Safety is serious business at Splash Works each season
Grace Peacock
|
A frequent question we get from guests and the news media is: What do you do in Splash Works to get it ready for a safe operating season? Here’s the scoop.
The waterpark opened on May 26 and we spent the past several months getting ready for the big day. In addition to the construction of our newly expanded kids’ area, Lakeside Lagoon, our maintenance team performed an array of activities that fit into a long-term specified set of planned actions:
- The water is drained out of the pools and slides.
- All parts of the slides, pools, loading platforms and queue lines are cleaned, inspected and repaired as needed.
- All inner tubes, floats and mats are cleaned and inspected, and repaired or replaced as needed.
- Water is reintroduced into the attractions, and a rigorous inspection and test process assures that the water levels, pressure, and flow rates are within operating limits.
- Water sanitation systems are refined, and the water is brought to the proper chemistry levels.
When the waterpark is deemed ready for operating season, all attractions are inspected by local and provincial regulatory authorities as well as an outside third party safety agency.
Each operating day, the waterpark’s maintenance and operations teams inspect and test every moving component of every ride according to a predetermined list of inspection points. All inspection points must be passed before the ride can be opened to our guests. If an item does not pass, it is repaired before the ride opens. Finally, park associates do a test run and ride to make sure everything is operating as it should. Throughout the day, the water in the waterpark is tested for appropriate levels of sanitation.
In addition to this, lifeguard staff undergo extensive training and safety procedures:
- Each lifeguard, before starting in the waterpark, must attend an Ellis & Associates lifeguard training class – approximately 24 hours of pool time.
- Each lifeguard must hold a current CPR - Level C Health Care Provider designation. We teach many courses on site with our own trained CPR Instructors.
- Each lifeguard also attends location training out in the waterpark, learning how to operate their slides and pool environments.
- The Aquatics Supervision team also perform ‘Zone Validations’ on every pool, or catch pool. This requires them to place a mannequin in various points of the pool, and validate that it can be seen by the guard at any point. Lifeguarding Zones are based on these validations, ensuring that each guard is able to see anyone in their zone at all times of the day, due to lighting changes, etc.
- All of the rescue equipment is checked and put in place.
The next time you see a waterpark associate, why not thank him or her for the efforts involved in the never-ending task of keeping everyone safe!