CONFERENCE AGENDADIVERSITY & INCLUSION TRACK: Drawn to Water; Teaching Kids with Autism
Kids with autism drown at a rate 160 times more than typically developing kids. They LOVE the water! In fact, they are DRAWN to it! The way it looks, feels, sounds and yes, even smells, is super-attractive to individuals who have extraordinary sensory systems. The problem is that this same group of kids are often wanderers who have little regard for safety, which often results in drownings. Attend this training to learn about specialized strategies in teaching kids with autism, how to engage with families, and how to market your program to this under-served community.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TRACK: Equitable Aquatics; The 3 P’s of Inclusive Aquatics
Kate Connell
LGBTQ/non-binary individuals, non-native English speakers, breastfeeding moms, low-income families, and persons who are differently abled: are these people able to have equal experiences at your facilities? Equitable aquatics is about making sure that you are making your pools accessible AND working to get all types of folks to your facilities. Part exercises, part lecture this session is designed for you to “work-in” your aquatics operations area in real time and leave with ideas to unpack later. We’ll explore the implications and implementation of the 3 P’s of Inclusive Aquatics: Personnel, Programming, and Policies and discuss outcomes and examples for each of the areas. We’ll touch on how to grade your policies and rules for inclusivity, the fundamentals of low-income and scholarship-based offerings, and how to focus on outreach to fill your pool, programs, and payroll list with individuals who represent your diverse community.
DROWNING RESCUE & RESPONSE TRACK: Surveillance in the Age of Lifeguard Shortages
Larry Newell & Joe Stefanyak
How bad is the lifeguard shortage? Are you struggling to open or remain open? Has COVID made the issue worse? Join us to discuss how artificial intelligence -based video surveillance can address these needs and help you keep your facility safer than ever before. We are entering a new era of facility operations, one where technology can better protect from drowning, rule violators, COVID, theft, and intruders. Monitor attraction activity with real time alerts and stats. Audit staff performance anytime remotely. Provide a new level of facility safety. Put technology to work for you.
LEARN TO SWIM & LEARN TO FLOAT TRACK: Swim Lessons Without Fear
Brianna Davis & Zachary Davis
Fear induced swim lessons create underlying long-term trauma. They force a participant to access his/her subconscious “fight or flight” response and do not allow for the participant to use rational thought process while learning. It has been proven that long term results are more substantial when lessons are approached without fear. As a swim instructor I have had many students that have gone through a fear-based program and then require trauma related swim therapy before they can achieve water safety skills. It is possible to achieve similar results without creating underlying trauma in the process.
LEARN TO SWIM & LEARN TO FLOAT TRACK: Drowning Prevention; Integrating Water Safety Across an Entire School District
Cristina Alvarado & Karen Meza Cortez
The Rose Bowl Aquatics Water Safety and Learn-to-Swim program serves all 3rd grade students, including students with special needs, in the Pasadena Unified School District. Students attend 15 swim lessons at the RBAC as a part of their school day. The goal of the program is to teach the students water safety and swimming , while creating a life-long love for aquatics. The program is especially beneficial to the students that may not otherwise learn these life-saving skills due to their socio-economic circumstance. We provide transportation, swimsuits, goggles, towel service, and a free family swim pass for each student. The program has had a lasting impact on the community as a whole, having reached nearly 30,000 students.
MESSAGING, EDUCATION, & COMMUNICATION TRACK: Reimagining & Pivots Required During Pandemics
Melissa Sutton
During the COVID-19 global pandemic, may elements of water safety and drowning prevention were completely eliminated; creating concern that drowning numbers would be on the rise. This was certainly true for many communities, but not all. Who were able to make pivots that were effective? What did they do? What was the impact of the pivot? Will these reimagined water safety and drowning prevention measures continue once things return to “the new normal”? This session will have vast audience involvement to learn from everyone in the room who was forced in to getting creative – quickly!
MESSAGING, EDUCATION, & COMMUNICATION TRACK: How Atlanta Uses Swimming Field Trips to Combat Drowning
Trish Miller
We know that many drownings are preventable by giving children and adults the skills to be safe in and around water, however, culturally it is often deeper than the skill, but the awareness of, and acknowledging historical events that have contributed to current day feelings about swimming. Our organization addresses this by transporting elementary and middle school students during the school day for culturally relevant swimming instruction and water safety programming as a part of their curriculum. We address the fears by changing the narrative and eliminate the barriers around learning to swim.
MESSAGING, EDUCATION, & COMMUNICATION TRACK: Distant Supervision; Why the Message Matters
Jesus Alderete
How much of a risk factor is supervision in pediatric drowning? How do we educate on the importance of supervision? This presentation will review secondary literature, online and in print, to examine how much emphasis is placed on supervision and how we tell caregivers to supervise their children in and around the water. Next, data will be used to illustrate the role of supervision within pediatric drowning cases. Finally, this presentation provides an opportunity to rethink community programming and educational messages around adult supervision.
RESEARCH, PROGRAM EVALUATION, & ADVOCACY TRACK: Water Safety Outreach in Underserved Borderland Communities
Ana Acosta
Session geared towards individuals that are new to community outreach/safety education or those looking to further their reach and branch out into new territories. Explains different approaches to connect with under-served and most at risk populations. Ranging from infants to older adults, there are many fun, interactive, and effective ways to make an impact in your communities.
RESEARCH, PROGRAM EVALUATION, & ADVOCACY TRACK: Drowning Stops with Docs
This presentation will review the crucial role that Family Medicine Physicians play in the education of children and their parents/guardians regarding water safety and safe swim practices. This session will be through the eyes of a Family Physician whom also is an EMS Physician and practices within six miles of the World’s Most Famous Beach.
SAFER PRACTICES TRACK: Stay Current in Pools - The Activities of the Recreational Water Quality Committee
Recreational Water Quality Committee
The Recreational Water Quality Committee (RWQC) is an invaluable resource in assisting the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) in the development and maintenance of authoritative information regarding chemical products, processes and devices that affect water quality in the swimming pool and hot tub industry. Members of the RWQC provide significant input in the development of the ANSI/APSP/ICC-11 American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas. The committee is also heavily involved in education activities such as PHTA’s Certified Pool Operator (CPO) course and the publishing of industry Fact Sheets. This session will discuss the latest activities of the RWQC including the latest educational Fact Sheets and how those efforts are assisting the industry and you.
SAFER PRACTICES TRACK: Preventive Aquatic Competency Assessment for 11 and 12-year-old Children
Ana Ortiz Olivar
The purpose of this study was to design and validate a scale to assess preventive aquatic competencies in 11 and 12-year-old children. This device will make a note of what the students think they can do before testing them, measuring their self-assessment competency by seeing if they pass or fail their estimated target. It will allow us to identify and learn about practical competencies and their estimation.The content validity was achieved through the agreement of 7 experts and analyzed using the Delphi technique. The comprehension validity will be completed once the scale is applied to a sample during January and February 2021.
