Many of our customers are looking at new aquatic safety policies before the summer rush. One Y, the Mahaska County YMCA, is implementing a new policy to protect the swimmers in their pool. The following excerpt is from an article in the Oskaloosa News featuring the Y: Mahaska County YMCA Improves Water Safety By Oskaloosa News “The...
Aquatics
Shallow Water Blackout Resources
Whether you’re a lifeguard, an aquatics director, a CEO or just a concerned citizen, you can prevent shallow water blackout and drowning. “Shallow water blackout” is a term used to describe a swimmer going unconscious while underwater from prolonged, repetitive or competitive breath holding. Shallow water blackout most often involves well-conditioned swimmers and it occurs...
Can Modern Technology End Drownings?
Lifeguards, lifejackets, parental supervision, swim lessons…in the aquatics profession, we’re all well aware of how important these layers of protection are in keeping our patrons safe. In the event that one system fails, we have multiple backups in place to prevent a tragedy. We know that our best layer of protection is lifeguard supervision. But...
Kudos To Lifeguards
This summer, Richard Bradford wrote a letter to the editor of the Kansas City Star newspaper about his daughter and YMCA lifeguard, Maggie. Maggie recently had to put her lifeguard training into practice to rescue a young girl who was struggling. Richard thanks the Y for training Maggie and all lifeguards for watching over us....
Water Heroics
Pro athletes are often considered heroes on the field, but it takes true character and bravery to be a hero off the field. Leonard Pope, the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, earned this status on June 11 after saving a boy from drowning in a local pool in Americus, GA. When 6-year-old Bryson Moore wandered...
Aquatics Webinar – 7.29.11
Last Friday, about 1,300 aquatic professionals joined our Aquatic Safety Webinar to learn about recent incidents, current trends and best practices to prevent future aquatic events. Our panelists included: Curt Hazelbaker, CEO, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina John Hoey, CEO, YMCA of Central Maryland Michael Oostman, CEO, Oostman Aquatic Consulting Mike Espino, Aquatic Safety and Risk Specialist, YMCA...
Dallas YMCA Creates Aquatic PSA for Parents
The YMCA of Greater Dallas in engaging the community offering their YMCA’s resources to prevent drowning. The Y created a short PSA to attract parents to their website: KnowBeforeYouGo.org. On the site they recommend that parents memorize and teach 3 safety tips to their children: Test & Teach: have your child swim tested at the...
Three Key Areas For Keeping Your Pool Safe
How can we help prevent injuries in pools? Kevin Trapani and Gareth Hedges recently spoke with Aquatics International for their University program. They discuss the value of insurance and how we can do together what we cannot do individually. Through the analysis of data and onsite evaluations, we can help identify ways to improve...
Recall of VGB Drain Covers
Many pool operators installed new drain covers in 2008 to protect swimmers from underwater entrapment according to the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. This month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall on several brands of these pool drain covers. Please review the recall notice at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11230.html to see if you have drain covers...
How To Have A Safer Memorial Day
We ask you to help protect your community as well as your family this Memorial Day. This weekend we honor and remember all those that served in our nation’s military. We will also eat hamburgers and hot dogs, enjoy the company of friends and family, and go swimming in pools. It is the unofficial start of...