Explore Safety and Injury Prevention Training

Aquatic Director Consulting 

What our consulting provides

SIP will come and inspect the complete facility, from parking lots, locker rooms, first aid station, guard break room, food areas, play areas, pool decks, waterfronts, maintenance areas, and pools. This inspection will also include reviewing all previous safety and maintenance schedules. The Facility will be inspected as a County Inspector would perform. SIP would inform you of any facility or signage needs and if there are safety issues that need to be addressed. Along with reviewing all staff duties and any existing duty/facility lists. In addition, SIP will assist with hiring and training of all staff.

Forms / Lists SIP will design for your Specific needs.

1. In-service Training Form

2. Opening Facility Check List

3. Closing Facility Check List

4. Guard Duties List

5. Pool Chem Daily Test Form

6. Injury Log Book Form

7. Facility Member/Guest Log-In Form

8. Incident Report Form 

9. Locker-room Cleanliness Form 

Innovated Aquatic Programs Designed by SIP and Provided for your convenience 

1. Pre-Season Splash Programs 

2. Swim Lesson Program

3. Swim Team

4. Jr. Lifeguard Program

5. Lifeguard Buddy Program

6. Camp/Instructional Programs

7. Post Camp/August Programs 

8. Kids Zone Program

Autistic Workshop

This section of Safety and Injury Prevention will provide eye-opening awareness for Pool and Water Safety for autistic individuals. It will also produce tips to prevent accidents and ensure autistic individuals enjoy the pool and waterfront. Pointers will also be taught for Lifeguards and swim instructors safe atmosphere and an inclusive program for autistic individuals. 

But parents, family and friends should also make it a priority to learn water safety to prevent accidents. In a 2011 study, 91 percent of deaths in children with autism who wandered were because of drowning accidents. Water play can be a fun way for children and adults with autism to cool down on a hot day. Being aware and gaining knowledge about water safety for autistic kids can help provide a much safer summer for all.

I have been an Aquatic Director at 8 different Country Clubs and Schools. Prior to my appointment, not one of them had traing for staff to deal with autistic kids.  The lifeguards and swimming instructors are often unaware about the water safety risks for autistic people. Most waterfront staff have not been taught about how to communicate with children with autism or teach them how to swim.

As a parent of guardian of an autistic child here are a few key points to help keep them safe. 

1. Get to know the lifeguards at your community pool or other water park facility and share information about your or your loved one’s needs so they can keep everyone safe.   

2. Make sure your autistic child is always within your eyesight or another guardian’s sight 

3. Walk around the facility with them and introduce them to staff members.

4. When walking around the facility be aware of any danger areas, such as deep ends and areas that are too busy.

Here are steps lifeguards can take to minimize the chance someone with autism will be in danger in water:

1. Learn the signs of autism to identify potentially autistic people and pay extra attention to their swimming, especially if he or she comes alone. 

1. Learn how to communicate with autistic people, whether verbally or another way of communicating, that can help keep them calm them in an unsafe situation or if they have wandered away from their group. 

1. Invite children at your facility to get to know you, your staff and the lifesaving gear, including the opportunity to handle the gear and ask questions. In a lifesaving situation, autistic kids will sometimes not grab onto lifesaving gear because they are unfamiliar with it, so a previous exposure to the gear could help them in a future dangerous situation. 

1. If a swimmer does not respond to the standard lifeguard whistle, make sure you talk face-to-face, and they are focused on you. For some autistic people, a sharp-sounding whistle may overwhelm them or not be understood as a safety alert. Some kids will wear headphones at the pool or have other communication differences, so they may not hear the whistle.  

Swimming facilities can support autistic swimmers as well by communicating safety rules in different ways to ensure understanding. Posting pictures next to pool guidelines helps those who are visual learners understand the rules.  

Teaching their lifeguarding and other staff about supporting an autism-friendly swimming experience can help make sure their pool is a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.  

Lifeguards are taught to prevent situations from developing from the beginning of their training. Such as, whistling at someone running on the deck to prevent them from falling and getting injured. The world is changing and being more inclusive, we need to start teaching our lifeguards about autism and how to effectively communicate with autistic swimmers so they can have fun, be safe in the water and follow the rules.

In-person classes 

Certified Course PricesCPR Professional w/ AED: $85/personAdult/Child CPR & AED: $60/personAdult/Child/Infant CPR & AED: $70/person (Add First Aid to any CPR program for an additonal $25/person)First Aid Only: $40/person Basic Life Support (BLS): $125Responding To Emergency (RTE): $135
*Large groups or non-for-profit please call directly for discount group pricing*
Consulting PricesAll prices for consulting and facility injury prevention training are set individually according to specific needs and certifications requested. Please call direct for the most up-to-date pricing and for any discounts provided.