Drowning remains one of the leading causes of unintentional death worldwide, particularly among children aged 1-4. As professionals engaged daily with water environments, pool and spa service providers are uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of drowning prevention. By leveraging your expertise, industry presence, and customer relationships, you can play a pivotal role in enhancing water safety.

But why should you get involved in drowning prevention, and what practical ways can you contribute to this crucial cause?

You have the expertise and a certain responsibility. Pool and spa service professionals possess specialized knowledge about pool design, maintenance, and safety features. With this expertise comes a responsibility to ensure that every pool and spa you service is as safe as possible. Involvement in drowning prevention initiatives not only saves lives but also reinforces the industry’s commitment to safety and ethical responsibility.

Advocating for water safety will help build trust with your customers and enhance your reputation. Service providers who address and implement safety measures are likely to build deeper trust with their clients. Promoting drowning prevention can enhance a company’s reputation, demonstrating a commitment to community welfare beyond just business interests. This can lead to increased customer loyalty, referrals, and a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Promoting water safety will have a direct impact on your community. Drowning not only causes loss of life but also profound grief and suffering for families and communities. Pool and spa professionals, as integral members of their local communities, have the opportunity to lead by example and make a significant impact on public health and safety.

Are you convinced that you should get involved in drowning prevention? Yes? Good.

Now, here are several ways that you can get involved: Education and Awareness Campaigns: Professionals can educate homeowners about the risks of drowning and the importance of vigilant supervision. This can be achieved through educational materials distributed during service visits, workshops, or community seminars. (The National Drowning Prevention Alliance offers tons of materials on their website that you can distribute.) Topics might include the importance of never leaving children unattended near water, the use of pool covers, and the installation of alarms.

Promoting and Installing Safety Features: Professionals can advise on and facilitate the installation of safety equipment such as pool fences, covers, alarms, and anti-entrapment devices.

By making safety equipment recommendations part of their service, professionals ensure that pools and spas not only function well but are also safe environments.

CPR Training and Water Safety Courses: Encouraging and offering CPR training for homeowners, especially for those with pool facilities, can be life-saving. Pool and spa service companies might partner with local organizations to offer these training sessions, perhaps even incorporating them as a valueadded service. Community Partnerships: By partnering with local schools, community centers, and organizations like the Red Cross and YMCA, service professionals can help facilitate broader community education programs on water safety. These partnerships can amplify their impact, reaching a wider audience and potentially integrating these practices into community norms.

Advocacy and Policy Support: Service professionals can advocate for stronger safety regulations and support policies that promote water safety. This can include supporting legislation that requires safety features in residential and public pools and pushing for rigorous enforcement of existing regulations.

The involvement of pool and spa service professionals in drowning prevention is not only beneficial but essential. Through your expertise, you have the capability to implement and advocate for effective water safety measures. This special issue of Service Industry News will take a sobering look at the importance of pool and spa safety and why you should get involved.