Sep03Perspectives1

This is the perfect time for those of us engaged in water attractions, waterfront operations, or products and services to support those businesses. Both technology and improved training programs are moving the industry to greater levels of safety and enjoyment for our customers. The field abounds with courses, books, tapes, and technology to better safeguard the experiences of our end-users.

For one, the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) has completely revised and updated their training program. IAAPA will be on the cutting edge of this transformation with its three-day Certified Pool Operators Course being conducted by Rich Young of Aquatic Consulting, Inc., as part of IAAPA’s Attractions Management School at the Trade Show in Orlando. Pre-registration is necessary: $159 for members; $229 for nonmembers. Young, always a favorite speaker, will have the revised syllabus to update those who have taken the older course and to bring new enrollees up to speed. This course with examination will include pool and spa chemistry, chemical safety, energy conservation, treatment and filtration practices, and preventive maintenance and storage.

Independent companies are also useful resources for new materials. For example, Sagamore Publishing (www.sagamorepub.com) just released the second edition of The Complete Swimming Pool Reference, by Tom Griffiths, Ed.D., director of aquatics and safety officer for Intercollegiate Athletics at Penn State University. The book covers swimming pool safety and management, including topics on first aid, lifeguarding, and pool maintenance, as well as a section on hot tubs and spas.

Another training item from Griffiths is the Five Minute Scanning Video. This simple surveillance system is designed to improve the efficiency of lifeguards on duty. Researchers found that this system improves attention span and concentration while reducing the boredom of lifeguards on duty.

The system calls for a significant change in posture, position, and eye pattern every five minutes along with a safety check every five minutes while on duty. The material and accompanying video is available through the Aquatic Safety Research Group, LLC, 1632 Glenwood Circle, State College, Pa. 16803, 814/234-0313.

Another educational tool is Jeff Ellis and Associates’ Vigilance Awareness Training (VAT). E&A has long been an innovator in the aquatic community. VAT “seeks to educate, train, and prepare lifeguards for a submersion event.” Through exhaustive research, the VAT training uses a mannequin to simulate a submerged victim. E&A found that with this training technique, the average detection time was 56 seconds; some detection ocurred in as little as 10 seconds. This program is unique in that it involves actually showing guards what a submerged victim looks like. For more on the Vigilance Awareness Training, visit Jeff Ellis & Associates at www.jellis.com or call 800/742-8720.

Though education and training of lifeguards have come a long way, there are areas that still need improvement. Even with adequate staffing and well-trained guards, drownings still happen. Guards still have the hazards of inadequate illumination, surface glare and reflection, and other distractions, including noise and large crowds. Weather extremes can also affect lifeguard response time.

Poseidon Technologies is leading the way with its innovative computer vision technology. The Poseidon system provides a continuous monitoring of the pool using a battery of cameras, which scrutinize the trajectories of swimmers. The cameras are aimed at both above-water and below-surface areas. With real-time digital images, information is relayed to a manned workstation. Within 15 seconds the system can alert guards by both monitor and pager devices. The program is designed to work with lifeguards, not replace them. However, they do have additional features to use when the pools are closed. The “After Hours Intrusion” mode detects the presence of one or more swimmers. A signal can be sent to security, the local police or to facility personnel. For more information, visit www.poseidon-tech.co.uk or call 770/988-2929.

We are just scratching the surface (or skimming the water) of how we can provide safe and fun waterpark experiences. It is difficult to say what new training technique, innovative equipment or design feature may be revealed tomorrow, next week, or at the upcoming IAAPA Show. But this sampling should serve as a stimulus to update and benchmark
current operations.

Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it. The same is true of pool and waterpark safety. Don’t wait for the problem to occur, prevent it from happening in the first place.