Part of providing good supervision is knowing what to do when there is an emergency. All swimming pools should have an emergency action plan (EAP) in place to address various potential emergencies. Think of an emergency action plan as a script or playbook. It outlines the steps to follow in case of an emergency. Each facility should have an EAP specific to their needs. This includes a plan with various scenarios.
An EAP always has three basic steps that must always be followed. In CPR classes, it is commonly referred to as a chain of survival. What it is called is not as important as following the three main steps it contains.
- A water watcher must recognize an emergency is taking place.
- A water watcher must activate the EAP, which may include calling 911.
- Finally, the aquatics team must respond appropriately to the emergency at hand.
It is that simple. The rest of the plan is the specific details of how to respond to each type of emergency.
Notes:
- An EAP should be thought of as process, it is crucial to execute every duty or step to ensure a successful outcome.
- EAP’s will be different at each facility based on its layout, features, number of people available to help, equipment available, etc.