for it right there. DO NOT drop into the red box as we have no idea who put in cash and what account to apply it.
  • DO NOT BE LATE.  Swimmers will be limited to that 1 hour window of the reserved workout. You will not be permitted to stay if you come late.  There will be no warmup for latecomers; plan to jump right into whatever we are doing. Nobody can 'march to the beat of their own drum'. 
  • You must leave the facility immediately after workout.  LOCKER ROOMS REMAIN CLOSED except for restroom use!  NO SHOWERS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY SWIMMER; no exceptions!