Water Park Safety Best Practices

1. Water Park Safety Best Practices IAAPA Safety Seminar- IAAPI March 2010

2. Jeff Ellis & Associates, IncInternational Aquatic Safety & Risk Management Consultants • Established in 1983 • Expert Drowning Investigation & Litigation Support • International Lifeguard Training Program™ • Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program • First to Introduce Rescue Tube • First to integrate CPR and First Aid into single lifeguard curriculum • First to introduce oxygen training and mandate AED’s at Client Facilities • First to hold lifeguard accountable to standards • Created and implements the only active Vigilance Awareness Training Program

3. Proactive Cycle of Risk • Identification of Risk Exposure • Recommendations/Remediation/Consultation designed to reduce or eliminate the identified exposure • Re-Evaluation to validate identified Risk has been reduced or eliminated • An identified exposure becomes a liability when not properly addressed, corrected or eliminated • Consistent third party audits can assist in the identification process

4. Factors Contributing to Drowning Risk Circumstance Frequency • Deep Water • Moving Water • Turbid Water • Reflections/Glare • Time of Day • Age of swimmer • Lack of Supervision Attendance • Over 500,000 • 250,000-500,000 • 100,000-250,000 • 50,000-100,000 • Under 50,000 • As frequency increases Risk increases

5. Universal Hallmarks of Water Park Safety • Proactive Risk Identification • Comprehensive Lifeguard Training • Validity of Lifeguard Credentials • Site Specific Lifeguard Training/Operational Training • Proactive Lifeguard and Facility Supervision • Proactive Risk Management

6. Proactive Risk Identification • Lifeguard Positioning • Assigned Zones of Protection • Is a Lifeguard assigned a zone of protection? • Is all water part of an assigned zone of protection? • If the lifeguard can’t see an area of the water where guests are swimming lifeguard cannot be successful • Consistent Staffing • If an attraction requires a certain number of lifeguards…attraction should always staff that certain number of lifeguards • Inconsistent staffing is a risk exposure

7. Proactive RiskIdentification • Lifeguard Rotations • Less than 30 minutes at each position • Alternation of task to maintain vigilance and attentiveness • Proper equipment and position exchange without loss of eye contact with assigned zone of protection • Lifeguard In-Service Training • Weekly training • Lifeguard rescue skills, CPR Skills and Emergency Action Plan drills and simulations of Team Management of aquatic emergencies

8. Lifeguard Training • Comprehensive Training Program • Should include rescue skills for Responsive (active), Unresponsive (unconscious) and Suspected Neck/Back • Should include CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), First Aid, Oxygen and AED (Automated External Defibrillation) • In-House Training v. Outsourced Training/Contract Training • Quality Control better managed in-house • Direct relationship with Training Agency is best practice • Contractor/Outsourced based trainer does not have same level of ownership in end product

9. Lifeguard Credential Validity • Validity of Lifeguard Training Credentials • If trained outside of the facility how do you validate the training received? • Lifeguards hired may not have received consistent training and therefore may not be able to perform in an emergency • Do you pre-screen lifeguards training outside of the facility to confirm skill training and physical requirements? • Can the lifeguard descend to the deepest pool at your facility and perform skills to manage a guest on the bottom?

10. Site Specific Operational Training • Company Policies & Procedures • Lifeguard Expectations • Job Description, Employment requirements, Performance Requirements • Lifeguard Position Training • Orientation and hands on training at all lifeguard positions • Assigned Lifeguard Zone of Protections • Emergency Action Plans (EAP)/ Standard Operating procedures (SOP)

11. Proactive Supervision • Lifeguard Supervision • Lifeguards should be supported by a supervisor • Supervisor should be present and visible on deck • Supervisors should provide support to Lifeguards to deal with guest questions and allow lifeguard to provide swimmer protection without distraction • Supervisors must “stop and watch” lifeguard performance and reinforce performance and training expectations • Hold Lifeguards accountable to performance and training expectations

12. Proactive Risk Management • Third Party Audits • Independent Audits assist in identification of risk exposures • Independent Audits provide a “snapshot” to owners/operators which provides a unique perspective • In-House Audits • Should be conducted on a regular basis with a consistent criteria • Ideally all senior management should conduct in-house audits over the course of the year • Audits should seek to evaluate internal SOP’s

13. Creating a Culture of Safety • Safety in all departments should be first priority…Safety of both employees and Guests • Senior Management presence and participation in safety based training sessions underscores Safety as a priority • Recognize and Reward employees who provide exception safety and guest service • Provide daily/weekly/monthly feedback to employees who are directly responsible for guest safety and Celebrate their success

14. Creating a Culture of Safety Remember that when a lifeguard is successful then the facility is successful…ALWAYS be sure your lifeguards and lifeguard supervisors are provided with the resources to be successful! Lifeguards and Lifeguard Supervisors will ultimately be the group that will “Make a Difference” in the Culture of Safety at your Park!

15. Thank You! IAAPA Safety Seminar- IAAPI March 2010