HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION

Dallas County Updates CDC Recommendations Mask Up for Safety

THINGS TO KNOW

Sign your waiver - all members will be asked to sign a waiver prior to scanning in and working out.

ENGLISH WAIVER SPANISH WAIVER

Reserve your spot in a group exercise class, Child Watch, open swim, or lap swim - due to capacity limits, these will require reservation.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Bring your mask - We have adopted the CDC recommendation requiring everyone 2 years or older to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in a public place where it is difficult to keep six feet away from other people.

Towel service is temporarily unavailable.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

WHAT THE Y IS DOING

Regular Temperature Checks: Staff will receive temperature checks before being allowed to start their work shift or to check in.
Face Coverings for All Staff: All staff will be required to wear masks.
Self-Scan: Members will be asked to self-scan to allow for limited contact entry.
Designed for Social Distance: All open areas inside the Y have been evaluated and redesigned where necessary to help ensure social distancing between members. Signage will be placed prominently throughout the facility to drive awareness of this requirement. We are also spacing out equipment, alternating our treadmill and cardio usage to every other machine, limiting capacity in the facility and in classes so everyone has the recommended 6 feet of space.
Preparing Our Staff And Facilities: Our staff will be wearing masks and they are training to follow guidelines that the CDC, Dallas County, and City of Dallas officials have put in place. That includes deep cleaning at night and making sure equipment is sanitized after each use and having an ample amount of EPA-approved disinfectant wipes and sanitizer near high touch points throughout our facilities.

For the safety of members, volunteers and staff, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas requests immediate notification if you have been in our facilities/programs and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, have had known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

WHAT CAN MEMBERS DO

STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK

Members should stay home if they don’t feel well. The CDC and state public health officials encourage seniors and members of vulnerable populations, including those with underlying health conditions, to stay at home.

MASK REQUIRED

Per CDC recommendation, we are requiring everyone 2 years or older to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in a public place where it is difficult to keep six feet away from other people.

Click here to view our Mask Up Transmission Chart

EXPECT REDUCED CAPACITY

We have prepared our branches for social distancing by spacing out equipment, alternating our treadmill and cardio usage to every other machine, limiting capacity in the facility and in classes so everyone has the recommended 6 feet of space. At times of full capacity, you will be asked to wait in a designated area until space is available.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

Please respect all signs regarding social distancing. Stay at least six feet away from others wherever possible.

WIPE DOWN EQUIPMENT & MATS

Cleaning materials will provided. Please wipe equipment, as well as your mat, before and after your workout.

PROPERLY DISCARD USED EQUIPMENT

Look for areas to discard equipment and accessories after use. We will have signs directing members to red bins to place used equipment and accessories for proper sanitation by YMCA staff.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT QUESTIONS

Can I take my membership off hold now that the facilities are open again?

Yes! We can’t wait to see you! Please contact your local branch or notify the Resource Operation Center at resourceoperationcenter@ymcadallas.org.

I’m not comfortable coming back even though you’re open, but I’ve used my 90-day hold. Can I extend my hold? What are my options?

We are looking forward to seeing you, but we understand if you may not feel ready to come back yet. Please contact us at the Resource Operation Center at resourceoperationcenter@ymcadallas.org and we can help you find the best solution for your membership.

How can I extend the hold on my account?

Holds may be extended an additional 30 days by reaching out to the Resource Operation Center three days before your membership drafts at resourceoperationcenter@ymcadallas.org.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

How has the YMCA prepared their facilities for social distancing?

We have taken great steps to prepare our branches for social/physical distancing. We have trained our staff and worked to follow local guidelines the CDC, Dallas County and City of Dallas officials put in place. Examples of our social/physical distancing measures includes spacing out our equipment, limiting facility and room occupancy, and having staff wear masks where they interact with members. For more information about what measures we are taking as we reopen, please visit ymcadallas.org/reopening.

Will the treadmills and other equipment be spaced 6 feet apart?

We will be alternating our treadmill and cardio usage to every other machine to ensure social/physical distancing measures are in place. We also plan on doing the same for equipment and will also be spacing equipment out as necessary.

Will the class sizes be smaller do to spacing concerns?

Absolutely. You will see class sizes a bit smaller to ensure we have proper spacing for our participants. Some of our classes, such as our most popular ones may be moved to larger spaces to accommodate distancing measures.

How are cycle classes going to operate when so many bikes are in one room?

We are going to limit our cycle class participation by requiring a reservation prior to attending the class. We will also be spacing out seating to every other bike or every two bikes depending on spacing and will be removing seats from bikes to ensure adherence to distancing measures.

How will the YMCA address social distancing with personal trainers?

We have specific measures in place regarding personal training. Trainers will maintain a 6’ distance from their clients and set up or prepare for their sessions prior to arrival. We will not have group training or allow for trainers to spot clients or members during this time. Trainers will be able to use our digital resources to deliver workout plans and any other information our members need. We also have virtual personal training available for those unable to attend in person.

How are you planning to enforce social distancing?

We have abundant social distancing reminders throughout our facilities and staff have been trained on polite reminders when people might forget to maintain 6 feet. We have updated our member behavior policies and will enforce that policy which may include losing membership privileges if necessary.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING THE Y

What do I need to know before I arrive? 

Some activity, such as lap swimming, or group exercise classes will be by reservation only. We also ask that all members bring their own mat if they need one. Our locker rooms are available.

Why do we need to sign a member waiver before/as we return to the Y?

We are taking this opportunity to update our waiver for all members for two reasons: One, we felt it was prudent to add language regarding communicable disease, virus’, etc. but we also recognized we needed an updated waiver for the YMCA on file for our members.

Is ChildWatch opening? How will you keep the kids 6 feet apart?

Yes. We will have a limited number of spots available and have planned activities to keep the children at a safe distance. Some of our ChildWatch areas will be moved within the branch to a larger space as well. We also have taken additional proactive measures to create an environment to effectively operate our ChildWatch program.

Why don’t you have towel service?

Towels are used to wipe sweat, soiled surfaces, and/or moisture from one’s body. Staff members would be responsible for gathering a large amount of those soiled towels to launder them. This poses a greater risk to our staff members and we decided to discontinue towel service temporarily as a result.

Will a mask be required while using the facility (staff and members)?

We will be requiring our front-line staff to wear masks that are in proximity to members and other staff.

We have adopted the CDC recommendation requiring everyone 2 years or older to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in a public place where it is difficult to keep six feet away from other people. In the Y this means, bring and wear a mask in the common areas of the YMCA. We have spaced equipment and classes to allow for 6’ of distancing so you may remove your mask while you exercise.

Will temperature checks be required prior to entry?

We will be performing temperature checks on our staff as well as children entering ChildWatch. Members may also have their temperatures taken if they would like as part of our social service to you. We will also be reminding our members to follow our Member Behavior Policy which includes making sure they self-report if they begin to feel symptoms and stay home if they are feeling ill. We will also require members to sign an updated waiver prior to entering our branches.

Will hand sanitizer be available in every area of the facility or should I bring my own?

We will have EPA approved hand sanitizer available near our high touch areas in our branches and throughout our facilities. You are also more than welcome to bring your own.

MINIMIZING RISK

What measures is the Y taking to minimize the risk of exposure to members in any facility?

We have taken great steps to prepare our branches for social/physical distancing as well as extra measures to disinfect our areas and equipment. We have trained our staff and worked to follow local guidelines the CDC, Dallas County and City of Dallas officials put in place. Examples of our social/physical distancing measures includes spacing out our equipment, limiting facility and room occupancy, additional disinfecting measures throughout the day, nightly extended cleaning and disinfecting, and having staff wear masks where they interact with members. For more information about what measures we are taking as we reopen, please visit ymcadallas.org/reopening.

Will the YMCA provide PPE materials or do the members provide their own?

We ask that members bring their own PPE when using our facilities.

Will YMCA staff be on hand to sanitize machines and weight equipment between each use?

Yes. We have dedicated staff to sanitize equipment after use as well as ample amount of EPA-Registered disinfectant wipes and sanitizer available for wiping down equipment. We also extend our cleaning and disinfecting after we close each day.

How are you disinfecting the facility?

We have trained our staff on our enhanced cleaning protocols and will be implementing them throughout the day. Each branch will also undergo deep cleaning in the evening after we close for precautionary measures.

How will member reports of other members with possible symptoms be handled?

Ensuring a healthy environment is our top priority and ill individuals will be asked to stay home until they are healthy. Reports of member or staff illness will be addressed by branch leadership based on the specific details of the report and staff observations. If you have concerns about someone’s symptoms or exposure you can report this information to branch leadership or anonymous to the YMCA Values Line at 888-475-8376.

WELLNESS

Are classes being offered?

Yes! We are adding more classes each week. Some classes will be held in larger spaces to help with our social/physical distancing measures. To see our class offering and to make your reservation, please visit ymcadallas.org/reservations.

Is the class schedule the same as before?

As we follow governmental guidelines and CDC regulations in opening and taking extra measures in disinfecting, cleaning, along with social/physical distancing, we will be allowing a limited schedule throughout the day.

Will we be offering classes that have specialized equipment?

We will offer limited classes that have specialized equipment such as Les Mills BODYPUMP. We will ensure our social/physical distancing protocols are in place and allow additional time before and after our classes to make ensure our equipment and area is properly disinfected and sanitized prior and after use. To see our class offering and to make your reservation, please visit ymcadallas.org/reservations.

How will we reserve spots in classes?

Since our group exercise schedule will be offered at a reduced capacity, we will have online reservations. There will be spots available also for first come first serve as well. To make your reservation, please visit: ymcadallas.org/reservations.

Will the YMCA continue to offer on-demand and virtual classes even though the facilities are reopened?

We will continue offering virtual group exercise through our live private Facebook group for our members. On-demand classes through Les Mills will be offered free for our members through June 30.

Will virtual personal training or POWERFIT continue to be offered as an alternative to coming into the facility?

Virtual Personal Training and POWERFIT have been successful offerings in keeping our members engaged and helping our members achieve their wellness goals. We will continue these offerings virtually after we reopen as well.

Maintaining a safe environment

At the Y