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Park Hoppin’ In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey T
column came together
in bits and pieces. Typically, something in our industry inspires me and I let my pen and paper take over. Revisions
and many edits follow but the heart of the idea usually appears on the page way in a way I hoped it would. The idea for this column came from tiny whispers, the NFL draft, and a day at the pool. To help tell this story, I also pulled two photos. The pictures are vastly different in season
and place. The first is from the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio, taken a year ago last January. The second is Aiden and I at one of our favourite places, Discovery Cove. Yet, they are connected by our industry and serve to help visually share the theme. For with Wiley Wolf and his pack at the Great Wolf Lodge. We swam in the indoor water park and enjoyed all the holiday-themed game. My beloved Buffalo Bills were playing forget that game, but not for the reasons I had originally hoped. That was the night Bills player Demar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Skipping past the scary details, his story of recovery was, and remains, a miracle. Hamlin recovered and played again takeaway from that night was that CPR was
administered on the field for ten minutes. Hamlin and his medical teams later stated this fast-acting action saved his life. Several months after the game, I took
Aiden to Discovery Cove. We try to visit the park once a year and love the embrace relaxing day surrounded by the we saw a group of new lifeguards practicing a water rescue. Aiden stopped chatting with the monkeys, and quietly watched with rapt attention. I was surprised by his interest. As the lifeguards administered CPR on the practice dummy, he asked if what they were doing was what the Buffalo Bills had done with Hamlin and if that was how he had understand the connection between the two events. I told him it was, and together we we moved on, in search of sting rays and flamingos.
unforeseen situation requiring prompt action a water park, an unconscious person is a crisis. In our industry, oftentimes the first responder to a guest in crisis is a young lifeguard, who has learned critical skills to help someone in need. Because of our they know what to do. Immediately. Lesson will return for its 15th annual event.
took part in the global promotional event that raises awareness about drowning and the fact that swimming is a vital life-saving skill that every child should learn. The Swim Lesson is held in community pools, aquatic facilities, resort pools and water parks. Being safe in and around the water requires more than swimming lessons, and this annual event is a great start. Lifeguards and their vigilant supervision of the guests in their water, and training and knowledge to know how to respond in an emergency, including CPR, make the difference. Becoming a lifeguard means learning skills that stay with a person for their entire life. I admire many leaders in our industry who
started as young lifeguards. Denise Beckson, once started as a lifeguard at Raging Waters
former Raging Waters lifeguard from the & Associates RAC is recognized as one of greatest advocates for water safety in the world. Another dear friend, Franceen at WhiteWater, and was once a teen with a summer job at a small water park in Texas. Denise, RAC, and Franceen have incredible careers and they still know how to help someone in crisis. Their earliest training as teens has remained with them. So where am I going with all of this?
Whether you are operating a water park or taking a vacation that involves water, take a moment to thank the lifeguards. Let their leaders know you see and appreciate are there, quietly watching and keeping us safe in the water. I also invite you to learn CPR. Look to
your colleagues, ask HR to schedule a department-wide training. Take part and bring that training to your home. Share the basics with your family and consider taking a CPR class together. My family saw CPR during both the best and worst time: in training and in practice. Both experiences had positive outcomes, and we are forever changed by both experiences. Swimming lessons and CPR lessons go together, and I hope this summer as our industry trains the next generation of lifeguards, more of us will take the time to also learn how to help save a life. Go Bills!
JUNE 2024 5
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