Everybody OUT of the Pool!
More Than Fun in the Sun
Lifeguards going back to school and seasonal staff leaving means fewer employees available to pick up the slack in the end-of-summer heat.
But heat isn’t just about the numbers on the thermometer. Heat index — the combination of temperature and humidity — is a better indication of how the body “feels” a particular temperature. Temps in the 80s or 90s require caution, but when the index says it feels like 90 to 105, it’s time for extreme caution. Sweating alone can’t cool the body down when someone’s working or exercising in a hot environment — like lifeguards, golf and maintenance workers and patrons participating in outdoor sports.
The best ways to protect yourself from heat and sun:
- Stay cool, hydrated (drink 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes) and informed — find air conditioning during hot hours, wear cool clothing, sunglasses with a UV 400 rating or “100% UV protection” on the label along with broad-rim hats. Most importantly, pay attention to heat advisories and heat indexes!
- Wear broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF value of 15 or higher, and apply it regularly, as directed. Anyone outdoors should reapply it at least every two hours or more often if swimming or sweating. The sun’s UV rays can burn unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes.
PDRMA Resources
Heat Index and Heat Disorders (261).
Sun Exposure Precautions (899).
Video: Heat Stress for Public Employees — Seeing Red (DP) English/Spanish. |
The end of summer is a big transition for park districts, as you close your most popular summer offerings — aquatics features. And it takes a bit of juggling to make everything work safely.
“It’s a challenging balance,” says Kyle Saros, PDRMA Risk Management Consultant. “As lifeguards head back to school, agencies have fewer people to monitor pools and water features, the weather is still warm, and patrons still expect to use all of the facility.” Not to mention agencies are simultaneously preparing to shut down those facilities.
Saros says there are two issues that aquatic managers have to address as the summer season ends:
- Closing parts of aquatic facilities: Use your marketing and social media avenues to communicate what sections of the pool you’re closing. Many agencies then offer reduced admission rates or shorten/change the hours of operation based on staff availability. If you have multiple pools, close one facility and move your staff to another to maintain proper staffing ratios at the remaining pool(s).
- Lifeguarding: Saros says a critical issue is keeping your lifeguards engaged and focused. A new school year along with new fall activities like sports become distractions to some staff, and they may struggle to focus on lifeguarding responsibilities. And, too, your lifeguards are becoming burned out (no pun intended!) by summer’s heat and the intensity of lifeguarding. Make the last days of summer as much fun as possible to keep staff engaged!
Experience shows the beginning and end of aquatic season is when the most accidents occur. Use extra care when balancing safe lifeguard coverage and public pressure to keep all aquatic facilities open. Achieving that balance can be complicated, so check with your Risk Management Consultant if you have questions about keeping your facilities open. And don’t forget to download these PDRMA resources to ensure patron and staff safety.
PDRMA Resources
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