Safeguard Aquatic Facilities
It is unfortunate and inevitable that accidents and injuries will occur. When these happen, use them as a learning opportunity. For instance, it is a regular practice to complete accident/injury reports and maintain a record of the incident. This information can be useful for training and accident/injury prevention purposes. It can also be useful in changing the daily practices and routines of lifeguards. After all, the best practices are often developed due to past mistakes and mishaps, so use them to benefit staff members rather than to bewilder them.
Give Visitors Direction
Maintaining safety also includes educating the public on the safe manner in which to use the facility. This can be accomplished by posting signs and warning notices. Since such signage is often ignored, it is important that lifeguards and supervisors actively monitor the pool areas and communicate effectively with visitors. The lifeguards and facility staff need to be seen and heard, other than from an occasional whistle. This includes giving simple and courteous directions and providing meaningful, face-to-face interaction.
Keeping aquatic facilities safe can be a challenge. However, preventive measures can help ensure the safety of customers as well as protect against the potential for lawsuits.
N. Jonas Ohrberg is a facility coordinator for the city of Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation Department in New Mexico. Ohrberg completed a Ph.D. in leadership from Capella University in October 2010. He can be reached via johrberg@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us.
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