FINAL_FW2607-08_DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 28
SAFETY CORNER
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
By Joey Baumer, general manager, Typhoon Texas Waterpark
Elevating Aquatic Safety
Making drowning prevention our foundation
WATER IS THE UNIVERSAL DRAW OF OUR
INDUSTRY, offering thrills, relaxation, and
relief from the summer heat. Yet, for aquatic
operators, the presence of water demands
an uncompromising commitment to guest
wellbeing. Drowning prevention cannot
simply be a standalone protocol; it must be
the foundation upon which every successful
water park and aquatic facility operates.
The statistics surrounding water
safety are a sobering reminder of why
our vigilance matters. Globally, drowning claims approximately 230,000 lives
each year, according to the World Health
Organization. In the United States, recent
data from the Centers for Disease Control
shows drowning deaths are unfortunately
on the rise, with more than 4,500 fatalities
annually. It currently stands as the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4,
and over half of all U.S. adults have never
taken a formal swimming lesson. Almost
all drownings are preventable, with most
occurring when there is a lapse in supervision or lack of physical barriers.
As the attractions industry evolves,
so must our approach to aquatic safety.
Proactive drowning prevention requires
a multi-layered strategy that integrates
rigorous training, facility design, and
relentless public awareness, elevated by
modern best practices.
These actions can bring a continuous
awareness to both staff and guests:
• Zone Validation & Auditing:
Regularly validate lifeguard zones of
protection and conduct unannounced
“drop drills” by using submersible
mannequins and silhouettes. Test
your team often to keep responders
ready and alert. Train leadership to
identify when lifeguards are not acting
attentively and stand ready to address
issues immediately.
• Active Guest Education: Clear signage,
strictly enforced height requirements
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and raft weight limits, and mandatory life jacket rules for
non-swimmers are critical administrative controls. Operators
should consider introducing interactive life jacket fit stations
at the front gate to proactively educate parents upon entry.
• Empowering the Frontline: Foster a culture where lifeguards
feel entirely empowered to blow their whistles, enforce
rules, and halt unsafe guest behaviors before they escalate
into emergencies. Consider rewarding good behavior for staff
with incentive programs, such as rewarding tokens (beads,
stickers, points) immediately for specific desired behaviors,
which staff can later exchange for rewards. It is a behavioral
modification system that can increase performance, morale,
and engagement by providing tangible recognition of workrelated accomplishments.
World Drowning Prevention Day
Summer presents a prime opportunity for operators to champion
these initiatives on a broader scale. July 25 is recognized globally
as World Drowning Prevention Day, serving as a vital moment to
highlight life-saving solutions.
World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
Coinciding with this on July 25 is The World’s Largest Swimming
Lesson (WLSL). We highly recommend that facilities sign up to
be a host location. Participating in the WLSL is a phenomenal
way to bring crucial water safety awareness directly to your local
community.
Ultimately, drowning prevention is an ongoing journey. By
anchoring our operations in these core safety themes, we ensure
our facilities remain places of joy, thrill, and lasting positive
memories.
Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2026 | IAAPA.org/Funworld
Water Parks can
register to participate
in The World’s
Largest Swimming
Lesson (WLSL) on
July 25 at wlsl.org
Webinar: Drowning
Prevention—July 22
IAAPA.org/
event/drowningprevention-northamerican-waterparks
Joey Baumer serves
as the chairman of
the IAAPA Water
Park Committee, a
CPO instructor with
the PHTA, and has
served on multiple
World Waterpark
Association
Committees,
including the WWA
Safety Committee
and the WWA Resort
Committee. Connect
:
with him on
