Emergency Response Planning James Wheeler

Jim Wheeler is known as one of the aquatic industries most entertaining and informative speakers on the subjects of aquatic risk management, safety training and operations. Jim is currently Recreation Services Manager for the City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Jim’s background includes working at waterfronts, beaches, pools and water parks and it’s this extraordinary blend of hands-on experience that gives him a unique and innovative perspective on aquatic operational safety, training and programming. With over thirty-five years working in the field Jim has contributed as a leader to the National Recreation and Park Association, California Park and Recreation Society and United States Masters Swimming. In 2007 he was selected as one of Aquatic International Magazine’s “Power 25 in Aquatics” and has received professional awards that include two California Park and Recreation Society Presidential Awards, two SCPPOA Citation award, the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Paragon Award for Aquatic Safety and distinguished service awards from the National Recreation and Park Association and US Masters Swimming. Jim is also the owner of Total Aquatic Management, the aquatic safety training and consulting firm based in Alameda, California that offers TOTAL Guard, the nation’s leading advanced lifeguard training program designed to make Lifeguards “Smarter, Stronger and Faster”. Abstract Even the best risk management plans cannot eliminate all risks. Therefore, emergency response planning is critical to employee and customer safety. Employers have a mandated responsibility to outline emergency procedures in their agency emergency response plans. Employees have the responsibility to follow plans. This session will provide participants with an overview of these emergency response planning and training requirements and will explore the practical application of these elements in an aquatic setting.

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 1

Emergency Response Planning

World Aquatic Health ConferenceOctober 13, 2011Seattle, Washington

NSPF Aquatic Management Series

Examples of Incidents That Would Require a Emergency Response

Plan (ERP)…

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 2

Employer Responsibilities

• Must develop emergency response plans• Employees have to be trained to follow

plans• Must understand requirements to develop

effective and compliant emergency response plans (ERP’s)

• Need to develop effective ways of implementation including employee education.

Additional Areas of Emergency Preparedness That Can Ensure Proper Response Understanding

Include :

• Alarm Systems

• Fire Prevention Measures and Plans

• Accessing Emergency Exit Routes

• Aquatic Emergency Response Planning

Employee Responsibilities Play a Key Role in the Execution of

Proper Response to:

• Weather Related Disasters

• Natural Disasters

• Bomb Threats

• Fire

• Workplace Violence

• Hazardous Material Spills and Incidents

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 3

When Developing Emergency Response Plans Consider:

• Types of emergencies

• Layout of the facility

• Available equipment

• Medical emergency personnel

• Chain of command

• Emergency response plan rehearsal

Roles and Responsibilities of Staff

• Coverage of rescue area

• Clearing the facility

• Primary rescuer

• Calling EMS

• Crowd control

• Responsibilities after the emergency

• Media Contact

Effective Communication

• Employees

• Patrons

• EMS

• Your Superiors

• The Media

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 4

Aquatic Emergencies

• Communication is Critical– Radio

– Whistle

– Air Horn

– Hand Signals

– Mega Phone

– Flags

Types of Aquatic Specific Emergency Response Plans

• Tired or Distressed Swimmers• Active Drowning Victims• Unresponsive Drowning Victims• Breathing and Cardiac Emergencies• Head, Neck and Back Injuries• Chemical Incident Exposure• Lightning Storms• Fecal Incidents

Scanning and Recognition

• The key to prevention

• Effective scanning

• The recognition standard – 10/20 second protection rule

• Vulnerabilities in Lifeguard that can affect vigilance

• They may see it but it doesn’t mean they will go…

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 5

Rotating Lifeguards

• Ideally 15 to 30 minutes in a station

• Perimeter Checks in and out of stations

• 3 steps that must occur– Incoming Lifeguard “posts up” and scans the entire

zone “bottom up”

– Outgoing Lifeguard climbs down while incoming guard watches the water

– Outgoing Lifeguard “posts up” and scans the entire zone until incoming guard is completely settled in and has completed one entire scan of the zone.

Active Aquatic Supervision

• Someone must be on deck whenever possible watching the Lifeguards that are in station.– Improves surveillance and recognition

– Improves response times

– Improves the level of care

It is All About Time!

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 6

Is 2 Minutes the New 4 Minutes?

• The amount of advanced care needed increases with time

• The longer the victim is without oxygen and an AED (if needed) the less likely it is they will have a full and healthy recovery

• The more experience you have at the scene and the faster they arrive the better chance you have of a full and healthy recovery.

The TAM 1 Minute – 2 Minute Response and Care Objective

• Within 1 minute of a person becoming distressed:– See the victim (Recognition)

– Get to the victim (Response)

– Get the victim out of the water (Extrication)

The TAM 1 Minute – 2 Minute Response and Care Objective

• Within 2 minutes of a person becoming distressed:– Drag them from the side of the pool

– Personal protective equipment utilized

– Initial assessment of ABC‘s

– BVM is available and ready

– Oxygen is available and ready

– AED is connected to victim and analyzing

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 7

Effective Emergency Response Requires Commitment

• Training, training, training…– Training based moving towards reality based

• Constant and effective surveillance combined with “Zone Defense”

• Layered Lifeguard Protection including Active Aquatic Supervision

• Rescue Readiness – Teach “When in doubt, check it out”

James Wheeler, Recreation Services Manager

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

501 Stanyan Street San Francisco, CA 94117

Phone: 415-831-6833 E-Mail: james.wheeler@sfgov.org

James Wheeler, Owner

Total Aquatic Management

PO Box 70340 PT Richmond, CA 94807

Phone: 925-788-4951 E-Mail: swimnjim@hotmail.com

www.totalaquaticmanagement.com Twitter: @TotalGuard

National Swimming Pool Foundation ∙ 4775 Granby Circle ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ∙ (719)540-9119 ∙ www.nspf.org 8