2022 Poolsafe Annual Report

20 22 POOLSAFE

Annual Report

Welcome to the 2022 Poolsafe Annual Report

This annual publication will provide a broad snapshot of the overall public pools industry in Aotearoa. It provides an opportunity to share key industry updates, research, major projects, and to acknowledge achievements across the industry

The information and data collected for this report has been provided by Poolsafe facilities, Skills Active, Water Safety NZ (WSNZ), and other industry organisations/individuals We would like to acknowledge and thank them for their contribution

These past 12 months have still been impacted by a global pandemic It was a challenging time for everyone, and the aquatic industry was one of many impacted

It was also a time when industry personnel drew on the resilience and skills to help each other, their communities, and stakeholders. It will be a year remembered for the challenges, but also for the way it brought the industry together (while staying apart) to find new and innovative solutions to stay connected.

Technology helped us adapt to these new challenges, but we recognise that a screen can never replace the value of face-to-face interaction. We recognise that a blend of online and face-to-face service delivery will continue to assist and provide more efficient and effective services into the future

We hope that you find the report informative and welcome your feedback

Aquatics Programme Manager

Tracey Prince-Puketapu

Recreation Aotearoa

Quality Programmes Coordinator

Rhiann Collins

Recreation Aotearoa

Labour Force Overview

Workforce Survey

A recent workforce survey carried out by Recreation Aotearoa addressed the issue of workforce shortages in the aquatics industry.

The majority of shortages were in lifeguard roles, but also included swim teachers, team leaders, and supervisors There was an average of roles being empty for four months, while some had been vacant for 12 months. Respondents indicated that there was an average 2-4 staff vacancies at one time, but some facilities reported having up to eight

Social media, recruitment websites and agencies, are flooded with job listings and opportunities for the aquatics sector. However, this is not unique to the industry – industries across the board are facing workforce shortages which has created a competitive employment market.

Lifeguarding and swim teaching is often seen as a stop gap and based on the survey, respondents suggested many people were not wanting to work shifts or weekends. In addition, the quality of applicants was generally poor particularly in swimming competency

Staff shortages were impacting daily operations with full or part facility closures, reduced hours, and a reduction in programmes delivered to customers. There was also a reduction in the ability to conduct regular staff trainings, new staff trainings, and regular admin and HR operations. Staff were working longer hours and senior staff, such as facility managers and team leaders, were having to work poolside to cover gaps Casual staff were also being used as more than "casual" without the time to train them up. This extra pressure has taken its toll on the physical and mental health of staff and has had impacts on team culture

Labour Force People

How long have you been working as a lifeguard? I started in 2008, 14 years

What’s one thing about being a lifeguard that you didn’t know before? I never knew how many jobs a lifeguard was required to do. Like maintenance, cleaning, and customer service

What do you love the most about working as a lifeguard? I love the sense of doing a good job. Knowing that you’re the one keeping those people safe! That your skill set could be called into action at a moments notice, and your adrenaline will be pumping before you have a chance to blink. The satisfaction of knowing you’re going home having helped someone, whether that be by simply keeping them safe or you have made a rescue. It fills you with pride knowing that you did that and you may have possibly changed someone’s life.

What do you find challenging about the job? The conflict that comes with different personalities of customers and staff

How has being a lifeguard influenced your decisions and attitudes? It's made me more aware of water in general, and I’m extremely passionate about water safety in and around all types of water.

One highlight of being a lifeguard in the last year? Being a part of team that is just as passionate about water safety as me.

Wai Splash

Community Pools

Psalms Kamura - Lifeguard

Tararua District Council

Labour Force People

What is your history in the aquatics sector? I started in 2006 as an after-school lifeguard at, what is now, Nelson's Richmond Aquatic Centre. After discovering my passion for the industry, I took up the role full-time as Lifeguard Supervisor before moving into the Aquatic Team Leader role in 2015 Since then, I have managed Pt Erin Pool in Auckland over the summer, and over the winter months provided support for our aquatic teams at various sites around the country. I’ve now hung up the travelling shoes and am the current Facility Manager for Whangārei Aquatic Centre.

When did you became an assessor? 2017.

Why did you become a Lifeguard Assessor?

Moving into my role as a Team Leader meant I needed to upskill in aspects of my career, becoming an assessor was a vital component in being able to support my team and facility In turn it has also benefitted a number of different pools, as I've been able to assist them in the development of their teams in my travels

What do you enjoy most about being an assessor? I’ve always had a passion for the development and training of staff This qualification gave me the ability to train new lifeguards and give them the skills needed to access our exciting industry It’s incredibly rewarding seeing those students engage with our communities, promote water safety, and obtain important life-skills that can make a real difference in peoples lives

Would you recommend becoming an assessor? I couldn't recommend it enough! It's a rewarding role that helps challenge and develop aquatics staff to better look after their communities

What's been a highlight for you as an assessor in the last year? Assisting other assessors in judging the lifeguard competition in Palmerston North at the 2021 Waves Conference, before COVID ruined the show. All the teams demonstrated amazing skill and expertise in the handling of some very technical scenarios

Whangārei Aquatic Centre

Darren Pott - Lifeguard Assessor Community Leisure Management

Labour Force People

What is your history in the aquatics sector? Starting in 1998 as a swim instructor, I have moved my way through various roles including Volunteer Coach for Special Olympics, Swim School Manager, Lifeguard and LTS assessor, board member of NZ Swim Coaches and Teachers, and the last 13 years in centre management at a range of facilities across New Zealand

When did you became a Poolsafe Assessor and why? In 2019 I saw it was a great opportunity to give back and support the sector.

What do you enjoy most about being an assessor? Meeting others in the industry, including those who are new or old hands, and the sharing of knowledge and experience.

Would you recommend becoming an assessor? It’s a great learning and development opportunity, as well as a great way to see what others are doing and the variety of facilities we have across the country

What’s been one highlight for you as an assessor in the last year? The people I have met, along with being able to chat and know that we have all had the same struggles and are not alone.

Albany Stadium Pool

Sarah Clarke - Poolsafe Assessor

Auckland Council

Labour Force People

What is your history in the recreation sector? I have been in the recreation industry for six years, with the majority of my experience in the service sector, and education and training.

What have you learned as a facility manager? Team culture is everything and the continuous development of each individual’s strengths result in a great team

What's the best part about your job? Serving, educating, and interacting with the community

What do you find most challenging?

Continuing to expand and retain our strong, core team for long term

In the last year, what is one project or idea that you've established and are proud of? We have achieved so much but changing the team culture and operating as a strong unit is one achievement I’m most proud of.

What's one tip for being a good manager? Listen and be available/accessible for the team.

Westland Recreation Centre

Nelia Heersink - Facility Manager Grey District Council

Labour Force People

How long have you been a swim teacher? Seven years.

Why did you become a swim teacher? I wanted to help people that wanted to learn how to swim

What do you enjoy the most about being a swim teacher? The reward of seeing the improvement of a person

What do you find most challenging? I find it quite challenging to stop the habits of a swimmer that has used poor technique for a long period time, and trying to improve it

Would you recommend becoming a swim teacher, and why? It’s a great experience. Helping people in water safety, from kids to adults, and helping swimmers with better technique and enjoying their time when they do go for a swim

What’s been one highlight for you as a swim teacher in the last year? Participating with Gore swimmers in regional and national competitions, and developing one special ability swimmer into a competitive swimmer for the club.

Gore Multisports Complex

Mariano Garcia NaniSwim Teacher Gore District Council

Labour Force People

What is your history in the aquatic sector? I've been running events and programmes for CLM for about eight years I have a dance and performance background which naturally lead into teaching Aqua Aerobics.

How long have you been an aquatics fitness instructor? I have been teaching for about a year now. Best year of my life!

What do you enjoy the most about the role? I absolutely love bringing new flava and vibes to Aqua Aerobics I love pushing the customers to new levels and having a great time while working out and connecting I think Aqua Aerobics is seen as a class for older people, but that's not the case it can be very challenging

What do you find most challenging? The different levels of clients is challenging But we adjust to suit and make sure they feel comfortable and are still getting the most out of the class.

Would you recommend becoming an Aquatics Fitness Instructor? I would totally recommend it; it has brought such joy to my week The regular clients are the reason you keep doing it. Seeing them having a great time while keeping fit makes it worth it. We always have a good laugh and music is everything!

What’s been one highlight for you as an instructor in the last year? Being part of customer journeys and goals is the most rewarding part, and the connection you make across the water. They are the reason I do it and they're helping me as much as I am helping them to achieve our goals

Lido Aquatic Centre

Blair MacBeth - Aqua Programme Instructor

CLM - Palmerston North

Awards Lifeguard of the Year

Kanae Atsumi: Aquatics Coordinator

The 2021 Lifeguard of the Year was presented to Kanae Atsumi. This award is given to a lifeguard who has made a significant contribution to their facility and the aquatics industry.

Kanae started her lifeguard career in Japan and is now based out of CLM’s Parnell Baths as the Aquatics Coordinator She has been working within CLM for the last 10 years and has become a highly respected and beloved member of the team. Kanae’s passion lies in engaging with youth and upskilling those who work alongside her

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kanae was integral in providing extra support and assistance for facilities throughout the Auckland region. Her colleagues describe her as resourceful, passionate, and a student of continuous improvement.

Kirsty Knowles, CLM General Manager of Operations, says, “Kanae has worked her way up from a lifeguard to managing an aquatics team at a large and very busy facility, all with English as her second language. She has in depth knowledge on aquatics lifeguard qualifications and is a real asset to her team and the industry.”

Awards Aquatic Innovation

Bay Venues: Keep Me Safe Supervision Strategy

The Aquatic Innovation Award went to Bay Venues for their Keep Me Safe child supervision strategy Keep Me Safe is about caregivers taking ownership of their child’s safety in and around the water. The campaign includes a series of digital and printed signage, communication around adult to child ratio, and a supervision wristband system for children under the age of 10.

Since its implementation in September 2020, the strategy has resulted in a 38% decrease in wet rescues across Bay Venues sites.

Awards Lifeguard Competition

OPSEC National Pool Lifeguard Competition

Whilst Waves 2021 was put on hold by another lockdown, we managed to get the National Pool Lifeguard Competition completed the day before

On the morning of August 17 Lifeguards from around the country, arrived at the Lido Aquatic Centre in Palmerston North, ready to be put through their paces in a bid to be crowned National Pool Lifeguard Team of the Year. Teams included, Keas on Guard (Queenstown Lakes District Council), CLM Reheko! (CLM National), CLM Frido (CLM Palmerston North), Code Brown (Horowhenua District Council), and Ngā Puna Kaukau Hāpori ō Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington City Council)

After team photos and a briefing from Recreation Aotearoa, the teams were ready to get in the pool for their first physical challenge – a 100 metre relay comprising of swimming and casualty towing techniques. There were judges poolside, team managers and lifeguard assessors, with clipboards in hand and watching with trained eyes as the teams carried out their tasks. Speed, teamwork, and spot on technique were required to succeed, with time penalties given for incorrect technique Keas on Guard smashed the relay and took out the top spot.

Darren ‘Daz’ Pott, acting judge and CLM facility manager expressed FOMO, having not been part of the CLM teams but was thrilled to be involved as a judge “Having two teams in this year meant we saw some banter and challenges happening between them. They had an absolute blast” said Daz. “The team had the butterflies in the morning but once they got stuck into the swim and could focus on the task at hand, they all visibly relaxed and we started to see some smiles and laughs come through.”

Following a well-deserved break with snacks and coffee, the next portion of the day was filled with a series of scenarios the teams had to work through There were two pool scenarios in which the teams had to respond to a suspected spinal injury (assessed by Daz and Cameron Lovatt) and resuscitate an unconscious casualty (assessed by Gastón Vélez and Fran Smaller).

The third scenario involved Jack, the competition sponsor (OPSEC), as a customer breaching pool rules (assessed by Tracey Prince-Puketapu) These challenges tested the lifeguards teamwork, response under pressure, first aid practices, and customer interaction skills. CLM Reheko! impressed with their response to the spinal injury and customer management skills, taking out first place in these scenarios While CLM Frido showed remarkable efficiency and professionalism when rescuing the blackout casualty from the depths of the swimming pool.

The final two challenges required the teams to delve into their knowledge banks and stretch their creative muscles Skills Active’s Linda Dorrington put their pool operation knowledge to the test with a quiz that could earn them up to 50 points. Then a TikTok video challenge forced them to think outside the pool and showcase their team personality in a way that could see them win the internet

At the end of the day CLM Reheko claimed the coveted title of the National Pool Lifeguard Team of the Year.

Qualifications Level 4 Senior Lifeguard Qualification

In 2019 Michelle Tetzlaf was awarded the Level 4 Senior Lifeguard Qualification scholarship by Skills Active as part of her winning Lifeguard of the Year 2019. We caught up with Michelle to see how she was progressing.

What was your timeline for the qualification? I started my apprenticeship in January 2020 and had hoped to have finished by the end of 2021 but because of the dreaded COVID, I completed it in April 2022

What have you learnt? I took a lot from the water treatment and emergency response courses Water treatment furthered my knowledge of water quality and plantroom operations. Emergency response opened my eyes to how you can handle more than you expect in an emergency. I also enjoyed being able to interact with the community on some other projects, getting them involved and voicing their thoughts/opinions

What's been of most value? The whole qualification Having a harder qualification for lifeguards after Level 3 is great for upskilling and progress within the aquatics sector.

Have you received good support from your work place? Yes! Jen, the other supervisor, has always pushed me along and helped with anything I may have struggled with. Dot, my manager, has always given me the time to work my way through the apprenticeship which I appreciated immensely, as it did take me longer than expected.

Have you received good support from Skills Active? Absolutely Yvonne has been a huge part in getting me through this. Linda has been there if I ever needed it and would check in on me from time to time, and Steve was always good at getting me back on track Without their support (or Steve cracking the whip) I’m pretty sure I’d still be completing Level 4

How has it helped you with your current role? When I started this apprenticeship, I was a senior lifeguard, so had some responsibility when supervisors were off The apprenticeship made me more confident and understanding of the sector During this apprenticeship I went from senior lifeguard to supervisor and I feel confident in my role I still have plenty to learn but my eyes are open, and I understand a lot more.

Qualifications

Level 4 Senior Lifeguard Qualification

Is it easy to fit in around your work schedule? With everyone struggling with the effects of COVID, operations at Wanaka Recreation Centre were priority but I found between Jen and Dot, I was given the time needed to get through the apprenticeship with no pressure

Would you recommend it to others? Yes, if you think aquatics is somewhere you see yourself going in life It is great upskilling for lifeguards. Having something that requires a bit of time and effort gives lifeguards something to work towards and further themselves, making them feel valued.

Qualifications

Apprenticeship New Zealand Certificate in Aquatics Senior Pool Lifeguard Level 4

New Zealand Certificate In Aquatics Swim and Water Safety Teacher Level 3

Apprenticeship New Zealand Certificate in Aquatics Specialised Swim and Water Safety Teacher Level 4

New Zealand Certificate in Aquatics Aquafitness Level 3

Anything that would improve the process? I did struggle with the wording of questions a few times but the lovely Yvonne would be there to explain it to me to get me back on the right track.

New Zealand Certificate in Aquatic Treatment Systems Level 4

Patronage

Each year we collect information from our Poolsafe members, detailing the total attendance at their facilities and the number of incident/accidents, including rescues. These are broken down into non-notifiable and notifiable

These figures are collated and give us an overall picture of how many people are using our Poolsafe facilities and the types of incidents and accidents that occur This data is used to identify trends and to inform changes in policy and procedures which could reduce the rate of incidents This data is also shared with WSNZ to contribute to the overall national picture of water related incidents.

The figures from July 20-July 21 show that aquatic facility attendance numbers went up to 19.5 million. The incident rate was slightly higher than when compared to last year, with one incident occurring for every 2524 visits, compared to the year previous with one incident for every 2433 visits.

Patronage

Customers

NorthAKL/NorthlandAuckland SouthAucklandBayofPlentyWaikatoGisborneHawkesBayTaranaki

Taupō/Taihape/RuapehuManawatū/WhanganuiHorowhenua/Kāp

iti Wellington HuttCity/MastertonTasman/WestCoastNorthCanterburyChristchurchSouthCanterburySouthlandOtago

Accidents

NorthAKL/NorthlandAuckland SouthAucklandBayofPlentyWaikatoGisborneHawkesBayTaranaki

Taupō/Taihape/Ruapehu

Manawatū/WhanganuiHorowhenua/Kāp

iti Wellington HuttCity/MastertonTasman/WestCoastNorthCanterburyChristchurchSouthCanterburySouthlandOtago

Incidents

The information on incidents is based on those that have been reported to Recreation Aotearoa from Poolsafe facilities.

In the July 20 – Jun 21 year we had 1 fatal drowning and 21 non-fatal drownings of children under the age of 10. Parental or

events, although facilities don’t always receive the cause of death at the time of reporting.

Type of Incident Numbers

Fatality Drowning 1

attempting to swim the length of the pool underwater.

How it happened? A group of 18–20-year-old males were at the pool for a few hours. They were in the adult spa, when the 19-year-old told his friends that he was going to swim the length of the main pool without breathing. He left the spa and began swimming the length of the pool without taking a breath. A scanning staff member saw him midway through the swim, then continued his scanning of the pool. The swimmer’s friends were watching to see if he could make it. There was roughly a 10 second gap where his friends lost sight of him and started to look for him, at the same time the lifeguard also started to search for him. A swimmer in the next lane surfaced holding the male who was unconscious.

Action taken by staff? With the help of lifeguard staff and other customers (water polo group), the casualty was lifted out of the pool and CPR commenced. After one round of CPR the casualty came around. He was taken to hospital and kept overnight as a precaution. Staff followed up with him and discovered he had been a lifeguard previously. He stated that he couldn’t believe he had been so stupid; and he was very thankful to the staff. He remembered reaching the end of the pool and touching the wall and then nothing. Fortunately, the swimmer in the next lane was performing a tumble turn at the time and saw him go down, so he was not under water for long.

Case Study: Non-Fatal Drowning, Mount Hot Pools Reported by Matthew Strange, Bay Venues

What happened? On Friday 18 March a wet rescue was performed at the Mount Hot Pools. A three-year-old child was struggling to stay afloat – they were on their tiptoes, chin up, mouth open, taking in water with every gasp. The child did not call out or make any noise (silent drowning). The child initially appeared ok but then started to lose consciousness. CPR was administered and the child was taken to hospital by ambulance.

How it happened? A family of four (two adults and two children) were in the passive pool at the western end, and at 6.27pm the three-year-old walked along the seat and stepped off into deeper water. The parents were within two metres of the child; however, they were facing away, focused on their younger child. The pool is one metre deep, with a seat around the edge which is approximately 0.4 m high (0.6m deep).

Action taken by staff? A lifeguard, who was poolside, spotted the child and assessed the behaviour for approximately 10 seconds. The lifeguard was five metres away and having assessed the child was in difficulty began to sprint toward the child and yelled out. The child’s mouth was submerged under the water for approximately 20 seconds. When the lifeguard yelled the father looked around and grabbed the child, then pulled him out of the water. The lifeguard returned to their station.

The parents sat the child on the seat in the pool with them for about 30 seconds before getting out of the pool The child initially appeared to be fine but then quickly became limp and started to turn blue. The lifeguard saw this and radioed for assistance. The Aquatic Supervisor and Team Leader arrived with the trauma pack and proceeded to provide first aid The receptionist called the ambulance.

The child was coughing up fluid and was severely lethargic, drifting in and out of consciousness. There was a nurse at the pools who assisted with monitoring oxygen levels and heart rate The defibrillator was attached to the child and turned on The defib kept advising to conduct CPR which the Aquatics Supervisor initially did.

Paramedics arrived 18 minutes after the lifeguard first observed the child in difficulty. By this time, the child had opened his eyes and became more responsive. The child was taken by ambulance The child continued to vomit water in the ambulance and was admitted to hospital, had water sucked from his lungs, and remained in ICU Friday and Saturday night.

What changes have you made since the incident? A full debrief was undertaken with staff and the wellbeing of the attending lifeguard, who appeared to be shocked by the incident, was well managed by Hot Pools manager.

We have reinforced with staff that if the defib is put on as a precautionary measure, not to turn it on as it will advise CPR even if not required. This caused confusion, in an already intense situation, especially for parents

We also spoke about connecting with the parents and explaining what was happening and that things are under control. The parents gave feedback that the lifeguards didn’t seem very rushed or knew what they were doing. However, the team felt they had it under control so would have appeared calm to the parents

We are also going to revise our supervision ratios Although 1 : 30 at the time was well manageable, backed up by the lifeguard’s quick response, we feel 1 : 30 can be a lot and most staff are comfortable around 1 : 60

Case Study: Points of Interest

The child was only in distress for 20 seconds, but due to being just tall enough he took on a lot of water as he tried to get air. Had he gone fully under he likely would have held his breath. Research shows that most people initially hold their breathe when under water, this child was not fully submerged and did not hold their breathe.

Mum and dad were close but looking in a different direction at the younger sibling.

The child had been wearing a floatation device earlier and had taken it off to eat. When he stepped off the seat he looked as though he thought he would float.

We recently had similar incident with a young boy removing a floatation tube and jumping into the pool behind his father's back. It would be interesting to see if others have experienced similar incidents with flotation devices and the false confidence they can give younger children.

WSNZ Incidents

Each year Water Safety New Zealand collect and collate information from around New Zealand on aquatic related incidents. From this they produce their annual drowning report. They have kindly allowed us to share some of this data. This information can be used to identify groups within your local community who are most at risk from an aquatic related incident and help to inform and develop the water safety education programmes delivered at your facility

To read a copy of the full report, visit the Water Safety NZ website

Preventable fatalities include recreational and non-recreational deaths. They do not include fatalities arising as a result of vehicle crashes, suicides or homicides

Hospitalisations are drowning related hospitalisations that required hospital care

Reported drowning related statistics often change due to updated information on cause of death. This information is complied from a range of sources. Thanks to our partners for making their information available.

90 Fatalities in 2021

1.8 Per 1000,000 drowning death rate

183 Drowning hospitalisations in 2021

3.6 Per 1000,000 hospitalisation rate

80 Average number of drowning deaths from 2011-2020

179 Average number of drowning hospitalisations from 2011 - 2020

Based

Deaths

7 Underwater deaths 18 Tidal Water deaths

70% of underwater deaths were of Māori ethnicity

Swimming deaths were up 28% on the previous ten year average

There were 62 Swimming hospitalisations. This is down from the previous 10 year average of 70. There was a 1 : 1.8 ratio female to male. Over 50% were under 15 years. Two thirds were under 25 years. 39% were of Maori ethnicity. Asian and Pacific Peoples were up slightly on their population proportion.

There were 46 hospitalisations in Artificial Waters. This is down on the previous ten year average of 51. These were mostly swimming, with nearly a quarter being falls/slips. Two thirds of these were aged under 15.

2021 Drowning Demographics

Poolsafe Facilities

Poolsafe Assessors Lifeguard Competition

Poolsafe assessors are volunteers from across the industry and chosen for their experience, skills, and competencies. They not only provide their knowledge to the facilities they visit, but they are able to take back learnings to their own organisations

The role of the assessor is to annually assess the operations of Poolsafe pools to ensure that they are meeting the criteria as laid down in Poolsafe. The assessment involves a desktop assessment of a facility’s operating procedures Documentation, such as NOP, EAP, water tests, staff training, and staff qualifications are closely scrutinized to ensure they meet the criteria. The assessors will then visit the facilities to observe them in operation and speak with staff about their roles and responsibilities Where there are gaps in documentation or knowledge the Poolsafe assessor will make recommendations and work with the facility to ensure they can meet all the criteria required

Sarah Clarke Centre Manager Takapuna Pool & Leisu Centre, Auckland

Nick Warwick Aquatics Team Leader Pioneer Recreation & Sports Centre, Christchurch

Dave McKenzie Centre Manager Riverside Pools & Nayland Pools, Nelson

Dot Legget Aquatics Manager Queenstown Lakes District Council

Keith Martin Aquatic & Fitness Centre Manager Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga

Gaston Velez Operations Manager Levin Aquatic Centre, Horowhenua

Kristin Raynes, Assistant Manager Operations H2O Xtream, Upper H

Matt Greenwood, Aquatic Facilities Manager, Waimakariri District Council

Poolsafe Assessors Lifeguard Competition

Nick McConaghty Operation Manager, Selwyn Aquatic Centre

Stephen Keatley Strategic Assets & Projects Manager, Hutt City

Darryl Hamilton Aquatic & Recreation Facilities Contract Manager, Auckland

Stephen Cook Aquatics Services Manager, Invercargill

Jocelyn Lee Aquatic Education & Water Safety Advisor, Wellington

Alex Calwell Leisure Facilities Specialist, Auckland

Ryno Nienaber Facility Manager, Taupō

Andrew Smith Facility Manager, Whakatāne

Steve Prescott Belgravia Leisure

Recommendations

What Keeps Coming up in Poolsafe Visits

Staff Training

Staff training should take place at least quarterly. For seasonal pools, training should be carried out prior to opening New members of staff holding PLPC qualifications should undergo training before starting at a new facility. While rescues, spinals, and first aid training are a high priority, thought should be given to training staff in other areas such as customer service, conflict resolution, health and safety, and chemical handling When performing training scenarios, every stage of the response should be trained, not just assumed. It's often little things, like using mask shields or gloves, that get missed in an emergency – usually because these are taken as a given during training but not physically practiced.

Records need to be kept of staff training. More facilities are moving towards electronic records, however these need to include a verification process whereby attendees can sign to say they have attended and understood the training Spreadsheets containing details of training sessions need to include date, time, and topics covered.

Pool Risk Managment Plan (PRMP)

A PRMP is a systematic assessment of every aspect of providing safe and aesthetically acceptable pool water It identifies the events that can cause the water quality to deteriorate and provides appropriate management practices to reduce the likelihood of adverse events and mitigate their effects if they do occur It covers aspects of pool water quality treatment, contamination, and event management.

The PRMP can be used to operate outside the requirements of the Pool Water Quality Standard NZS2856:2010. The PRMP will need to detail the risk posed and how and why the facility is operating outside of the standard It will also need to include details of how the risk is being mitigated. Examples of situations where a facility may decide or need to operate outside the standard are: water restrictions, quality of town water supply, old plant and equipment, very high or very low bather loads.

Incident Reporting

Under the terms and conditions of Poolsafe facilities there is a requirement to report notifiable incidents to the Recreation Aotearoa Aquatics Programme Manager within 24 hours. This should be followed by a copy of the incident report as and when it is produced.

These reports are kept on file and the information is used to identify trends or gaps and inform changes to the Poolsafe criteria if required. Outcomes of incidents and changes made to operating procedures are also shared with industry

An annual incident review is sent out to facilities for completion. Once collated this information gives us a picture of the amount of people using our facilities and the numbers and types of incidents occurring These figures are also shared with WSNZ

QualityPool Lifeguard Competition

Developed by Recreation Aotearoa in partnership with Water Safety New Zealand, QualityPool is targeted at private swimming pools such as holiday parks, gyms, retirement villages, seasonal pools, hotels and motels, and schools It works as a self-review of an aquatic environment, benchmarking against specific standards the programme is conducted via a user-friendly online system

The standards encompass risk assessment and management, pool water quality, supervision, emergency procedures, signage, and health and safety The programme allows operators to review their pool(s) through one simple assessment system.

Currently there are 16 accredited QualityPools in New Zealand, including school pools, council paddling pools, and retirement village pools

Hamilton City Council has partnered with local schools to create the Partner Pools model to provide more aquatic space to the community In this article they share how QualityPool is integral to this model.

Explain the Partner Pools model and how it came about? Hamilton City Council provides financial support through operational grants to educational organisations (partner pools). This enables them to open their swimming pools to the wider community during summer, when the pools are not required for their school. The purpose of building these relationships was to increase the availability of pool space during the summer for the community and create ‘localised’ swimming spots.

How long has it been running? Council commenced developing partner pool relationships in 1999/2000.

QualityPool Lifeguard Competition

How many schools do you currently have participating? We have five participating.

What are the benefits for the schools? The school receives funding that can be utilised to maintain the pool and pay wages to supervising staff. Training is also provided to pool managers/operators and the lifeguards to ensure industry standards are met Partners have experienced an increased level of security by encouraging public access to their pools and have reported a decrease in vandalism since becoming a Partner Pool

What are the benefits for the council? Partner pools provide additional lane space for recreational swimmers, swim clubs, and leisure swimmers The addition of the partner pools provides more than double the provisions of public lane space in Hamilton. The partners provide swimming facilities within walking distance to neighbourhoods who would normally have to travel across town.

What is the value of QualityPool/Poolsafe in this programme? QualityPool is the baseline standard partner pools achieve as part of the agreement. It provides assurance that our partner operations and facilities are safe, and the community have a positive and enjoyable experience.

What difficulties have arisen in its implementation? The Partner Pools programme commenced without any formal agreement and was based on an open and honest relationship between partners and council staff. Improvement was made through service level agreements between individual partners and council. The need to maintain health and safety compliance was a challenge, as the nature of school pool use has evolved from schools providing keys to parents over summer to being a professionally operated business.

Would you recommend this model to other councils? The Partner Pools model has helped alleviate pressure during summer months with increased provision of public lane space It adds to the provision of summer pool space for the Hamilton network of pools and reduces barriers for diverse communities who may not be able to access pool facilities. We highly recommend it, as it delivers excellent community outcomes at a fairly low council spend

Resources & Research Lifeguard Competition

Waves 2021 Webinars

Due to an abrupt change in alert levels, Waves 2021 was unable to go ahead as a face-to-face conference To fill the gap, Recreation Aotearoa pulled together a series of webinars which featured some of the speakers that would have presented at Waves 2021

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

Working with a network of thought leaders in the industry, the Recreation Aotearoa Insights Team have a programme of publications and case studies which pertain to our work in the recreation space. The following are the Insights relevant to aquatics:

Aquatic Facility Design in the 21st Century

Retrofitting Facilities

How’s Your Facility Performing?

Youth & Wellbeing

Invisible Disabilities

Equity & Leisure

Family Violence, Workplace Safety & Care

Older Adults & Recreation

Mental Wellbeing Mindsets