Train in Spring, Be Safe This Summer

Whether it’s getting golf greens ready for the season or preparing for this summer’s aquatics programs, PDRMA’s training calendar includes a number of regional back-safety classes in English and Spanish, as well as an Aquatics Risk Management Day to help agency staff be ready for warm weather activities. The back safety classes cover how to stretch and prepare for a day’s work, provide tips and tricks for using equipment properly to help prevent injury, and include hands-on practice for common and difficult lifting job tasks.

You’ll also want to check out this year’s two-part Aquatics Risk Management Day on April 17. The morning session — from 9 a.m. to noon — explores proactive risk management solutions for beaches, swimming pools and water parks. Included in this session:

• 2014 aquatics season in review.
• Key aspects of the Model Aquatic Health Code.
• PDRMA Aquatic reimbursement programs:
• Audit program.
• Vision program.
• PDRMA risk management and training resources.

The afternoon session — from 1 to 4 p.m. — is an interactive forum involving aquatics professionals, recreation staff, camp managers and special recreation association (SRA) staff. The goal is to discuss and learn more about updates to PDRMA’s Aquatics Guidelines. The updates specifically address recommendations regarding the interaction and management of external groups, internal groups/camps and visiting SRA groups to PDRMA member and non-member aquatic facilities.

“The goal of this workshop is to share PDRMA membership’s knowledge in a discussion of key factors that influence risk management decisions at day camps, SRA and outside-group aquatics activities,” explains Bill Hooker, PDRMA Training Program Supervisor. “With the issues in front of us, we can build a consensus and work together to establish best-practice policies and procedures.” Results of the workshop discussion will be included in PDRMA’s aquatics guidelines, available to members.

You can register for the Aquatics Risk Management Day — or any other PDRMA course offering — by logging in to the PDRMA website, going to the Education & Training menu and clicking the Training Calendar link. You’ll find the Aquatics Risk Management Day on the April calendar.