Congratulations to Ashley Wells, the October 2020 Competitor Swim Aquatic Professional of the Month.
 
Ashley Wells has been in the Aquatic Industry since 2001, starting as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Growing up on the Texas Coast, she learned to swim before she was able to walk. Ashley is currently the Aquatic Program Manager for the City of Austin Aquatic Division, where she oversees the operations of 45 aquatic facilities, 750 lifeguards, 16 swim teams and swim lessons for 3,500+ participants. Ashley is passionate about providing swim lessons and job opportunities to Austin community.  Read it.
Competition Pool Options, Technology Expanding

It takes much more than a pool of water to put on a competitive swimming event. There are moving parts at every level of competition — from local club teams to high schools to colleges and on up to the Olympics. While every pool operator is working with different programming and funding capabilities, competition pool options have expanded over the years to allow operators to find what's best for their facility. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, the expanding options dictate that building a pool starts with the planning phase. Read it.
Sponsored Content: Evaporating Dollars? Get Covered!
 
Water evaporation is a major culprit contributing to a swimming pool's high energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, "Swimming pools lose energy in a variety of ways, but evaporation is by far the largest source of energy loss. Hands down, the best way to reduce energy bills is by covering pools when they are not in use with an edge to edge insulated cover.  Read it.
Iowa Student-Athletes Sue Over Swim/Dive Team Cut

Four members of the University of Iowa’s women’s swimming and diving team filed a lawsuit against the school on Friday, alleging that the decision to eliminate the program violates Title IX. Read it.
Lake Michigan drownings set a record with 53 lives lost, including several in Wisconsin waters

With record high water levels, a warm summer and people going to the beach for relief from coronavirus quarantines, Lake Michigan has set a grim milestone — a record high number of drownings. Read it.
Revitalize and increase visitor numbers with Wibit’s interlocking combinations and transform your swimming pool into a water adventure for all ages. All Wibit pool combinations are designed to fit the standard pool size. While keeping our successful standard combinations, we also present the new FastTrack for another competitive edge. View it.
What To Expect When You Pull A Drowning Person Out of The Water

The more we talk to people, the more we realize that they don’t quite know what to expect if they were to encounter a person who was in the drowning process and was brought out of the water and placed on the deck or ground. Do you know what to expect if you pulled a child out of the pool? Read it.
Water Safety Becomes a Part of the Curriculum in Greece

Every year in Greece, 325 people lose their lives at sea. Drowning is the second leading cause of death by accident for children from infancy to the age of 14. Since its inception in 2015, the nonprofit organization Safe Water Sports has been trying to reverse the patterns that produce these sad statistics by making people safer in and near the water. Read it.
New “What if Kids Had Gills and Fins?” Video Shows Importance of Taking Precautions to Keep Kids Safer in and around Water

What if kids were born with gills and fins? Then no parent or caregiver would ever have to worry about their safety in the water. But because children do not have these extra body parts, the PSA demonstrates via unique animation the critical importance of teaching children how to swim. Launched by CPSC today, September 22, the video emphasizes that because children do not possess built-in swimming abilities, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1-4 each year. Therefore the best way to keep kids safer is by following simple water safety steps.
  
Please click on the following links to view the PSA in these formats:
SPONSORED CONTENT
New Manikin allows start to finish Lifeguard Training

The Ruth Lee Pool Rescue manikin is already transforming lifeguard training around the world. It allows a trainee to complete a simulated rescue, from start to finish, without needing to switch between different equipment and live volunteer casualties. Perfect for post-COVID training!  From deep-water recovery and towing, to assisted lifts and using a rescue board, the Pool Rescue manikin allows a trainee to learn essential skills while minimizing person-to-person contact. Read it.
For a nominal fee, your agency can post a job opening on the AOAP website and in the AOAP Weekly. To learn more about this service click here.
OPEN AQUATIC POSITIONS - Post a job today!

Association of Aquatic Professionals
(Closes October 1, 2020)

Aquatic Superintendent, The Woodlands, Texas
(Open Until filled, however, closes on AOAP website 9/30/2020)
Registration is open for the 2021 AOAP Conference and Exposition and the 2021 Diversity in Aquatics Convention

The 2021 AOAP Conference and Exposition and Diversity in Aquatics Convention full registration booklet is now available and we are taking registrations. There is also a fantastic virtual option for AOAP being offered as well if you are not able to attend in person. Click here for attendee or exhibitor registration Information and to download the conference/convention booklet or Click here to apply for an AOAP Conference scholarship.
HydroApps Where Aquatic Management Meets Life

Lower risk with HydroApps and track every aspect of an effective operations and risk management program. With tracking for certifications to training to performance, you’ll have the tools you need to proactively prevent costly incidents and gain instant insight into trends occurring within your facility. AOAP Members receive 15% off.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2020/2021Sponsors, Marketing & Conference Partners
Pete DeQuincy, Aquatics Manager, East Bay Regional Park District, pdequincy@ebparks.org
(Content Manager)

Juliene R. Hefter, Executive Director/CEO, AOAP, 262-894-9772, juliene@aquaticpros.org
(Content Editor)