What should patrons do to determine their placement in swimming or nonswimming areas?

To determine their placement in swimming or nonswimming areas, patrons should demonstrate swimming ability appropriate for the activity. This approach ensures that individuals are placed in areas that match their skill level, promoting safety for everyone at the facility. When patrons provide a demonstration of their swimming abilities, lifeguards can assess whether they are capable of handling the conditions of a particular area, especially in deeper waters or those designated for specific activities like diving.

Safety orientations and medical certificates may provide useful information, but they do not directly evaluate a patron’s current swimming ability. Similarly, participating in a swim race does not necessarily reflect an individual's swimming skills for recreational swimming or safety in a controlled environment. The emphasis is on ensuring that patrons understand their capabilities in relation to the swimming areas, which is best assessed through direct demonstration.