Let’s End Aquatic Season Safely
Beat the Heat: Protect Employees
Summer brings longer days and busy parks — and it also increases the risk of heat-related illnesses for employees who work outdoors and patrons enjoying your agency’s attractions and programs. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop quickly, especially during high heat and humidity. Encourage employees to stay hydrated, take scheduled breaks from the sun and heat, recognize early warning signs of heat stress and monitor the heat index to help prevent serious illnesses and keep your operations running safely.
PDRMA offers several resources for hot weather preparedness and reinforcing safe work practices. Make heat safety part of your summer routine by reviewing these materials with supervisors and employees before and during periods of extreme heat.
PDRMA Resources
Sun Exposure Precautions (899).
Heat Index and Heat Disorders Guide (261).
Video: Heat Stress for Public Employees — Seeing Red (DP) English/Spanish. |
As summer activities start to wind down and the school year looms large, many park districts face a familiar challenge: maintaining safe aquatic operations when staff begins preparing for the start of the school year.
"Balancing public expectations with safe staffing levels can be challenging," says Kyle Saros, PDRMA Risk Management Consultant. “While it may be tempting to keep every attraction or facility open to meet public demand, safety should always drive your operational decisions. Experience shows the beginning and end of aquatic season often see the greatest number of accidents, making it especially important to maintain proper supervision and avoid stretching staff too thin. When in doubt, it's always better to adjust operations than compromise lifeguard coverage."
PARING DOWN
When staffing shortages require operational changes, Saros suggests closing certain attractions and features, reducing operating hours or consolidating operations at a single facility — and keeping the public informed ahead of time of closures, reduced hours or admission changes. “Use your website, social media channels and other communication platforms before they arrive,” he urges, “so patrons know what to expect.”
Saros stresses that thoughtful planning and communication are key — especially for lifeguard coverage. "The start of a new school year and participation in fall activities and sports can be distractions for some of your employees," he notes. "Plus, many lifeguards are fatigued from working the entire summer in the heat and managing the demands of the job."
 During the final weeks of the season, have supervisors support their staff by recognizing accomplishments, incorporating team-building activities into each day and creating ways to keep employees motivated through the final days of the season.
Saros also urges members to contact their PDRMA Risk Management Consultant with any questions about late-season operations and to review and download PDRMA’s aquatic safety resources to help protect patrons and staff.
PDRMA Resources
Late Season Aquatic Operations and Zone Closings (352).
Unguarded Aquatic Facility Risk Management Guide (248).
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