Posts Tagged ‘Lifesaving Society’
Like many organizations, the Lifesaving Society is concerned about the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. The Society suggests that its affiliate members follow the recommendations of their local health authorities in developing policies and procedures to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases among their staff, participants and members of the community.
People who are sick should not participate in programs. The Society recommends that affiliate members review and adopt policies that encourage people to stay away from lessons or practices if they are sick. This may mean providing “rain checks”, credit notes or refunds for lessons missed.
The H1N1 virus is a new strain of influenza that can be transmitted from person to person. The Lifesaving Society believes it is important for individuals to continue to practice behaviours to prevent contamination and spread of this disease. All individuals should take the usual health precautions and usual prudent personal hygiene steps.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends the following to reduce an individual’s exposure. More information is available at their website www.fightflu.ca:
- Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
- Get the H1N1 flu shot.
- Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected.
- If you are sick, stay home.
We offer these additional tips for Instructors, Coaches and Lifeguards:
- Adopt protocols to clean and disinfect equipment between users.
- Don’t share towels, water bottles, whistles, gloves, masks or fanny packs.
- Meet and greet without hand or face contact.
- Maintain your personal space at about an arm’s length away.
- Don’t share food or clothing.
The Lifesaving Society – Canada’s lifeguarding expert – is a charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart® public education, water-incident research, safety management services, and lifesaving sport. Annually, over 700,000 Canadians participate in the Society’s swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership training programs.
For any questions, visit www.lifesaving.org or contact us at experts@lifesaving.org.
Barbara Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer
Lifesaving Society – Alberta & North West Territories Branch
11759 Groat Road, AB T5M 3K6
Telephone 780.415.1755 Fax: 780.427.9334
E-mail: experts@lifesaving.org
Web: www.lifesaving.org
The Lifesaving Society’s recommended Swim Test:
- The Swim Test is performed as a sequence of skills:
- Safe entry into shallow water;
- Swim 25 meters without stopping or resting any style;
- Exit the pool from deeper water;
- Jump (foot first entry) into deep water; and
- Recover, and tread water for 30 seconds, maintaining mouth and nose above the water at all times
The Lifesaving Society’s recommended Swim Test can be used as a screening tool to determine
who can use certain amenities or equipment and participate in specific programs. The Swim Test
can also be used as a screening tool for school or rental groups, or as a part of the facility’s
admission criteria.
BACKGROUND:
- Since 2001, the Lifesaving Society has asserted that all public swimming pools should have established admission policies through its Public Aquatic Facility Safety Standards publication.
- NLS Lifeguards and Swim & Lifesaving Instructors use Swim Tests to evaluate skill, comfort, confidence and competency. This practice increases safety and allows for effective supervision.
- Currently facilities use a wide variety of means to establish swimming skill competency. Research indicates that Lifesaving Society affiliates are seeking very clear guidance on admission policies and/or Swim Tests.
- In the past the Lifesaving Society has recommended the Swim to Survive® standard. It is clear that this is most applicable in “unsupervised or minimally supervised” situations. Affiliates have requested a Swim Test suitable for lifeguard supervised environments.
RATIONALE:
The Lifesaving Society recommends that all aquatic facilities in Alberta and the Northwest
Territories implement the Society’s Swim Test as a means to establish a common industry practice in regards to swimming skill competency and admission criteria.
The Lifesaving Society’s recommended Swim Test may be implemented according to each facility’s unique needs. While testing the swimming ability of specific age groups is common practice, it is not the only determining factor for effective incident prevention. Before implementing a Swim Test, it is recommended that the risk factors for each individual facility be analyzed along with current risk management processes. Clear guidelines must be provided to staff if there is to be any flexibility permitted when following the facility’s policies.
Lifesaving Society – Alberta & North West Territories Branch
11759 Groat Road, AB T5M 3K6
Telephone 780.415.1755 Fax: 780.427.9334
E-mail: experts@lifesaving.org
Web: www.lifesaving.org
If its foreseeable, it’s preventable! As the Lifeguarding experts in Canada for the past 45 years, the Lifesaving Society provides expertise and services beyond lifeguard training programs. Coming this November, the Lifesaving Society will be piloting and launching new safety management programs for professionals in aquatic programming, facility management, swimming pool operations and recreation. These programs won’t
leave you puzzled.
http://www.aqua-edu.com/docs/AlbertaLifesavingSociety-SMI2009Promo.pdf
Registration & Location details are available online. www.lifesaving.org
safety management institute 2009
Know how to manage the risks and operate safe facilities. The Lifesaving Society Safety Management Institute 2009, in Edmonton, AB is available to members, affiliates and the public. The benefits of recognizing and assessing the risks in recreation and aquatic environments is essential for public safety in all communities. Owners, operators and designated safety personnel need to have the education and capacity to ensure they have an appropriate safety and supervision plan in place.
aquatic management training. For those who want the skills and knowledge to enable them to operate aquatic facilities to a standard established by provincial legislation and the Lifesaving Society. Prerequisite: none
aquatic safety inspector. For those who want the knowledge and practical experience to inspect aquatic facilities to a standard established by provincial legislation and the Lifesaving Society. Prerequisite: none
aquatic safety auditor. For those who want the knowledge and practical experience that
will enable them to conduct safety audits of aquatic operations within a community, through a process established by the Lifesaving Society. Prerequisite: Aquatic Safety Inspector
SEE auditor. For those who want the knowledge and practical experience that will
enable them to conduct Supervision evaluation & Enhancement (SEE) system audits of lifeguard and instructing operations at supervised swimming pools and waterfronts, through a process established by the Lifesaving Society. Prerequisite: NLS Instructor/Examiner
Media Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Drowning Report 2009
September 4, 2009
Barbara Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer
PH: 780-415-1755 | EMAIL: experts@lifesaving.org
Alberta & Northwest Territories Lifesaving Society
STAY AFLOAT WITH THE FACTS
~ making our communities a safer place to live, work and play ~
Edmonton, AB – The Lifesaving Society has released the 2009 Drowning & Injury Prevention Report for Alberta (AB) & the Northwest Territories (NWT).
The most current data available and collected by the Lifesaving Society reveals that in 2007, alcohol or drugs were a factor in 34% of AB and 25% of the NWT drowning fatalities. Alcohol involvement is twice as high among adult male victims then women, and every year, lives are needlessly lost due to drinking-and-boating incidents. 80% of the Albertans and Northerners who drowned while boating were NOT wearing their lifejacket.
“Although summer is the busiest boating season, the opportunity for Albertans & Northerners to recreate in, on and around the water still exists in the fall time,” says Barbara Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer of the Lifesaving Society. Be safe and think ahead. Be prepared for the unexpected and take the appropriate equipment before going boating.
The Alberta and Northwest Territories Lifesaving Society is the standard setting, certifying body for public aquatic safety. The Society has a public health and safety mandate for drowning, injury prevention and active living and fitness.
The 2009 Drowning & Injury Prevention Report provides valuable insight for individuals, organizations and governments, providing compelling reasons to make specific choices and take decisive actions to make our communities a safer place to live, work and play.
The Lifesaving Society knows that if Albertans and Northerners would make Water Smart® choices and learn basic swim survival skills, we could reduce the incidence of drowning and water related injuries by more than half.
The fact is, while drowning is often silent and sudden, it is preventable!
For additional information or to arrange for an interview, please contact:
Barbara Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer
Lifesaving Society Alberta & Northwest Territories
11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6
Office: 780-415-1755 | Cell: 780-289-1792
The Alberta & Northwest Territories Lifesaving Society provides PMTs for print media and PSAs for radio
broadcasts. To receive this information, contact the Lifesaving Society at 780-415-1755 or email
experts@lifesaving.org. For further information on drowning prevention, visit us online: www.lifesaving.org
F/T Employment with the Lifesaving Society – Saskatchewan Branch
The Lifesaving Society is accepting applications for the position of Administration Manager. This is a full-time, permanent position.
Administrative experience and/or training and working knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office programs and Simply Accounting is required.
Please submit resume and an application letter to:
Lifesaving Society
Attention: CEO
2224 Smith Street
Regina, SK S4P 2P4
Email: lifesavingceo@sasktel.net
Applications will be accepted until Friday May 29, 2009 at 2:00pm.
Position: Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
Qualifications: Experience with MS Office, MS Outlook and Simply Accounting.
Salary: To be negotiated
The Lifesaving Society Manitoba Branch seeks a full time Administrative Assistant.
Responsibilities include shared reception duties along with:
processing orders, billing, maintaining inventory;
A/R and A/P, payroll;
GST, PST, CRA remittance and bank reconciliation;
month end reports;
data entry, general office and bookkeeping duties.
Email résumé to Attention CEO at:
Email: aquatics@lifesaving.mb.ca
The Report on the Public Fatality Inquiry regarding the drowning death of an 8 year old Alberta boy was recently released by the Minister of Justice for the Province of Alberta and the Attorney General. Throughout the inquiry, the Lifesaving Society provided vital testimony to the Honourable Judge Bruce A. Millar to assist him in making his findings. In response to the reports release the Society circulated the attached media release to Alberta media outlets and has responded to a number of inquiries from both media and affiliates.
The Lifesaving Society concurs with the Honourable Judge Millar’s recommendations. The Society’s Public Aquatic Facility Safety Standards (PAFSS) have incorporated similar recommendations and guidelines since 2001. The recommendations coming from the fatality inquiry have been posted in the Safety Management section of our website: http://www.lifesaving.org/safety_management.php?page=479.
Judge Millar’s recommendations reinforce the need to develop and maintain strong risk management practices. The Society fully believes that most if not all of our affiliates have these practices in place. It is important to put the recommendations into context in respect to each of your unique needs and facility. In light of the inquiries findings, this is a good time to review your risk management practices.
The Society can help, check out the resources available on-line or contact Society staff with your questions. You may want to request a topical assessment or comprehensive safety audit. In further support, the Society is planning an Aquatic Safety Management Institute in November, 2009. This institute will launch a number of programs that align to Judge Millar’s recommendations.
________________________________________
Sue Sherman
Communications Director
Lifesaving Society Alberta & Northwest Territories
11759 Groat Road / Edmonton / AB / T5M 3K6
Tel: 780 415 1755 / Fax: 780 427 9334
Email: sues@lifesaving.org / Web: www.lifesaving.org
Join us for Edmonton 2009 “A legacy and A Future” www.rlss2009.com