PoolWorks September 2021

PoolWorks

LIFEGUARDS.INSTRCTORS.PROGRAMMERS.LEADERS SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE 2

Questions a drowning victim’s attorney will ask you

TEACHER CELEBRATION ISSUE of 2021

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What's your Mermaid Name?

Policy Writing and Review

SPOTLIGHT

Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex Town of High River

CONTENTS POOLWORKS MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 2 On the Cover: Taysha Prawdzik, Lifeguard/Instructor. City of Estevan, SK Photo by: Rhyse Wiebe, Lifeguard/Instructor. City of Saskatoon, SK

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SPOTLIGHT ON A FACILITY Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex Town of High River

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RISKY BUSINESS

Five questions a drowning victim’s attorney will ask you

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21 OF 2021 SCHOOL TEACHERS CELEBRATION

Celebrate 21 fantastic teachers who started as lifeguard/instructors. They have some amazing words of wisdom!

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POLICY REVIEW LATELY?

Lessons learned from Leduc's review

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THE LAST LAUGH

A few last pages to create some joy, smiles and laughter.

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ROUND TWO

CONTACT ME Do you have a great idea for an article?

Do you have knowledge on a topic that needs to be shared? Perhaps a fun photo that would be an amazing addition?

I want to hear from you!!!

PoolWorksMagazine@gmail.com Please message to tell me what you think?

I am interested in what is working well for you. Of course, I want to know what isn't

The second time has not been easier.... I am not sure why I thought it would be?!

But this was a tough group of articles to put together. People are busy with workplaces and programs opening up again. People are busy enjoying all the places and programs that have started opening up again. After a year with a glooming dark cloud of masks and closures , I believe, people are doing what they can during the summer months to have some fun, catch some entertainment and get back to a sense of normalcy. It's wonderful to see everyone out and about. I am looking forward to hearing stories in the office and of the staff adventures...finally something different to talk about!

The downside has been with all that excitement: getting articles submitted has not been an easy task. But with a little pestering , I think we have come up with a great collection of articles to encourage, educate and celebrate what we do in aquatics.

! y o j En Erin

working too. Remember to be kind though.

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What's your why?

I vividly remember the first swim of the day on that overcast Friday morning in the late 1990’s.

I was 18 that summer and had spent the previous three summers Lifeguarding at the pool and I loved it. I felt confident in my swimming and first aid abilities and yet, here I was doing abdominal thrusts on a blue and purple unconscious child who I had just retrieved from the bottom of a 15-foot pool, while my co-worker yelled ‘PUMP’ and wiped the macaroni and Kool-Aid lunch from the face of this lifeless child.

I have lived that day over many times in my head and am proud that the result was not only successful medically but it also changed the way I lifeguarded, taught aquatics, and learned about this industry. We in the ‘industry’ have all heard the tag lines – ‘Not If but when’, ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t save it’, ‘when in doubt fish it out’. We have all done in-service after inservice, been drilled, tested and pushed – but nothing truly prepares you for ‘one of those days’ when all that training and talking and working is in front of you in the form of a true emergency.

When I want to remember, or want to remind a team of lifeguards, or challenge a group of rookies I tell them my story and ask them what their story is.

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Why do you train so hard? Why do you spend hours standing on a warm (or cold), wet, busy (or boring), pool deck? What is the draw of having kids crawl all over you, of having to repeat the same rules over and over, and constantly being prepared for worst case scenario? Why do you do what you do?

To me the answer is simple. I can make a difference and I love it. I have never been more drawn to anything than I am to the water, and I know there are lots of others who feel the same way. I do not stand on a pool deck in the same way these days. I use my knowledge to teach when I can; to talk to as many people as I can, or to take on the other tough jobs that are behind the scenes in aquatics whether it be facility administration, working with engineers and consultants or sitting on committees that ensure the safe aquatics agenda is always seen and heard.

In 1997 on that overcast Friday morning I might have frozen but instead I took a deep breath and did my job. And because of that experience I will never forget why I do what I do.

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BOB SNODGRASS RECREATION COMPLEX TOWN OF HIGH RIVER Community it serves: ​Town of High River and the MD of Foothills

Is your facility open?

Yes! How close is the programming to pre-pandemic times? Though the pandemic has forced us all to dig deep and find our best self, I think our programing is as close to prepandemic as possible. We were able to open in April 2021 when all adult programs needed to be one on one with a trainer. So we offered exactly that. We were incredibly fortunate that the Town of High River and our Aquatic Supervisor are such great advocates of keeping our community active in the safest way possible.

We opted on a progressive open and even though it is July we are still pumping the breaks a bit on our numbers for lane and open swim.

There are a few reasons for this.

One being we did not want to overwhelm our staff and the second we are tight on staff.

How did Covid 19 change your programing?

Initially no one was running programs, and then only being allowed to run programming one on one, was a real hit to the business side of running a pool. BUT it offered our community the chance to be active and though financially it was hard, I know our patrons and staff were incredibly grateful that we were able to get in the water and be active

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What positive lessons came out of covid?

The biggest positive for me professionally was that I was given the opportunity to grow. During Covid 19 work in recreation was hard to come by because many staff were laid off, I was fortunate that I had somewhat consistent work doing some online delivery of programs. As we started moving into and out of different stages of lock down I was able to take on some programming and advertising. I loved the change and I know I am a much more well rounded now then I was before the pandemic.

What was a tough hurdle you needed to overcome during your Covid experience?

Though I am pretty savvy on my laptop and on Facebook 😊, technologically I may have had a struggle or two. This year I made it my mission to know and understand all of the Audio Video set ups that our facility uses and be able to deliver good content using them. I did it! I was a learning curve, but I’m really proud of my online delivery and all I accomplished.

What are some of the highlights everyone should know about your facility?

We are better than family! I am truly blessed to work with Raelene Petek (Aquatics Supervisor) and Marcy Pedersen-Giles (Trainer/Deck Lead.) We have worked together every day for years, and together have built a really strong lifeguard team.

We laugh together, we cry together, we build each other up and we train, oh my gosh! We train! We love it! I love High River, our aquatics community and our Town, we work incredibly hard to make sure we are not only maintaining our standards but exceeding them and I think it shows in all we do!

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What is your staff structure?

Aquatic Supervisor (1) Supervises and manages all the aquatic staff and oversees big projects. Facilitates staff training courses and on-boarding.

Aquatic Coordinator (1) Programs and Coordinates lessons, courses and user groups.

This roll is currently absorbed by Aquatic supervisor and deck leads.

Deck Leads (2) Organize and run the staff and programs on the pool deck. Ensure all programs run smoothly.

Executes most daily pool maintenance and jumps in when programs require.

Permanent Part-Time Senior Guard (1) Lifeguards and Teach. open and close building.

This roll is currently absorbed by Aquatic supervisor and deck leads.

Senior Lifeguards (Casual) (15+)

Junior Lifeguards (Casual)( 5+)

f o t s e t t s e u r t the w o h s i p i h s r e d lea n o i t c n u f u o y l wel . s i s i r c in a

Brian Tracy

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e r a s n o i n U d n e o t g n i o g . … me I have repeated that frustrated sentence numerous times in my 20plus years working in a Union environment. Unions and managers are like frenemies, more often then not it feels like we are trying to get along but it hardly feels genuine. Both sides tend to stay guarded and like secret agents they never want to give away too many trade secrets.

Can you imagine what we could succeed in if we managed to communicate well and actually got along?! I try and remember that if we can work together as a team, we could not only have a stronger more united front but also create a happier, healthier, more productive workforce.

Afterall who enjoys watching mommy and daddy fighting?

Nearly 30% of Canadian workers belong to unions, that works out to be about 4million Canadians. (UFCW.ca) I work in a municipality that is unionized, and I have learned over the years that it is easier to work along side the union. So, what are the strategies that help to make this possible:

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1. Document, Document, Document. No matter how small it seems. It is better to have more documentation, than not enough. I received a great tip to start a notebook and try and take a few minutes to write in it, especially after any conversations with staff. It seems so simple, and I wish I used it more often.

2. Be as clear as possible. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place” George Bernard Shaw. Staff need to be clear on their workplace expectations, never assume that someone knows what to do.

Especially youth who are in their first experiences in the workforce. They need guidance on everything from vacation day requests to what is appropriate work attire.

3. Listen to feedback often. When managers and employees discuss issues openly to create change, employee engagement will increase.

Confronting the elephant in the room with good communication is better than ignoring it.

4. Give yourself time to make decisions. Unless its absolutely necessary, take a moment to breathe before making a decision. Talk to others involved in the situation, if possible, and see how a decision will impact them. Then reflect to make the best possible decision with the facts you have.

5. Be a tough cookie. Don’t take things personal.

Never stoop to the level of people who misbehave. Keeping a strong but firm attitude will always achieve better results. It’s never easy to overlook personal attacks but it is the cost of good leadership.

Unions have been around since the 1800 in Canada and have been responsible for many positive changes that many of us take for granted.

Making change in the length of workdays, to higher paid wages, to creating parental leaves, and my personal favorite, a safer environment for workers everywhere. Unions have established their place; they aren’t going away.

And though I have spent many hours being frustrated at, what I consider, petty fights when the Union Contract seems to protect the employee who doesn’t deserve it, there is no way for me to ignore that they have and continue to have the best interest of the employees. On the tough days, when exchanges are heated and seeing eye to eye seems almost impossible, I try and take that breathe and reflect on the bigger picture and find some common ground.

Bowring Park Staff Room, NFLD.

City of Estevan Staff Room, SK.

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Winskill Aquatic & Fitness Center Staff Room, BC.

Paul Reynold's Community Centre, NFLD

R I S K Y B U S I N E S S Five questions a drowning victim’s attorney will ask you

By Juliene Hefter, MSOLQ, Executive Director/CEO Association of Aquatic Professionals and Owner, Safety First Aquatics, LLC

As an expert witness called to the stand by attorneys in many drowning or near-drowning cases, I’ve observed a victim’s family members attempt to ease the pain of losing (or almost losing) a loved one by finding someone to blame.

And when they do, they sue. In certain cases, a lifeguard or pool manager failed to perform his or her duties, or a facility didn’t provide a reasonable standard of care, and the finger pointing is justified. Other times, however, the tragedy is exactly that: A tragedy. And tragedies occur in and around water — very quickly and with little or no warning.

Even though they aren’t always someone’s fault, that doesn’t make it any easier for me to see the pain in a parent’s eyes. That said, the responsibility of an expert witness includes educating attorneys for both the plaintiff and the defense regarding a specific case’s merit, and in the past year alone, i have turned down more than 50 cases — informing attorneys that, as heartbreaking as the incident is, “Your side is not the right side.” I simply do not believe many of the cases brought to my attention should even be cases.

I reach that conclusion by asking attorneys seeking my services a very definitive list of questions, beginning with the basic “who,” “what,” “when” and “where.” Then, before I accept or refuse the case, I start digging for answers to more detailed questions — questions that a defense attorney, or more likely a plaintiff’s attorney, will eventually ask aquatics administrators and staff members in the event of a pool tragedy at your facility. Here are five of those questions: POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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1. HOW MANY LIFEGUARDS WERE ON DUTY? Despite reports of lifeguard shortages at all types of aquatic facilities this summer, it is the pool manager’s responsibility to hire, train and retain the proper number of lifeguards required by your state and based on the number of swimmers and size of your pool. Also make sure all of the certification paperwork is up to date. A pool manager at a Wisconsin high school came under fire in March 2013 (and eventually resigned) after an internal investigation into a near-drowning during a physical-education class revealed that two of the three guards present did not have proper credentials..

2. IF THERE WERE NO LIFEGUARDS PRESENT, WERE SIGNS WARNING “NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY” EASILY VISIBLE? These signs should be posted throughout the pool area and at all entrances. The information also could be reinforced in online newsletters and other forms of regular communication to serve as constant reminders, and frontdesk personnel could inform swimmers checking in that no lifeguards are currently on duty. Those extra layers of protection will come in handy should a tragic incident occur.

3. IS THERE ON-DECK ACCESS TO A WORKING EMERGENCY PHONE? Cellphones and lifeguards do not mix, so if you haven’t already done so, prohibit guards from having possession of their phones while working. Access to an on-site emergency phone, on the other hand, is absolutely crucial. An ideal location is on the walls of the pool, preferably near an entrance. The danger of positioning an emergency phone in an office is that the office door might be locked, resulting in a liability risk. In such situations, each second that ticks away is precious time lost. (High schools have faced lawsuits when a much-needed automated external defibrillator was locked in the athletic director’s office or trainers’ room, with no one present having access to a key.)

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4. DOES YOUR FACILITY HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN THAT IS PRACTICED AND FOLLOWED? Lifeguards and other aquatic facility employees must be prepared for the worst, which is why they need to know what to do when a drowning or near-drowning occurs. This includes reviewing the location and proper use of on-site emergency equipment such as first-aid kits, AEDs, fire extinguishers, oxygen sources, spine boards and blankets. Mandatory on-site training should be held prior to every operational season. with in-service staff training taking place a minimum of four hours each month to ensure that all employees stay alert and rescue-ready throughout the season. Some aquatics managers also quiz their staff members about emergency procedures. Finally, contact local emergency medical services personnel to schedule specific training with them and your staff in order to review what will actually take place during an emergency and what each person’s role will be.

5. DO YOU HAVE AN ALL-INCLUSIVE EMPLOYEE MANUAL? Employee manuals should feature all job duties, expectations and emergency action plans for any number of incidents that may occur at your facility.

Specifically, they should include policies and procedures, rules and regulations, sample incident reports, refusal-of-care forms and hours of operation, and the final page must be a form that requires each staff to state that he or she has thoroughly read and completely understands all aspects of the aquatic procedures manual. The form also requires each employee to acknowledge that he or she understands the mandate to enforce, obey and implement the procedures as stated. Any change, modification or departure from the procedures is prohibited without written permission from a supervisor. This step helps ensure that lifeguards and other staff members are fully aware of expectations and will act in a responsible manner.

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Because you’re in the aquatics business, you also should be in the business of making the aquatics experience a safer and more enjoyable one for your patrons. Each of the five questions above shouldn’t take you long to answer if you’ve already put the proper procedures in place. If you haven’t implemented them, it’s never too late to start. Remedial steps are easy and can be established in a matter of hours and then accomplished within a few days.

Granted, an attorney will likely have many, many more questions for you and your staff should a drowning or neardrowning take place at your facility. But these five inquiries likely will be among the first he or she will make.

Even if a tragedy never occurs at your facility and the attorneys stay away, asking yourself these questions can prove invaluable to increasing and strengthening your facility’s aquatic presence in the community. Concerned patrons (including parents) will notice your proactive approaches, tell their friends and family, and before you know it, your aquatic facility and its staff have an elevated reputation for providing a comfortable and secure swimming environment.

JULIENE HEFTER, MSOLQ, AFOI, IS AN AQUATICS SAFETY EXPERT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS. SHE IS ALSO THE OWNER OF SAFETY FIRST AQUATICS, LLC, A RENOWNED SPEAKER AND AUTHOR ON A VARIETY OF MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE TOPICS, AND PROVIDES AQUATICSRELATED CONSULTING AND EXPERT-WITNESS SERVICES.

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A COMFORT ZONE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, BUT NOTHING EVER GROWS THERE. JOHN ASSARAF

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Inspiring Words A good quote can change my mood, outlook , and/or attitude . Sometimes they appear at the best possible moment .

On Respect.

On of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.

Bryant McGill

On Courage.

On Teamwork.

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.

Henry Ford

On Failure.

Don't be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.

Richard Branson

On Resilience.

What makes people resilent is the ability to find humor & irony insituations that would otherwise overpower you.

Amy Tan

On Success.

Courage is the most important of all virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtues consistantly.

Maya Angelou

I never dreamed about success.

I worked for it.

Estee Lauder

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for

Teacher : A multi-tasking, support giving, problem-solving educational superhero that inspires, molds and encourages the minds of all ages. AKA. Kind of a Big Deal.

I have always been amazed at school teachers. I think they are incredible people who are granted the power to shape the future of many young people. Personally, I can't believe they don't use their skill for evil. 2020 & 2021 were challenging on us all and I definitely admire the extra investment school teachers gave to enrich so many lives in a really tough time.

These next pages are filled with 21 educators in 2021. They are just a handful of teachers who began their career in aquatics!! So many of them were inspired to become educators while teaching swimming lessons. Cheers to you all!!!!

PS. please don't correct my grammar while reading this (haha!)

Matthew Baker Bishops Falls,NL What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Stick with it, and be proud that you enrich the lives of so many young children and teenagers.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

Teaching Red Cross adapted lessons was perhaps the most pivotal moment during my time as a WSI because I discovered my passion for working with children with disabilities. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Special Education and is ultimately what led to my career as a special education teacher in school.

Jennifer Kruse Edmonton, AB What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Be genuine. Your personality will shine through your lessons and reflect on the aquatic environment What was the best part about working in aquatics?

You apply for the job for the money, but you stay because of the staff. I’ve met amazing people throughout my years in aquatics and I am so thankful for all of them!

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I learned the importance of having leaders among the staff - and it’s not always the person who has been there the longest. There’s always something to learn from everyone else, and being a learner is being a leader.

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Tedi Cherepuschak Nipawin,SK Did your job in aquatics influence your decision to become a teacher?

Yes. I started with helping coach speed swimming which led to becoming a Water Safety Instructor (and Lifeguard) which then led to becoming a figure skating coach as well.

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

I also work as a WSIT and I always take the time to discuss the importance of fun to my participants. We want to grow swimmers that will love water and equally respect it. If a swimmer is hating their lessons and wanting to go home, once they are gone they never want to return which can develop into a hatred of water.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I have learnt that no one is perfect, as much as I might like to be perfect I am not. Everyone has days where faking the excitement is harder, or when you are just not in the mood to be a people person.

Part of being a professional is learning to push past this and being the best instructor you can possibly be in that moment. I have taken this into the rest of my life by pushing to be the best instructor, teacher, coach, person that I can possibly be in those moments when it’s a little bit harder.

Leah Esplen Surrey, BC What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Focus on the child’s strengths and abilities. Use those to help the child understand what they can do to improve and what they need to work on.

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Building Community - whether it was with the Older Adults, the kids, their parents, the other pool users - we are part of a cohesive and respectful community.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I spent 14 years as a lifeguard/instructor/supervisor. I then taught the Fitness Theory, Aquatic Fitness and Weight Training courses and taught at SFU. When I was 46 I realized that everything I had been doing involved teaching. So I applied to PDP at SFU! Amy Wiebe Regina, SK What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Have as much fun as possible! If the kids are smiling, they are learning!

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? Grade 1-3 because you can see the learning in their eyes and faces.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I discovered my passion for teaching Melissa Renaud Kirkland, QC What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Get as many certifications as possible ! Working in aquatics has been a huge plus on my résumé. Being certified has also given me the confidence to attend to injuries outside of the aquatics field (such as in my classroom). I will continue to recertify my certifications for many years to come.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

In aquatics, I learned that I could be an influential leader for a team.

I also learned that I am an extremely organized person.

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? Kindergarten aged students. Students at this age are like sponges they absorb everything that is going on around them. They are kind and silly and have so many interesting questions.

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Tracie Gunning Winnipeg,MB currently working for the international school in Accra, Ghana Did your job in aquatics influence your decision to become a teacher? 100%. It's the reason I became a teacher!

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Enjoy every minute. Swimming is a life skill and saves lives.

Now that I am a mother, teaching my own children to swim, I value it even more What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

That the heart of who I am is teaching. There was nothing I enjoyed more than teaching swimming lessons, especially the beginning levels. I would choose it any day over guarding Amanda Page Saint John, NB What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

If you love your job you’ll never work a day in your life. A cheesy quote to use but, you really have to find your passion for teaching and love for swimming when teaching swim lessons and any Aquatics Courses! Lifeguards and Instructors are so resilient and have gone through so much change throughout the past years.

The year 2020 has created some really passionate aquatics experts.

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why?

Teens! When we see youth ages 12+ I know they want to be there and are eager to be there and participate. The experience is more meaningful

Brittany Miller Prince Albert,SK What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Fill your lessons with laughter and fun. The more games you play the more the kiddos will want to learn. Be the swimming teacher who is so energetic you make the parents watching want to hop in and join your lesson too!

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? I love teaching 3-4 year olds. Their love for their teacher is always unconditional and most often they always want to be a part of your class. And who wouldn’t agree- they say the funniest things!

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Friends....During my 10 years in aquatics the incredible staff I worked for became my second family. I still go back to the pool to visit and am lucky enough to be bringing my step daughter for swimming lessons. She’s being taught by a young lady who I actually taught swimming lessons to years ago!

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? I love teaching grade 4 as the children are sponges and want to learn as much as possible. I also find this is the age that you begin to see the most learning growth. In swimming I love teaching new swimmers. Nothing beats the smile of a swimmer who just realizes hey this is not that scary.

Chanan Niss Bradford,ON Currently working at the Kaylas Children Centre

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Joining my 2 passions swimming and teaching.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I learnt that I have a lot of patience and kindness. I also learnt while teaching swimming to a special needs boys that I wanted to pursue my career In special education teaching POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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Megan Rivest Powell River,BC What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? In aquatics I love teaching levels 2, and 7 - 10. I also love the parent and tot programs. As a teacher, I love grades 4 - 7 (9 - 13). I feel like I can relate to them more and the content to teach is so fun! I can do complex science experiments and they are a little more independent.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I like having structure and organization. I find if my teaching items are not laid out, I get flustered and annoyed.

Kya Stouffer Calgary, AB What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

To enjoy being in the lessons with the kids, the love of water is the most important lesson you can give.

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? Middle years, because you can have the most fun with them. Joking around and being witty, I love when they start to get comfortable and their true personalities shine through.

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Friends Deidre Ryan Marystown, NL Currently teaching at Sacred Heart academy for the past 28 years What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Be prepared and listen to the children. We are grooming the next lifeguards and instructors so we have to be innovative role models.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

Aquatics has helped me to know a strength and determination that I didn’t know I possessed What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? I love all of the ages from preschool to advanced aquatics. Teaching is a way of life for me. I like to watch the children grow and learn.

Jessie Fleury Prince Albert, SK Currently working in Redwing School What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I learned to have patience and that you will come across a variety of different learners. I learned that it’s not going to click for everyone on the first go, and it may take time for them to grasp the skill. Through this, I learned that I wanted to become a teacher. Seeing how excited a swimmer was when they finally could perform their backfloat or complete their fitness skill made me realize I want to see how excited, accomplished, and proud they were of their achievements everyday What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? Parent and tot. Not only are the babies adorable, but this starts the tots and the parents off with confidence at an early age. At this stage, the main focus is to get the parent comfortable with their infant/child in the water. This will hopefully carry on throughout the child’s life so they can continue to learn about water safety and be confident swimmers POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Enjoy every moment of it! I made so many great friends and have so many fantastic memories. I never thought a job would impact my future/life so much, but here we are. Try new things, but remember that the food game and the “Tiny Turtle Tim” song never gets old.

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

I learned that I have a passion for teaching and love making a difference in children’s lives. I gained so much confidence when it came to my people skills and teaching skills. I found a love for teaching and it all started when my boss, Erin, gave me a little push and the “I really think you should consider being a swimming instructor” talk. So really I have her to thank for my career as a Kailey Barnstable teacher and helping me discover my passion for teaching.

Saskatoon, SK What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? I like teaching middle school because I can joke around them and they understand my sarcasm, but going into a Kindergarten class will never get old! :)

Kara Moss Springdale, NL

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Have fun with the kids! Get to know who they are and why they want to develop their swimming skills. When you make a connection with a student in or out of the water, they learn more effectively from you!

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

That I’m capable of a lot more than I think I am! That exercise IS enjoyable! (At least in the water it is!)

What is your favorite age group to teach? Why? I absolutely loved teaching the younger kids (and now I teach grade 1) because they are so sweet and funny!

There are aspects of all ages that I enjoyed but if I would have to pick one level or age group it would be younger kids.

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Experiences (resume builder) The pay was excellent for a University student such as myself. I also loved the great tan that came as a bonus with the job!

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

My advice would be to enjoy every minute because it is an excellent and rewarding job that has a positive impact on many people! People notice great swimming instructors and appreciate the work they do. It is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a very important job!

Claudia Verwey Portage la Prairie, MB

What is your favorite age group to teach?

Why? 5-12 year olds (primary/elementary school) They’re at that age where they are forming their ideas about the world and people in it.

Great ages to develop life skills like swimming!

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Anastasia Batke Winnipeg, MB

Meegan Svedahl Regina, SK What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Have fun, and enjoy your time with the kids.

Make connections, and build relationships while you teach them how to swim What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

Be exactly who you are, and trust your skills!

What is your favorite age group to teach?

Why? I love teaching younger kiddos and getting to explore with their imagination!

Kim Maurice Mille-Isles, QC

Currently working at Laurentian Regional High School, located in Lachute, Quebec What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

That I have patience. You have a timeline in your mind… but when you are working WITH your clients on their terms, its not about you. Its always about them setting the pace to their success What is your favorite age group to teach?

Why? Adapted Aquatics.

You have to be so flexible, and really know a 1000 different ways to teach a skill. It keeps you sharp, empathetic and motivated to succeed!

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Never stop believing in your students! Teaching is 80% encouragement, 20% skills.

EVERYONE can learn… we just have to work at their level

What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Making life long connections! I also met my husband(in pic)while taking LSI, 12 years later we are still active in aquatics and loving it!

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Have fun! This is a job where we can enjoy ourselves and be a little bit silly at times ... SO DO IT! What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

That being obsessed with planning, organization and time management is not a bad thing! I also learnt very early on that I can capable of so much more than I ever dreamed possible. Early opportunities and experiences as a lifeguard built me up and gave me a sense of confidence

Cale Zimmerman Toronto, ON What was the best part about working in aquatics?

Fostered the love of teaching which allowed to become a special education teacher & own my own swim and first aid company.

What advice would you give to current Water Safety Instructors?

Get to know your swimmers. Each swimmer is unique and it is important to differentiate your lessons to each swimmer's needs. As instructors you learn through experience, and each lesson you teach, you gain more skills and tools to bring to each lesson you have. Be silly, get creative & have fun!

What did you learn about yourself while in Aquatics?

The importance of being flexible and adaptable to create a fun, safe and engaging environment for the swimmers

be the person you were too lazy to be yesterday.

COMMUNICATION

DINOSAUR

ACTIVITY

INSERVICE, TEAMBUILDING, COURSES

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CASSIDY REICH Here’s a quick activity to highlight the importance of clear communication and feedback. Give it a try in your next course!

Set Up: Split your candidates into 3 groups. Each group will need a large piece of poster paper and some markers. It’s important to give the task to each group separately so they don’t hear what others are doing.

Assign group one to draw a made up word (a flufflenaut, lexacator, britladin, etc.). DO NOT give them any further instructions, let them draw whatever they think that means.

Ask group two draw a dinosaur. Again, keep the explanation of the task short and sweet. Check in while they are drawing, but don’t say too much.

Tell group three to draw a specific dinosaur (pterodactyl, velociraptor, stegosaurus, etc.). Give them some ideas and be sure to help them out and encourage them throughout.

Discussion: After each group is finished their drawing, have them write what word you gave them somewhere on the sheet and hang up in a progression on the wall. Let everyone know you wanted them all to draw what group three drew. Why didn’t groups one and two draw what they were supposed to? What would have helped them to be more successful in their task? How did each group feel when the instructor interacted with/ignored them?

Wrap Up: Clear communication is crucial to complete a task properly and efficiently. A positive leader who supports and offers feedback to others will create independence and success.

AQUA FITNESS RETURNS ~ THE REUNION THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ~ The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to delay participation in aquatics, sports, recreation, and physical activities.

The constant change and stress associated with the pandemic, coupled with the lack of access to pools left many aqua participants feeling like fish out of water. Group exercisers, who are often extraverts, thrive in social environments and were forced to go without that connection for many months. Finally, we are now able to get back to our aquatic family and we are looking forward to the reunion just as much (if not more than) the exercise itself.

By Jennie Queen

Life & Leadership Coach Master Trainer – Canadian Aquafitness Leaders Alliance Email: jennie.queen@rogers.com Website: www.jenniequeen.com POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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As many pools and fitness centers reopen after months of being closed, it is time to shift our focus to reintegrating our clients and instructors back into the pool. This is going to take a little more than just adding water. For this reunion to be successful, it will take some planning. A slow and steady approach for resumption of services will best serve your staff, clients, and yourself. Give yourself permission to build back up in progressions.

Both clients and staff need to feel confident in the protocols that keep everyone as safe as possible during their visit to your facility.

Information should be clearly documented and available which outlines the safety measures including any capacity or class size reductions, health screening, mask requirements, hand hygiene and cleaning protocols.

Getting (re)started Wondering what some of the best practices will be for a return to the pool and aqua fitness? See some recommendations below to get you started.

Back to Basics Our bodies are tired, and our minds are exhausted. To create a centre of excellence and achieve success we need to plan as if we are starting from scratch with a strong foundation.

A strong foundation will begin outside the pool with your processes, policies, and environment you are inviting your staff and clients back into. And once in the pool your classes will also benefit from keeping it simple and focused on functional progression.

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Programming & Class Design

Instructors should be encouraged to pace The menu of classes for the first session or their return and be reminded to listen to their body. It is OK to have rest days. It is two should be filled with your staple going to take some time to reacclimate to programs offering a total body workout teaching, the humid deck environment, and with an emphasis on the basic movements, even the stimulus of being around people simple combinations, and plenty of options.

Each class should include an increase in the again.

Participants must also be encouraged to warmup and cool down segments of the respect their body and know that they may class for the first few weeks. Remember need to start slowly and increase the both instructors and participants need to number of classes per week over a few adjust to not only fitness demands but also the properties of water. Body alignment and weeks or months. They should be reminded to breathe more often in class proper posture needs to be a focus, with and even retaught proper diaphragmatic each movement being demonstrated and communicated clearly while offering caring breathing during exercise. and kind corrections.

Now is not the time for complex or creative choreography. Our minds have been so overtaxed and stressed out over the past year they need the time to adapt. Offering simple choreography, which is introduced slowly, with greater repetition and delivered in a way in which it can be executed successfully, will be key.

Patience & Permission

Holism & Mindfulness Incorporate holism and mindfulness by designing and facilitating classes which focus on the intentional integration of the mind, body, and spirit. This encourages greater mindfulness, improved breathing, and listening to your body which will empower your participants to own their experience.

Did I mention that everyone is a little tired these days? A little kindness and understanding will go a long way as we all reacclimate to life outside our bubbles. Not only do we need to be compassionate towards others, but a little self-care and permission to lower the expectations bar just a little could be just what we need in the coming weeks.

So, as you welcome everyone back to your pools, remember to celebrate how far you have all come, and the community you have created. This will be a reunion to remember!

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True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.

Sheri L. Dew

PRIVATE LESSONS ARE THEY WORTH IT ?? by: Erin Wilson Everyday calls and inquiries about private lessons hit my voice mail.

It has been that way for a long time in my community.

I spend a lot of time trying to understand why families want to spend more to get, what I think, is less. It seems strange to me that families are willing to pay more for these personalized lessons.

When I reflect on it, I guess that pretty much is the reason in a nutshell, private lessons are personalized.

When I speak to parents about the reasons for wanting private lessons, I get a variety of reasons, but the two front runners are: time management and over coming some hurdle with the skills.

Overcoming a hurdle, such as fear or bad technique is, in my opinion, the only reason why private lessons work.

Truth is, as more and more families choose to squeeze swimming lessons into their child’s overstuffed schedule in the shortest amount of time possible, the more requests come my way.

However private lessons were not designed to be used to get through a level quicker and more conveniently. 5 lessons (the average length of a set of private lessons) is not an appropriate amount of time for a Water Swimming Instructor to teach and evaluate all the performance criteria required to complete a swim level.

We also prefer to see preschoolers in group lessons, unless perhaps they have special circumstances that require a one-on-one experience. As swimming instructors, we know swimmers learn best through play because as children play, they have fun, and they forget their fear. It’s also more fun for all when there are more kids to help sing songs and play games with.

To be clear, I am not discouraging private lessons, I just think we are all need to be transparent so that parents have reasonable expectations for swimmers before they decide to pay the added cost for this personalized experience.

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PRIVATE LESSONS AS A SIDE GIG??

WHAT IF STAFF WANT TO TEACH PRIVATE LESSONS ON THE SIDE??

The supply and demand for private lessons can be greater than I am able to keep up with. Pool space and instructors are limited and sometimes it’s difficult to meet the number of requests that come in.

When this happens, the public often approach staff to teach lessons on their own time when they are “off duty”. These lessons might happen at my facility, another pool nearby or in someone’s own personal facility. Wherever they may be teaching there are a few details that these instructors need to understand prior to taking on this risk. Though the extra money is often the appeal, it is important that instructors understand all the facts, so here are a couple considerations:

1. Only training partners have access to badges and report cards.

The Training Partner Agreement states that facilities cannot sell or give materials to non-training partners. This is in place to protect the public and to ensure the program is always being offered at the quality level it was intended to be delivered at. My organization has signed that we will run the Swimming Lesson program to that standard, but when instructors teach on their own, I can’t guarantee that.

2. A Water Safety Instructor qualification provides a certification to teach for a training partner.

The training partner has insurance, the training partner ensures quality, and the training partner takes on the risk, should anything happen in a lesson. Who insures the instructor when they choose to teach lessons on the own? Do they understand the risk if anything happens during those lessons?

I’m not trying to scare WSI’s out of teaching private lessons, quite the opposite. I want us all to understand the facts, so that if we teach, we are clear as to how to best manage risk. One may consider looking into ways to gain your own liability insurance which will mediate the risk should anything happen. Whatever choice one makes, do it with all the facts, after all that is what we invest our time in…teaching others how to be as safe as possible in a high-risk environment.

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3 n o x i r F

These pens are sweeping our office .

They write well and are erasable, but unlike the erasable pens I used in high school, these actually work! One note: do not use these pens on something that you plan to run through the laminator, the heat will make the ink disappear. Available at most stationary stores, Amazon, Walmart.

s n Pe

Fun, easy and motivational. Stickers are a small symbol of success for my aquatic staff, especially when we work on fitness items.

Stickermule makes it easy to create and order stickers in a variety of sizes, quantity, and styles.

Everything is done online and a proof is provided before the order is completed. I just can't imagine using anyone else. Check out their website for more info. https://www.stickermule. com/

Stic kerm ule

m ' I s g Thin h t i w d e obsess !! w o n t righ

Digiquatics Estevan has been using Digiquatics for 6 months and so far it is the best investment I have made in a long time.

Easy to use, the system embraces technology that the staff like, It stores all your "paperwork" in one place. It can track water tests, patron counts, staff qualifications, incident forms, daily checklists and it even has a scheduling program. Everything is modular- you buy what you need.

The company is easy to work with, they answered all our questions and assisted with set up. One note: it does take some time to do the initial set up.

Checkout their website for more info. https://www.digiquatics.com/

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS Bio: Ngina wa Kaai is a settler on Treaty 6 Territory in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). She is an aquatic instructor with the City of Edmonton, a Master Instructor Trainer for the Canadian Red Cross: Swimming and Water Safety division, and the Student Engagement Librarian at NorQuest College. Ngina is passionate about teaching others digital and information literacy skills and she hopes to bring more related information from the world of libraries into the world of aquatics.

What is it?

Mentimeter is a live, collaborative polling and presentation web-based software and allows you to solicit answers and responses from your participants instantly! Setting up a Menti poll is a similar experience to making slides in PowerPoint, and there are a variety of question types you can select from. They include multiple choice, short answer, word clouds, and more.

Participants use their phones to submit answers using the Mentimeter website, so there no extra apps to download. When they go to menti.com, they will be prompted to type in an access code which will be provided by Mentimeter when you open the poll as a presenter. You can also use a stable sharing link to your presentation after making it, and this option is great for presentations or workshops that you use often in order to save time with logging in.

Cost: While Mentimeter can be used for free, the paid versions give you more options and features. Access starts at $9.99 a month for the basic plan you can find the information here. There is also a corporate version if you want to purchase organization-wide access, however you have to contact Mentimeter for pricing.

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PRO

1. Mentimeter is very straightforward to use - both as a participant and a presenter.

2. All participants need is their phone!

3. Accessibility standards are met for basic use.

4. You can see responses right away so it can flow well into a discussion portion.

5. The poll does not shut down after a period of time so participants can continue inputting responses if they think of some later

CON

1. The free version only allows you to have a maximum of two slides in a presentation (three or sometimes four if you tell a friend about Mentimeter) .

2. Accessibility-wise, you will have to input alt text for images that are used so they can be read by a screen reader. There is also no magnification for those with low or limited vision.

3. Since it is a web-based software, if your access to the internet is not the best you may not be able to access this successfully all the time. Make sure to have a backup plan if this is the case.

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WHERE YOU COULD USE THIS TOOL:

Soliciting feedback on an item Asking for opinions on a question Gauging depth of knowledge of a topic As a parking lot for questions that people have while training is occurring Checking for understanding of a topic after teaching or training

Personal Experience: I use Mentimeter on a regular basis for gathering responses from students and participants in both aquatics classes and in my work as a librarian. It’s a really great tool as it allows for interaction with your audience without having to subject them to raising their hand and speaking publicly, which is a thing I don’t necessarily enjoy myself. It also gives you the freedom to still verbally interact with your audience while discussing answers and those who are more okay with speaking in the group can do so. Another reason I like it is because with it being a digital tool, it allows me to not have to carry another physical material with me to teach. The visual appeal of using Mentimeter is also a positive for me - having a live word cloud populate itself on screen is always a hit with the audience.

A note: while so far, I have not had anyone try to derail the process by submitting inappropriate answers to the questions in the poll, it is always an ever-present danger. There are some options when you set up the Menti poll to try to help you avoid that.

Privacy: Mentimeter is based in Sweden and follows European Union storage guidelines for information though they do state that some data makes its way onto US servers for the purposes . This is good for users because the EU has strong data protection laws for users as a whole (and even with Brexit, the UK’s laws are based on the EU structure). This is in contrast to the US whose laws are varied state by state with no overarching federal guidance.

According to EU guidelines, the Mentimeter privacy policy makes clear how to access your data, how to request data deletion, and lodge complaints if you feel like your data and information is being misused.

Reading through their privacy policy gives you a great outlook and breakdown as to how your information and data is used, processed, and accessed. For more information on the basics of EU data protection guidelines, you can find it here.

Further to this, it is always important to remember not to give a website that is new to you more information than they need. For example, as easy and convenient as it is to use your Facebook account to gain access to a new website, that website then gains access to the information you have on your social media account and a lot of it is unnecessary for use of the service. Sign up using manual entry of your info to make sure you only are giving a website the minimum amount required for use.

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USING THE WALL

Safety First off, YOU are your child's best safety net against drowning.

Make sure you understand the risk of water and lead by example for your youngsters. Watch them closely, keep distractions to a minimum, build a fence for backyard pools, and wear a lifejacket when boating.

We also know you cannot be everywhere and sometimes bad things happen. So teaching your child to use the wall is a huge safety skill. A toddler who accidentally falls in, or for any reason, finds themselves in the deep end without a nearby adult, should know how to use the wall to return to safety.

Safety may be to the nearest ladder or to the shallow end, turning to find the ledge could save their life.

Hand Over Hand Depending on how your child learns, either put your hands over theirs, or demonstrate this skill and have them mimic you. Show them how to use a hand-over-hand action to move along the wall. This skill can be practiced in many fun ways: Time them, counting out seconds Race from one end to the other using only the hand-over-hand technique Take a trip “around the world” together – navigating the entire circumference of the pool hand-over-hand Spiderman, have swimmers manuevre the pools edge the same way one of their favorite superheros would.

Reaching the Wall Of course, in the event of an emergency such as falling into the deep end, a child must learn how to get to the wall quickly and efficiently. The best way to do this is to teach them to float on their back, kick hard, and propel themselves toward the nearest wall. Once there, the child can use their hand over hand wall techniques to move to the nearest ladder or the shallow end.

The ability to use the pool wall for safety and confidence is an important skill for toddlers learning to swim. This is something you should work on as soon as they are able to understand your directions and grasp the pool’s edge securely.

Confidence Having less fear in the water and the skills to stay calm IF something does happen is the name of the game here. The deep end will not feel as threatening and by using the wall, children can easily reach the shallow end, a ladder, or an adult. Confidence is essential to moving forward in swimming skills.

When children are in the pool area, watch them continuously; never leave, even for a minute.

ICEBREAKERS

for groups who

1

know each other

Who is it?

Have everyone write a unique, strange, or unexpected fact about them on a piece of paper.

Then, put the pieces of paper into a hat and mix them around. Pull from the hat and read each fact.

Allow the team to try and guess who wrote it. After they guess, ask the employee who wrote the fact to identify themselves and give any further context if necessary. This could be a great way to get to know surprising new things about your teammates.

This is Better Than That?

Aside from being a fun team activity, this might be great energizer for sales employees or others that regularly pitch, market, and sell products.

2

Ask your team to find four to seven items around the office and bring them to one room. These items could be something they use daily, like a pen or a chair.

However, you should encourage them to find items that are more odd or unique. This will make the game more challenging.

Line the items up and split the group into sub-teams. Task each team with picking an item they would use to survive if stranded on a desert island.

Tell team members that they cannot pick more than one and must assume it is the only item they will have on that island. Allow the teams time to deliberate and then ask them to present the item they chose and why.

3

Whose the liar?

This is the variation of the two truths and a lie activity we have seen often. The variation is with using groups, In teams of 3, two decide they will tell the group the truth and one will come up with a lie. The team shares their statements to the group and the group must agree on who the liar is. If the team tricks the group they advance to the second round. We played until one team was left.

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HAVE YOU REVIEWED POLICY LATELY?

BY SALLY GRIFFITHS LEDUC, ALBERTA 25+ YEARS OF AQUATIC EXPERIENCE

The best piece of advice I got early on in my aquatic career was: If it isn’t written down then it doesn’t exist. Throughout my career in aquatics, I have worked in various facilities and one of my goals in each position was to ensure a clearly written policy and procedure manual existed. Because once it existed it could continue to be built on in the future.

I was recently hired to research, review, and reconfigure policies, procedures, and guidelines for an aquatic organization. To some people this may sound like one of the worst tasks ever, but for me, this is one of my passions. Everything is intertwined from provincial aquatic standards or regulations to aquatic organizations program policies, to building codes, fire codes, emergency procedures, human rights, employment standards, air and water quality requirements, industry standards, and case studies.

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Not only did I need to dive into all those resources, but I had to learn industry standards and ask questions from my peer network, borrow references and procedures, and access many different perspectives from across Canada. I mean, after hearing all this, how doesn’t this make you want to jump feet first into a policy review project?

The project started with just the aquatic centre, but since it’s one part of a larger recreation centre the project quickly grew to include all areas of the facility. I learned about ice resurfacers and changing their blades and all about ammonia plants. I also needed to understand fitness requirements, children’s programs and I learned how to set up a variety of sports nets.

This expanded my knowledge and helped me understand why it was so important to work with each of the facility service areas as well as the bigger organization, to ensure the policies, guidelines, and procedures I created were inclusive and reflected the reality of all areas and that they followed the legislated regulations, standards, and codes.

"IF IT ISN’T WRITTEN DOWN THEN IT DOESN’T EXIST."

Change is, of course, difficult. Some staff liked the new policies and others found the change difficult. Overall, the feedback received from the staff was very positive. Some staff didn’t know policies existed because the information could only be found in someone’s head.

When information is stored with people instead of being recorded in resources, we lose that wealth of information, including valuable policies and procedures when people leave.

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Have your staff had issues explaining a rule (policy) at your facility?

Is it because the rule is just a “known rule” but not written? Or is it because the staff do not really know why they must enforce the rule?

Every aquatic facility generally has a “please walk” rule. Why? Because it is dangerous for patrons to run on deck in bare feet on wet tile and a patron could fall and potentially injure themselves or others. When you train new staff you have to explain the rule to the staff member, so they know and understand why the rule exists. Patrons understand policies better when information is explained to them and when we help them understand why a rule or policy is in place.

What if someone at your facility is swimming in the deep end and the thing we hope never happens at your facility happens?

Does your facility have a swim test in place?

Did your staff ensure every swimmer performed the swim test?

Were they able to watch every swimmer swim the test or were they supposed to be lifeguarding while watching kids swim their swim tests?

What does your swim test policy say? Is it clear what your lifeguards’ priority should be?

Should staff be watching swim tests or supervising the pool? Your policy will dictate what your lifeguards do. Does your policy ensure a lifeguard who is not actively supervising the pool completes the swim tests? Or does your policy allow lifeguards to supervise the pool while they administer swim tests?

The policy you have in place ensures how well swim tests are administered and performed by the swimmers. which in turn ensures the safety of your patrons.

You should also ask yourself-does your facility have a different swim test from other facilities in your region or province? Perhaps there are facilities that do not have swim test to enter the deep end. If you do not have a swim test policy in place, how will you ensure the safety of your patrons and ensure this scenario doesn’t happen?

If your swim test policy is written down, how do you know the staff are following it and conducting it correctly? Can you produce this policy to your insurance company, an audit team or organization, or your legal department if they ask? Having written policies at your facility means that you and your staff will be able to confidently answer questions when asked.

Take a moment and think, when was the last time you reviewed your policies? If you do have policies, are they inclusive of legislation, regulations, and standards? And are you updating your policies as legislation changes? Are the policies inclusive of staff training and working requirements? Do they match up with your organization’s policies and procedures? Have you installed new equipment or removed equipment and made those changes to your policies?

Have you had a large staff turnover and your new staff are aware and trained on the facility policies? Do your policies reflect the industry standards in place in your region or province?

The list of questions can go on and on regarding policy and procedures, but the important thing to ask yourself is this- is your policy and procedure manual current so that your facility is being operated safely for your staff and patrons?

Keeping your policies and procedures updated is an ongoing process. They are always changing and evolving to ensure the safe operation of our facilities for the public.

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UNEXPECTED

KINDNESS IS THE

MOST POWERFUL,

LEAST COSTLY, AND

MOST UNDERRATED

AGENT OF HUMAN

CHANGE BOB KERREY

Vacation Life.

Oh man…

I am looking forward to some time off. I know I deserve them. More importantly I know I need them.

But like many people I struggle to get everything prepared to enjoy them.

I laugh when friends tease me with the line “must be nice to be the big wig and get all this vacation time” Bahahaha. As much as I would never complain about the perk of paid vacation days, I don’t always enjoy the time it takes to prep for the vacation.

Sometimes it feels like more work than its worth.

Maybe that’s why 30% of US managers don’t use their vacation time up, because they believe they have too much work and don’t want to fall behind. (www.businessinsider.com) POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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I can relate to this feeling. All too often, after confirming my vacation, I have rescheduled, reorganized, and even debated cancelling my trips.

I hate how many workplaces have created a culture where we are expected to be available even when we are supposed to be relaxing and recharging. Does this sound familiar? Is this your workplace? And if it is...it can feel overwhelming to change. But I think, we must make a conscious effort to do things differently.

As I gain more experience, in work and life, I realize how valuable a break from the daily grind is and know now we need to make it a priority. I encourage, in what some may consider a pushy way, all my co-workers to take their vacation time, and to NOT check in or be interrupted by work while they are away.

As I watch the calendar close in on my vacation days, I can often start to feel a sense of panic and as mentioned before try and find reasons to weasel out of them…but WHY???

WHY do I think the place will fall apart without me?

Am I just a little disappointed if it doesn’t fall apart? If I am being truly honest with myself, I think there is a small piece of me that is!

After all, who doesn’t want to feel like they are needed. But when I do get some time away and everything runs smoothly, not only am I relaxed and refreshed, but I am also bursting with pride. The reason? I know it means that my team and I have reached a new level of communication, productivity and teamwork!

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How do we make it happen?

1. Plan Ahead.

Be transparent with your schedule and coordinate with all the team members to make sure you come up with the best win-win solution. Your time off is not more valuable than your teammates so we try to discuss best options to coordinate all our schedules. Everyone gives a little so we can all take our time and enjoy it. A new habit I have started is to send an email to all staff a few days prior to my departure to allow them time catch me for any last minute items before I walk out the door.

2. Communication is Key.

Meet with the team and confirm everyone knows the game plan, lay out expectations, and double check everyone understands and is comfortable in their role. I dedicate time with employees to discuss how things will be managed in my absence. Sometimes its hard-to-find enough time, the last few times we have had to meet over lunch to ensure everyone had all the information they required. The uninterrupted time and special treat of lunch has always been worth it. Now I can leave comfortable and confident.

3. Prepare for the Unusual.

If something unexpected does arise, which according to murphy’s law it surely will, does your team have the confidence to make a call without your input? Do they know you have their back when they make that call?

Make sure they do! Allow them to do their best to address the situation. Give them the autonomy to make calls in the moment. You can always follow up when you return.

4. Show Gratitude.

Remember when unusual things happen to appreciate the extra effort the staff put into creating a solution. A personal thank you and recognition is a must; and often all that is required. Sometimes I have also found a few special items for less than $5-$10 each to pick up as an extra special thank-you. Nothing fancy, but its always really appreciated when it happens.

With a little prep work, it can be done, and once its done, you’re off to enjoy your vacation!

As a manager, it is my duty to role model self care so that my staff and co-workers do the same when its their turn. The best way to do that is to step away from work when I have days off, and return re-energized, clear minded and more productive than when I left.

And just in case you need a few more reasons to enjoy YOUR well-deserved time off, here they are: Staff need to use vacation time to avoid burnout. Burnout is a common issue among business leaders, and we can’t be expected to keep pushing on for months on end without something suffering. It might be your effectiveness, productivity, creativity, or worstcase scenario, it might be your health.

Keep in mind, coming into the facility to “fix things” or “help out’ isn’t really taking a break.

Remember, in order to continue serving the employees and clients who rely on you, you must consider your own well-being.

We all know that old adage Monkey see Monkey do, and I want all my monkeys taking care of themselves when they get their chance. I hope you do too.

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The average 5min shower uses 25-50gallons of water.

Frogs absorb water through

their skin, instead of drinking it.

It takes 50 glasses of water to grow enough oranges to make one glass of orange juice.

#WFF

Water Fun Fact

Drinking ice water burns about 1 Calorie per ounce.

25% of all bottled water comes from the city's taps including Aquafina (pepsi) and Dasani (coke)

Aquaventure Waterpark includes a giant lazy river ride. A cruise down the 2.3km long river adventure attraction will have you floating around for an impressive 45min POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

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Be a Breaststroke Badass!

Breaststroke is the slowest of the four main swimming disciplines, but don't believe that means you'll master it quickly.

To get the most out of a breaststroke performance, you'll need a combination of power and perfect timing which requires a lot of skill and practice.

Moose Drill: Pancake your body flat on the surface. Place hands outside of your ears (like Moose antlers). Elbows are bent when knees are bent. KICK forward to full extension using lightning speed with hands and an explosive kick. Swimmers should feel like they’re shooting forward when they get their timing right. Pop head up for breath when needed.

HEAD ABOVE WATER: swim the breaststroke while making a physical effort to keep your head completely out of the water at all times.

The key to this drill is performing it with a fast arm stroke rate, to give you the momentum to keep your upper body raised in the water

Elbows close together: swim the breaststroke making sure your elbows touch at the end of the push phase POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

49

THE

#S

THAT

MAKE

ME

WISER

Statistics to reflect on...

4.5% UNBALANCED

4.5% of women's employment is at risk, compared to 3.8% of men's employment, as women work in industries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic **https://resources.workable.com

60%

FINANCIAL

COLABORATION

54% of employees say a strong sense of community (great coworkers, celebrating milestones, a common mission) kept them at a company longer than was in their best interest **source:Gusto

INSECURITY

Over 60% of employees are not paid enough to save for an emergency.

REMOTE

54%

SCALES

NON

WORK

ACTIVITY

Employees waste about 2hours per 8hour work day...less than 1hour is optimal. The best solution is to manage an optimal amount of nonwork. this allows your employees to increase their work productivity. **www.sparkhire.com

2

WORK

Only 20% of companies shoulder internet access costs for their remote workers, and only 28% pay for mobile costs. https://financesonline.com

20%

QUITING

40% of employees who do not receive adequate training end up leaving within a year. **cmoe.com

40% POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

50

HGUAL TSAL EHT Don't take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.

Elbert Hubbard

POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

51

What's Your Mermaid Name?

1 + 2 +3 = mermaid name 1 second letter of your first name

A= Snapper B= Pike C= Sole D= Urchin E= Marlin F= Guppy G= Glasscat H= Beta I= Tetra J= Flower Horn

K= Perch L= Discus M= Cod N= Rainbow O= Angel P= Titan Q= Piranha R= Manta S= Danio T= Minnow

2

3

most recent pet

birthday month

Horse = Finder of the Cat = Guardian of the Dog = Hunter of the Bird = Prophet of the Fish = Seeker of the Hamster/gerbil = Lover of the Rabbit = Dancer of the Reptile = Maker of the Other = Creator of the

U= Baracuda V= Tilapia W= Bass X= Walleye Y= Pickerel Z= Prawn

Jan = Tail Tugger Feb= Water Squitter Mar= Motor Boater Jun = Pearl Choker Jul = Coral Keeper Aug= Gem Hog Sept = DolphinWhipper Oct = Jewel Thief Nov = Wave Farter Dec = Storm Sniffer POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

52

POINTS ALL AROUND THE GOAL IS TO COLLECT THE MOST POINTS

Go through the list and give yourself one point for every workplace situation you've been a part of.

1. Hid in the bathroom to kill time 2. Pretended to be sick 3. Stolen office supplies 4. Surfed the internet for personal shopping 5. Had drinks during a lunch meeting 6. Brought lunch and forgot it in the fridge 7. Lied to a customer 8. Spilt coffee on my work 9. Lost office keys or ID 10. Received a discipline letter

11.Slept in & was late for work

12.Distroyed the work bathroom with a #2 13.Fallen asleep at work 14.Photocopied any body part 15.Sent a negative email to the wrong person 16.Showed up for office potluck without anything 17.Spent more than 1hr on social media 18.Farted in a meeting 19.Arrived at work with shirt inside out 20.Had vehicle damaged by another co-worker POOLWORKS MAGAZINE |

53

You don't learn to walk by following rules.

You learn by doing, and by

falling over.

Richard Branson

PoolWorks