Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Why are flotation devices not allowed at the Decorah Pool?"

Erica e-mails: "Why are flotation devices not allowed for young children at the Decorah Pool?  I understand that they don't want large blow up floats and toys, but why aren't small children allowed to wear popular and useful safety "flotation devices?"

Mr. Answer Person says: "It's a safety matter.  While it would seem the flotation devices would make small children safer, there have actually been cases of small kids getting into trouble because they are wearing arm floats, for example.  The floatation devices allow the kids to get into water that is over their heads.  There have even been cases where one or more of the floats have popped.  It takes just a minute for a parent or a lifeguard to be looking in the opposite direction--and all of a sudden you have a young child in a lot of trouble.

The Decorah Pool has banned flotation devices ever since the new pool opened in 1989, so this rule has been in place for at least 23 years..