[dgfitz]

Any public pool worth visiting (in the US) has strict rules about only allowing coastguard-approved flotation devices. These devices are designed to allow an unconscious child to float face up. Which means fuck-all if they're already stuck under a float.

Floats in public pools are a Bad Thing, I completely agree.

Source: lifeguard through highschool and college.

[QuarterReptile]

If the pool staff is obsessive enough to check your float's USCG approval, it's probably not going to be any fun. It may be happening because you have a critical mass of bad swimmers trying to drown or because the lifeguards are the fun police, but in either case it's not a very good pool.

Source: fun police in high school and now have young children -- highly supervised pools are a bummer.

[dgfitz]

I mean, checking for a USCG seal on a float takes about 3 seconds.

And the rules are mostly, don’t run, don’t dunk someone else.