Put Sunburn on the SPOT
An innovative idea earned Dundee Township Park District a PDRMA Risk Management Grant in 2022 for their Can You SPOT My PPE submission. It helped keep their lifeguards focused on water activities — and protected them from getting a sunburn.
“Sunburn and heat exposure are continuous problems for lifeguards,” says Mike Eschenbach, Aquatic Manager, Dundee Township Park District. “They’re always looking to get that perfect tan and don’t always pay attention to reapplying sunscreen.”
 With the SPOT program, lifeguards put a small purple sticker on body parts with direct sun exposure (arm, leg, shoulder) and apply sunscreen until the sticker turns white. When the sticker turns purple again, it’s time to reapply sunscreen.
“These small dots add a great layer of accountability,” he explains. “Staff and management alike can easily check to see what color the dot is, ensuring they apply the proper amount of sunscreen as needed throughout the day. From a heat-exposure perspective, the dots are also a good reminder to stay hydrated and be aware of how they feel throughout the day.
“All our lifeguard employees are participating in this program,” he continues. “The spots are basically an organic sunscreen log, and everyone loves using the small stickers. And since the sun still gets underneath the stickers, it doesn’t ruin their tan. Most importantly, the spots are effective reminders that have kept most of our lifeguards from getting sunburned so far.”
 Besides the obvious benefits of preventing discomfort or exposure to harmful amounts of sun, there’s a huge risk-prevention factor, Eschenbach points out. “They keep staff comfortable. The more comfortable they are, the easier it is for them to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Being burned and itchy can be quite a distraction when your job is to scan the water!”
Eschenbach adds that selling the idea of the stickers to lifeguards wasn’t at all difficult. They bought in to the idea as a way to avoid needing to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect their sunburn. “We pointed out how the dots make doing their jobs more comfortable — and it’s been a winning strategy for us.”
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