July 25, 2025: Small shortcuts now lead to big(ger) problems later.
Good Afternoon & Happy Friday,
I've shared in the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class a few times recently that I drive a 13+ year old vehicle. I'm usually very prompt about preventative maintenance, however in March I was quoted $5800 worth of repairs with parts they didn't have in stock. I completely lost the plot to call and book the work. Last week a light came on, and now it's $7500 in repairs.
My friend asked, "Isn't it time for a new vehicle?"
No, I do have a spreadsheet going with the the total cost to operate this vehicle since I got it in 2013, particularly splitting routine maintenance from capital costs. I am confident - based on actual data & numbers - that I'm still at the point (so far!) where this is still a better investment than a new car (after 200,000 km the transmission is going to need some help) but it does bring up two valuable habits I, myself, have clearly not been practising.
1) Small shortcuts now will lead to big(ger) problems later. If I'd prioritized getting my vehicle into the shop right away, maybe we wouldn't have an extra $2000 in repairs. What you resist, will persist! What are you ignoring this week in aquatics that needs to be nipped in the bud? Outcomes are based on actions, not intentions.
2) The best decisions come from data. If I'd stopped to review my vehicle maintenance records sooner, I would have realized none of the work scoped had been done before before in the 13 year life of this vehicle. Yes, it was safe for me to drive away in March, but no, the mechanics probably didn't mean I should wait around another four months or 5,000 km to address these items.
Do I want to spend any of this money? No, but doing nothing isn't a valid choice because I need a vehicle to drive, so sometimes we just have to commit to the least bad course of action.
Lastly, I'm hearing unsubstantiated reports of a drowning fatality at Centennial Pool in Port Coquitlam, BC that may have occurred due to trespassing in the facility overnight, with the body discovered by aquatic staff opening the facility the next morning.
A quick reminder that here in Canada we have something called Occupiers' Liability that requires us to take reasonable steps to lock out high-risk facilities when they're not in use because Occupiers are liable for injuries that may occur to visitors on the premises. When was the last time you rekeyed your locks, updated passwords, swapped out fobs or key cards, etc.
Don't be like me and wait until it's too late!
Here's this week's roundup of aquatic industry news - please note that I always link to articles that are not paywalled or require a signup.
Biden admin spent over $1 million on swimming pool upgrades in war-torn countries, analysis finds
US Embassy swimming pools require maintenance, too. Basic preventative maintenance is being politicized.
5 Million Above-Ground Pools Recalled After Deaths of 9 Kids
Why did it take nine deaths for this recall to happen?
Quebec pool owners could save big after new safety rules clarified
Is this softening the spirit or intent of the law?
It's been 15 years since I was paralyzed at my bachelorette party. How I'm doing now — and why I'm no longer friends with the bridesmaid who pushed me into a pool.
Kudos to this woman for continuing to share her story so others don't suffer the same outcome.
'Filthy' state of UK's oldest lido 'heartbreaking'
Like my vehicle, you need to have a clear line in the sand as to when you will stop reinvesting in existing infrastructure and that needs to be determined well in advance so the decision is not purely emotional.
Youths cause £1,000s in damage at Oxfordshire swimming pool
Same as I said above - when was the last time you swapped the locks at your aquatic facility?
AZDA warns Arizonans of high failure rate in liquid chlorine products
"It was revealed that 77 percent of sampled products... contained less chlorine than advertised." Sodium hypo is also not very shelf stable, so ordering a whole season's worth of chemicals at once may mean its efficacy deteriorates well before the end of the operating season.
Madison LeCroy Explains Why She Doesn't Keep Her Pool Covered After Welcoming Baby Daughter Teddi, Says She's 'Aware of the Risks'
I have no idea who this woman is, but there seems to be a new temperature in the room so to speak since Emilie Kiser's son drowned. This type of story would never have been printed by People Magazine in the past.
18 lifeguards on duty when boy drowned at Chandler pool, city says
Fairly or not to the team in Chandler (because we don't have all the details), people are asking how this could have happened.
Lifeguard’s lunch break drives $20M drowning verdict
I could write a whole newsletter about how poorly organizations manage legally required employee lunch breaks, not providing appropriate backup coverage for either lifeguards or pool operators. We all need to do better.
Pool in Chester closes after child diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth disease
True story: I had a lifeguard sprint into my office once after a child showed up with hand-foot-and-mouth in the pool. In speaking to the parent, she reported he was off school due to being contagious, but then complained the paediatrician did not specify they could not go to the pool.
Sauna Raves Are Coming to London
Community comes together for Heart Beat Club
Yes, it would be great if everyone took a full first aid class, but it may be more realistic to introduce pertinent information at key life stages.
Outaouais football player paralyzed in pool mishap facing lengthy recovery
Vancouverites push to ditch Kits Pool reservation system
Only 20% is allotted to drop-in use. Respectfully, the Vancouver Park Board method for managing resources does need to be revisited.
City Pool Announces Dedicated Senior Swim Hours in August
Neat idea. Is anyone else doing this for swimming, not just aquafit?
Town of Paradise is exploring the possibility of building a swimming pool of its own
Man, woman get hypothermia after stranded in Lake Michigan 7 hours, say life jackets saved them
This is an older story, but I wanted to highlight it because people don't realize it doesn't necessarily take ice cold water to become hypothermic. I knew a girl whose dad contracted hypothermia sitting in a chair in the lake reading his newspaper to stay cool one very hot summer day.
Lifeguards to be mandatory at Estonian swimming pools, aqua parks from 2026
Typhoon Texas hosts FREE ‘Quiet Waters’ morning for sensory-sensitive children on Friday
Love, love, love this idea even just for those of us who can't stand all of the stimuli from lights & sirens.
Love of swimming rekindled after visual impairment
If you haven't seen it, we do have a webinar on our YouTube channel called Blind Girls Swim Too.
The Joy of Swimming With Strangers
Hospital admissions for non-fatal drowning in Finland, 2002–2023: a nationwide population-based register study
"Non-fatal drownings are crucial for assessing the overall burden of drowning."
Israeli startup aims to turn every pool into a ‘smart gym’ for rehab and fitness
Apologies for all of the ads embedded on the page, but this looks like a super interesting product currently in development in Israel.
How Fitness Centers Can Help Solve the Loneliness Crisis
I've always known fitness, including aquatics, plays a huge role in the daily lives of seniors, but this was brought home for me recently after spending time with my cousin's widow. One of the only things he has in his week structure-wise (rebuilding his life since her death) is going to the pool 2-3x per week.
Green Bay firefighters join lifeguards for training at Resch Aquatic Center
More organizations should be doing this because it has the potential to improve patient outcomes.
Steinbach Aquatic Centre could be finest in province
South End Life: Communities of Color Explore Their Relationship With Water, Learn to Swim
Oshun Swim School takes a healing, trauma-informed approach to swimming.
Black Kids Are 2x More Likely To Drown. This Organization is Offering Free Swim Lessons.
"The organization is providing up to $400 per family for beginner swim lessons through an app-based application process that connects Black children and caregivers with providers nationwide."
Thanks as always for being here! I hope to have a new YouTube video to share with you next week. I appreciate your patience as we're in the thick of the summer pool season.
All the best.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.