February 25, 2026: As You Know
Good Morning,
Can you believe it's the end of February? We are already two months or 1/6 of the way through 2026. 👀
I'm still digging out from a very busy month, including a lot of travel and inquiries about the Canmore Inn & Suites incident (we still don't have any new information). To this end, I'm hiring a new Program Support person to help keep things moving, so if you know someone for whom this role might be a good fit, please send them my way. This role only opens up every few years.
I want to circle back to something Dr. Justin Sempsrott said at StarGuard Elite's CAMP (annual conference) a few weeks ago: start every difficult conversation with "As you know."
My question to Dr. Justin was regarding innovation, especially shifting deeply established precedents: e.g. how do you get management to authorize and adopt new rescue equipment, procedures, ideas, etc. that are scientifically proven to be better, but are not widespread, well-regarded or understood in your area. (Many organizations mistakenly believe they are somehow leaving industry standards of care behind if they try ("stray") to something different.)
Dr. Justin's response? "Start with as you know...."
His rationale? "As you know" brings the leader or authorizing agency along in a way that they're rarely going to dispute what you're saying.
If the person you're talking doesn't know about the new product or changing research, they're unlikely to admit "No, actually, I don't know what you're talking about. " In fact, they'll probably go along with your well-reasoned request to save face. But if they do know and/or have a thought-out reason for not adopting something, they will say "I do know, AND based on this other information I disagree with..." which can at least engage a productive discussion to clearly identify WHY they decline to make the change.
This Q&A followed an excellent session by Dr. Seth Hawkins about the deleterious effects of using backboards (yes, you read that correctly), something that is considered highly heretical in aquatics. But, as either doctor would say, "As you know, the current research doesn't show that backboards leads to be better outcomes." (source)
So, the next time you have a decision or problem or question that errs on the side of being ignored due to innovation, "As you know" it to the rescue!
Are smart glasses going to become the new invasive hazard in & around pools, change rooms & bathrooms?
MSC Cruises Bans Smart Glasses to Protect Privacy
Royal Caribbean Moves to Restrict Smart Glasses in Key Onboard Areas
One of the reasons I like following cruise industry news is because cruise ships are basically fully functional cities (larger ships have up to 10,000 guests & crew) and within that microcosm of sun, sea & alcohol we unwittingly accelerate the discovery process of potential problems from bad behavior.
I haven't heard any reports of smart glasses being an issue in aquatic facilities (yet), but I think it's coming down the pipeline if it's been enough of an issue on cruise lines to implement bans (not taken lightly).
Here's the latest aquatic industry news that I found interesting this week:
Pool Maintenance: The Hard Truth About Hard Water in Swimming Pools
Chlorine-free pools may become reality for small lodges with legislative approval
Currently there is only one chlorine-free pool in Canada and it's the showcase project Borden Pool in Edmonton, at variance from Alberta code. Minneapolis also has Webber Natural Swimming Pool.
How Michael A. Haggard Helped Shape the Virginia Graeme Baker Act and Modern Pool Safety Standards
Michael was kind enough to meet with me regarding my recent SWPSS session.
Baby rescued after gust of wind blows stroller into Lake Michigan
Life Floor's Top Projects of 2025
I don't feature brand blog posts lightly, but the variety of designs truly showcases how the color story (whether it's done with Life Floor or other products) can make a project or facility POP.
Verdict of accidental death in inquest into Ironman event
Quick reminder that we've got extensive videos about these types of incidents on YouTube, including videos with Dr. Katie Cleasby who did her PhD on open-water lifeguard response during these types of events.
Brooklyn Schools Launch Free Swim Program
Alexandria Family Donated Our Special Harbor Water Park to Fairfax County
Unidentified crack a factor in gondola fall at Golden resort
Not strictly pool related, but I find it interesting they're alleging the materials used were insufficient for cold weather conditions were. In aquatics & other industries, we can't rely on all manufacturers to do all due diligence for all applications?
MIT requires every student to know how to swim. But why?
9-year-old girl who drowned in Hersheypark’s wave pool feared deep water
Coroner's reports from the previous year become available in February of the following year.
Health officials investigate potential Legionnaires’ outbreak in Ocoee
Thanks to a health inspector friend who tipped me off to this outbreak at a gym in Florida from a few months ago.
3-Year-Old Boy Drowns During Maternity Photoshoot In Bengaluru
Sues Carnival Cruise Line Over Serious Onboard Waterslide Injury
This is an example of why it's so important that you do daily safety checks on water slides (flow rate, water level, raft inflation) and have impeccable staff training & competency checklists for lifeguards & dispatchers.
This is a very interesting product I saw showcased recently for beach/waterfront applications. It was created for privacy (who's done CPR with 20 people watching? and this was before the smartphone era...) but the secondary benefit has also ended up being that it's much easier for EMS to spot the location in a very crowded area.
I think this could also be a great product for summer camps, sports fields, public events (e.g. parades, festivals), spray parks, water parks, etc.
I am slowly catching up on YouTube editing, so please make sure you're subscribed to be updated when new videos are released on a weekly basis.
See you in March!
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.