‘PARTNERING WITH THE NDPA’
By The National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Temperatures may be cold in most parts of the country, but it is always a good time to talk about and share water safety information with clients. Each year, we lose more than 4,000 individuals in the United States to preventable drowning. Sadly, we lose people of all ages, all races and ethnicities, all socioeconomic levels, and in all kinds of water. Remember, drowning does not discriminate, and even the best swimmers can drown. The good news is that drowning is preventable.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) is dedicated to raising awareness about the realities of drowning, particularly among children aged 1-4, where drowning is the leading cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are many resources at www.ndpa.org that the pool and spa industry can share with clients to help keep families safer around all kinds of water. One of the easiest and most important things to share with clients is the importance of using the five layers of protection to prevent drowning.
Drowning is silent, fast, and preventable. While drowning is the No. 1 cause for children aged 1-4, it remains a leading cause of death for older children and continues to be a risk into adulthood. These statistics alone should cause each one of us to take immediate action, particularly those of us involved in the pool service industry, where you have a unique position to influence safety practices and awareness.
What is the Role of Pool Service Professionals in Preventing Drowning?
As pool service professionals, we know you are on the front lines of pool safety. Your role goes beyond maintenance; it includes advocating for and implementing safety measures that can prevent these tragedies. You are trusted to go into your clients’ backyard, where you may see pool gates left open or pool toys left in or by the pool — attracting young children to the water.
You may see a broken drain cover or children unsupervised by the pool. These are just a few of the many things that, if left unattended, can result in a preventable drowning or entrapment.
Below are some key actions you can take: 1. Educate Families: Inform your clients about the importance of constant supervision and the risks of drownings. Share statistics to drive the point home.
2. Promote Barriers: Encourage the installation of physical barriers, such as fences and pool covers, that can prevent children from accessing the pool unsupervised.
3. Suggest Alarms: Recommend pool alarms and drowning detection cameras that alert caregivers when someone enters the pool area. These can be lifesaving devices that provide an extra layer of security.
4. Offer Safety Checks: Regularly inspect pools for potential hazards, and ensure that all safety measures are in place and functioning correctly.
5. Distribute Educational Materials: Provide families with brochures and resources from the NDPA that outline best practices for water safety. You can find free resources in the Aquatic & Pool Professional Toolkit at www. ndpa.org.
We appreciate pool service professionals like yourselves who have a crucial role in this effort. Together, we can work toward preventing these heartbreaking incidents and keeping all people safer around water. Thank you for joining with the NDPA as Water Safety Champions. Together, we can make a difference and reduce the number of drownings. For more information or to support the NDPA, visit www. ndpa.org
