SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AWARD LAUNCH TECHNOLOGY AWARD LAUNCH IS FIRST FOR INDUSTRY
25.09.2006
LIW 2006 will see an industry-first award launched to support lifeguards in the use of drowning prevention systems.
The new NaRS Pool Surveillance Technology award has been developed by STA to support the industry in the use of recent technological advances in drowning prevention systems, such as Swimguard. It is the only nationally accredited training of its type, and takes the form of additional modules which NaRS lifeguards can complete in a two to four hour site-based course.
Garry Seghers, NaRS Technical Officer said: “The use of safety systems such as Swimguard is growing at a rapid rate, and as an organisation committed to supporting the industry through change, it is only natural that we should lead the way with the development of a first-of-its-kind training award. We believe that these surveillance systems will become an essential mandatory feature in all pools open to the public, and as health and safety legislation demands that lifeguards are trained on all equipment that they use, this award will ensure compliance.”
The Swimguard system, and others like it, are designed to support lifeguards in their role; with underwater video cameras providing real-time underwater views. This helps lifeguards overcome the physical obstructions of glare, surface reflection, blind spots and line-of-sight blocked by other swimmers; effectively extending lifeguards’ human capabilities, but importantly still leaving the critical decision-making in their hands.
