 Another Pair of Eyes (The "Whys" of StarReviews)
By Carol Fick
Complacency finds its way into our lives when we become comfortable with our established patterns. While we may not wish for this to happen, or even be aware that it is happening, many of us face this dilemma from time to time. It occurs in our personal lives and can also affect our careers. Sometimes we find ourselves satisfied with the status quo and may not realize that alternative methods are available to us.
As consultants, the Starfish Aquatics Institute brings another 'set of eyes' to your aquatic facility. We work with you, and consider you an integral part of our team, as we help verify that your safety guidelines are meeting established national standards. We document the positive elements that are your standard practices, as well as shake up that status-quo to help keep the complacency demon at bay.
The StarReviews consist of three phases:
- Observational evaluation of the lifeguards on duty
- Physical evaluation of their skill ability in simulated scenarios
- Administrative evaluation of the risk management enhancements present at the facility on the day of our visit
The Observation of the Lifeguard - includes our evaluation of the lifeguard's ability to prevent incidents from occurring, his/her surveillance techniques, and the recognized standards for the lifeguard's own personal safety. Our eyes are supporting your established guidelines for the staff member and suggesting additional enhancements to go above and beyond the basics.
The Skill Evaluation of the Lifeguard and/or Team - recognizes that correct procedures are in place to address the wide variety of incidents occurring in an aquatic facility. We encourage an objective-driven approach to the rescue scenaros presented. We work with the lifeguard and his or her team to offer support, review objectives, and find alternative solutions.
The Facility Risk Management Evaluation - supports the management in the safety enhancements available at the facility. There are physical attributes of the site that must be present to provide a safe environment. In addition, proper documentation must be in place to support the administrative elements of a safe and well run facility. Again, this is a team effort and we are all accountable.
So, consider the StarReview as 'Another Pair of Eyes' at a given time on a given day. It is an opportunity to 'see' what your eyes may have overlooked. It is a time to gather more information. Most importantly, it is a confirmation of being a member of an international aquatic safety team trying to 'Save One Life at a Time.'
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Leadership Council 2009 Update
From Kelley Frechette
Leadership Council is an event exclusively for our training center directors and leadership personnel. This event is unique in the industry, offering management staff the opportunity to improve management techniques, keep up with the latest in aquatics and risk management, and help shape the future of today's premier aquatic training agency.
SAVE THE DATE
Leadership Council
February 4 - 9, 2009
Charleston, South Carolina
Leadership Council 2009 will be held at the beautiful James Island County Park, located in historic Charleston, South Carolina. This event is conducted in an intensive retreat format where attendees stay in on-site family style cottages or at nearby hotels, and eat, work and socialize together. People staying through Monday will have first choice on on-site cottages. There will be a high ropes course as part of our Leadership Council and an optional social event in downtown Charleston Saturday evening.
Along with the Leadership Council, we offer certification training in StarGuard lifeguard instruction, Swim School and our new pool operators' course, AquaTech.
The cost of room (based upon double occupancy), board, airport transfers, and fees is $698.00 for Leadership Council (Wednesday-Friday, check out Saturday morning) or $898 if you stay through the weekend (Wednesday-Sunday, check out Monday morning). Training and optional social activities will be offered for those staying through the weekend; the cost of training materials, CAP packs, and optional weekend social events is additional.
Don't miss this annual event!
Update your certifications, advance to the next level, or add a new certification, while participating in the most relevant aquatic conference of the year! |
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Starfish Aquatics Institute Training Centers Aim to Keep Kids Safe With "Make a Splash for Water Safety" Events
Make a Splash is the National, Child-Focused Water Safety Initiative of the USA Swimming Foundation
Starfish Swim School Updates from Jennifer White
In response to the alarming statistic that nine people drown each day in the USA,* the USA Swimming Foundation teamed with the National Recreation and Park Association and Starfish Aquatics Institute to spread the word about water safety by celebrating, "Make a Splash for Water Safety" events. Two sites were chosen to host the one-day events, which are a local implementation of the USA Swimming Foundation's national, child-focused water safety initiative, Make a Splash. The events were held at the Chatham County Aquatic Center in Savannah, GA on May 3, 2008 and on May 10, 2008 at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center in Lafayette, CO.
The timing of the events were crucial as two-thirds of all drownings occur between May-September.* In addition, May is National Water Safety month, as declared by the National Recreation and Park Association.
"Research tells us that if a child doesn't learn to swim by the third grade, they likely never will," said Chris LaBianco, chief development officer for the USA Swimming Foundation. "Swimming is more than a recreational skill, it's a skill that can save lives, and it is vitally important that we provide water safety education to kids from all socio-economic groups at an early age."
Each event included multiple interactive water safety education stations for kids as well as a parent education session for parents or caregivers. Jennifer White, National Swim School Director for Starfish Aquatics, worked closely with each site to develop the curriculum for each station and materials used throughout the event.
"This is exactly the type of partnership that lets us reach kids in a way that will help keep them safe and improve their quality of life," said LaBianco. "Aligning ourselves with local partners in communities across the country will help us expand our reach and potentially save lives."
Each site maxed out at 96 registrations the day of the event. Both sites are already making plans for 2009. Misty Selph, Recreation Manager for Chatham County Parks & Recreation, said "We would like to increase the number of participants to 144 and begin marketing the event even earlier, so as to target the school system through press releases and PTA Meetings."
For more information on Make a Splash, or to sponsor a swim lesson for a child, please visit www.makeasplash.org.
Are you interested in hosting a water safety event at your facility? If so, email Jennifer White for more information.
*Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control
*Source: Orange County Fire Authority |
 Sara's Spin
Class Management System ("CMS") Tips & Tricks
From Sara Poe
Our Training Centers have done an awesome job of entering their data in the CMS-thanks to everyone who is up to date and in full compliance with use of the CMS! For those of you with a few more entries to make, here are some helpful hints on getting caught up.
1. Before entering student lifeguard CAP numbers or lifeguard instructor numbers, you must first set up a "class," including credentials for the course, and then enter your students into the class.
2. If you have instructors not showing up in the instructor drop-down list when you are setting up a class, either these instructors have not yet completed the online instructor application, or a class has not been set up for them in the CMS (establishing that they've completed instructor training). Please contact me if this occurs.
3. Please stress to both students and instructors the importance of utilizing one email address for all Starfish Aquatics Institute purposes (online course, CMS, etc.). Users are recorded and identified in various systems by email address first, so when multiple email addresses are used, multiple systems and reports are adversely affected.
4. Training center administrators are now able to record and track student and instructor certifications (CMS), as well as record and track rescue information for all of their facilities in the Aquatic Incident Database (AID) from one, centralized location: the Aquatic Education Center homepage.
If you encounter any problems using the CMS or AID, please do not hesitate to contact Sara Poe via email, or phone (877-465-4545) or Kandace Turner via email or phone (877-747-5293 ext 2334). Remember, this system not only provides our National Office with important information, but is a valuable tool in helping you stay on top of your trainings! |
 Carmel's Corner
By Carmel Sielicki, Aquatic Programs Specialist
Send a Friend to Starfish, Get a FREE Book!
Starfish Aquatics and Human Starfish have teamed up to offer a FREE webinar presentation that gives anyone interested a chance to find out more information about our programs. The webinar takes about 30-minutes and covers all of our programs; all you need is a phone line and a computer with internet connection. This is also an opportunity to ask questions our programs and products.
Send a friend and receive a free book from Human Kinetics!
Refer a friend to the webinar and we will send a book to both you and the person that completes the webinar. Make sure your friend mentions you as a referral!
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