My Fathers Passing

My father was a "Man of a Million Laughs" everytime we talked. He loved to tell "Little Johnny" jokes. I have included a link to a few of these jokes:

http://www.little-johnny-joke.com/

27 Feb 1940 - 14 Oct 2009

My Dad was a man of the SEA. He spent his whole life on the water.
I remember when he would come home from a trip at sea; he wanted to see his children. My brother (John), my sister (Robbie) and I would get excited every time he visited us after one of his trips. My Dad loved to play card games. We would spend hours playing games like Gin Rummy and Go Fish.

When he visited my family in North Carolina, he taught his grandsons (Ian and Justin) how to play card games as well. He had taken my daughter (Meredith) out for a walk and she began splashing through the puddles. He affectionately named his "little ducky".

I know he was a devoted family man even though he couldn't be there most of the time. He biggest concern was that his children were taken care of while he was away. I know that he is proud of all his children and their children and his great-grandson (Andrew Benjamin Wical).

I know that he is resting in the knowledge that his grandchildren and great grandchildren are in the good hands. I will love and miss you very much.

Richard

Instructors - Do you have your order in for the new ARC Swimming and Water Safety materials (r.09)

Pre-sales begin 23 December 2008 for chapters to pre-order their new materials from Staywell.

Only Chapters can pre-order these materials from 23 December 2008 to 25 January 2009.

Shipping of chapter ordered materials will begin on 27 February 2009 or as soon as the program releases.

ARC instructors can begin pre-ordering materials directly from Staywell on 26 January 2009. Instructor's registered on "Instructor's Corner" or "ShopStaywell.com" will receive an email to alert them that the program materials are available for pre-sale.

Instructors should check "Instructor's Corner" for program and instructor updates .

Aquatic Providers - Are you prepared for the VGB Safety Act?

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGBSA) is scheduled for enforcement on 19 December 2008. If you are a pool operator, you need to understand this legislation.

The VGBSA was enacted to help ensure the safety of the public who use pools and spas. The legislation requires that public pools and spas be equipped with certified drain covers or grates that meet the required ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 standards and safety measures to prevent entrapment and evisceration.

In summary, the act states that public pools which are currently in operation must be in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act by December 19, 2008. Pools which operate on a seasonal basis and are not currently in operation have until their first day of operation for the coming season to be in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Safety Act (VGBSA).

Because of some unexpected circumstances which have affected the ability of many facilities to be able to comply with the VGBSA by December 19, many aquatic professionals have been and are communicating with their respective members of Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to request a delay in the effective date of the legislation. Further information regarding this may be obtained through your state park and recreation office or from the National Park and Recreation Association (www.nrpa.org).

For more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Safety Act, please see the following documents from the Consumer Product Safety Commission or visit the following websites –

Consumer Product Safety Commission: www.cpsc.gov/whatsnew.html
Aquatics International: http://www.aquaticsintl.com/poolsafety/08safety_faq.html
National Swimming Pool Foundation: www.nspf.org
National Recreation and Park Association: www.nrpa.org
NBC’s Today Show “Is Your Local Pool Safe?” segment: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/28251182#28251182

If you are a Water Safety Instructor or Lifeguard Instructor, then check out this information for the safety of your young patrons and to ensure that your facility is in compliance with this new requirement.

Water Safety and Lifeguard Instructors need to review the Implementation Guide (r.09)

The expected release date for the new revision of the Swimming and Water Safety program is 27 Feb 09. Instructors should review the the Swimming and Water Safety Implementation Guide to learn about program highlights, new materials, ordering information, and instructor update requirements:

Contact the Preparedness and Health and Safety Services Program Coordinator at your local chapter (Southern Arizona Chapter) for additional information.

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Update

The Preparedness department and Health and Safety Services have conducted a review of the validity length of the CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer (CPR/AED-PR) certification based on requests from American Red Cross (ARC) chapters. All CPR certifications were considered and it was determined that the change to a two-year CPR certificate validity period would be appropriate for professional rescuers other than lifeguards.

Professional rescuers other than lifeguards are in a position to use CPR/AED skills on a regulare basis due to job responsibilities. The American Red Cross Advisory Counceil on First Aid, Aquatics, Safety and Preparedness (ACFASP) review of the scientific literature indicates formal retraining can be changed to a biennial occurrence for some rescuers. The review has indicated that skill and knowledge retention can be accomplished through a variety of methods including skill performance, retraining and skills refreshers.

Lifeguards are excluded from the two-year certification due to the predominantly seasonal nature of their work. In addition, the American Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service supports an annual training standard. Therefore the certificate issued for lifeguards will be valid for one year.

The American Red Cross has announced the following changes to the certificates and validity periods for CPR/AED-PR course:

• Certificates issued in a CPR/AED-PR course will now be valid for two-years (except for lifeguards). The certificate issued for this course will have a new title:

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider

• Certificates issued in a CPR/AED-PR course for lifeguards will be valid for one year. The certificate issued to the lifeguards will have the new title:

CPR/AED for Lifeguards

This change may be implemented immediately by ARC chapters and ARC - Authorized Providers (AP); however, this change will take effect on 1 Jan 2009.

Following both scientific literature and OSHA recommendatoins, the ARC continues to strongly encourage all professional rescuers to retrain in CPR/AED annually and to refresh their skills at least every six months. The maintenance of skills and knowledge is achieved by a combination of course work including retraining, skills refreshers and application of these skills.

If you have questions, contact me or the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

CEU's Available for Approved Red Cross Training Courses and Presentations

The Red Cross has been approved by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (ACET) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for approved Red Cross training courses and presentations.

Effective November 3, training course participants and presentation attendees across all lines of service will be able to obtain CEUs via the Red Cross online store.

http://www.redcrossstore.org/dp.aspx?pgid=547

CEUs can be obtained in aquatics, First Aid, CPR, AED, Caregiving, Instructor Training, International Services, Disaster Services, and Service to the Armed Forces.

Please contact me or the local chapter of the American Red Cross to obtain additional information concerning this important topic for anyone who requires CEUs in their profession.

New Lifeguard Instructor in Douglas, AZ

The city of Douglas Arizona recently obtained a new Lifeguard Instructor. Michelle Cardenas completed the Lifeguard Instructor Course on 11/16/2008. Congradulations, Michelle!

If you are interested in becoming a lifeguard or lifeguard instructor you can contact me or the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The summer 2009 swim season is fast approaching. If you have an aquatic facility in Cochise County and need to schedule a lifeguard, lifeguard management, or CPR for the Professional Rescuer class contact me or the chapter office.

Check out the new lifeguard insturctor updates and materials on Insturctor's Corner and at https://www.shopstaywell.com