‘PARTNERING WITH THE NDPA’
As spring unfolds, bringing the promise of warmer weather and outdoor activities, the focus on water safety becomes increasingly critical. For professional pool service technicians, this season marks a pivotal time to reinforce the importance of water safety with your clients. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) emphasizes the significant role you as technicians play in preventing drowning incidents and ensuring a safe environment as families gear up for spring and summer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning remains the leading cause of death for children aged 1-4. You can work with your clients to share water safety information, help to implement safety standards, and educate your clients on the importance of water safety.
Here are some key strategies and considerations to keep water safety front and center as we get ready for warmer weather. Comprehensive Pool Safety Checks
Routine maintenance visits provide an excellent opportunity for you to build a strong rapport with your clients and conduct safety checks. While you have the experience to know all of the different safety checks to make — like inspecting barriers and fencing to ensure they are secure, intact, and meet your local safety standards — you can share that information with your clients, too. Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, with latches placed out of reach of young children. It is also important to examine the pool covers for wear and tear and ensuring they are functioning correctly and securely covering the pool when not in use.
Promoting the Use of Safety Devices
You can also advise your clients on the variety of safety devices available, such as pool alarms and life-saving equipment. Encouraging the presence of life rings, shepherd’s hooks, and other life-saving equipment adds another layer of protection. Keeping barriers and alarms functioning around the pool is one of the 5 layers of protection from NDPA. By encouraging and recommending these safety enhancements, you can help to keep your clients safer.
Educating Clients on Safe Pool Practices
Education is a powerful tool in drowning prevention. You are in a unique position to educate homeowners about safe pool practices. This includes discussing the importance of constant, competent, and capable supervision when children are in or near the water. This includes at their home, at their local pool, at the beach, or near any other body of water. Sharing information on local swimming lessons and CPR classes can also empower homeowners to be proactive in water safety.
Encouraging Swimming Lessons and Being Prepared for an Emergency
Highlight the importance of swimming lessons with your clients. This is for children and adults alike. Swimming is not only a life skill, but a critical safety measure that can help to reduce the risk of drowning. You can collaborate with local facilities in your community to provide clients with resources and recommendations for swimming lessons. Swimming lessons should be done year-round. As we are gearing up for spring break, your clients may be taking vacations to places with bodies of water. You can find more information on water competency as one of the 5 layers of protection on NDPA’s website.
Preparing for an emergency is also important. Knowing how to properly perform CPR, having water rescue equipment available and within reach, and whenever possible, keeping a phone poolside, preferably a landline with the physical address available for adults to call 9-1-1 are all parts of being prepared. While no one wants to need those things, it’s important to have them on hand if they are needed. Sharing this information with your clients shows them that you take safety seriously.
Staying Informed and Informing Others
NDPAand other organizations offer valuable information and resources on water safety practices. NDPA has a multitude of resources available like posters, water watcher badges, videos, and more. Many resources are also available in both English and Spanish. Keeping informed with the latest information and guidelines, you can share the most updated information with your clients. You are a trusted resource, and being able to exchange information can help keep your clients and communities safer.
As professional pool service technicians, your responsibilities extend beyond maintaining clean and functional pools. By prioritizing water safety and educating clients on effective drowning prevention strategies, you play a key role in safeguarding your communities. This spring, let’s commit to putting water safety at the forefront of our efforts, ensuring a safer and enjoyable spring and summer. Through diligence, education, and advocacy, we can work together to reduce the incidence of drowning and create safer communities.
