March 7, 2025: ISO Meetings on drowning technology
Greetings from Oslo! Norway was not on my bingo card for 2025, but life happens when you're busy making other plans.
I am a delegate to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) which forms the Canadian mirror delegation to International Standards Organization (ISO) Technical Committees. I participate in the working group for ISO 20380:2017 Public swimming pools: Computer vision systems for the detection of drowning accidents in swimming pools — Safety requirements and test methods. Our working group is meeting at Standards Norway this week.
We are working to create a more rigorous test regimen and certification standard for computer drowning technology systems (e.g. Poseidon, AngelEye, Lynxight, SwimEye, Poolview, etc.) in commercial swimming pools. As a long-time lifeguard, I have concerns about how these systems are being deployed. The shortage of lifeguards due to Pandemic aquatic facility closures has also dramatically accelerated the demand in some places o try and replace or reduce lifeguard staffing levels by implementing these AI systems.
Rather than delude myself into thinking no one would ever do that (I've seen a lot of scary things as a management consultant over the last five years🤐) I prefer to be proactive and solution-focused, hence my involvement with creating high quality product standards.
For those involved with the residential pool industry, there is a similar need for product standardization. I spent several years cochairing ASTM F3698-24: Standard Specification for Computer-vision Drowning Detection Systems for Residential Swimming Pools because it's the wild west in terms of what's being sold online to petrified parents and no proof of product effectiveness.
Committee working is very challenging, but rewarding in terms of the people that you meet and the impact you can have. There is no financial support to do this kind of work, but the destinations are usually interesting.
Quick reminder regarding upcoming Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) Certified Pool Operator (CPO) registration deadlines:
EoD Monday, March 10 for the March 17 CPO Fusion class
EoD Monday, March 17 for the March 24 - 27 Zoom CPO class
This week has been much quieter than last week on the industry news front:
State of Aquatic Facility Infrastructure 2025
Australia did a incredible job categorizing aquatic infrastructure, right down to how many lifeguards, basins, major incident, etc. occur in each province or territory. Both Canada and the USA could learn from projects like this.
LA Sanitation Releases Guidance for Managing Swimming Pools in Fire-Impacted Areas
Hopefully you never have to drain your pool after a natural disaster or extended evacuation, but I don't think we talk enough in general about proper disposal of outdoor water (swimming pool, spray parks & splash pads) at the end of the summer season. There's some good, thoughtful guidance here.
Pool cleaners in high demand after wildfires contaminate swimming pools in burn zones with toxins
Includes a good discussion of the hazards associated with fire suppression system chemicals entering pool water and the biohazard of pools that have turned.
Pop-up cinema in disused swimming pool draws 1,000 to unique screenings
Kind of a unique way to see the space repurposed, rather than destroyed.
City Council gives final approval for Jacksonville Surf Park
After Nordic spas, these surf parks are cropping up everywhere. We don't have any projects yet in Canada, but the number of projects open or under construction in the USA alone is closing in on 10.
Illegal hotels, pools and hot tubs: Santorini’s ‘building crimes’ are a disaster waiting to happen
Who remembers the catastrophic residential pool failure in Israel a few years ago? Too many people think just anyone can build a whole with water. Construction permits save lives.
Drowning in Overconfidence: The Reality of Marine Corps Swimming Proficiency
Drowning fatalities routinely occur in all US Armed Forces services, but the number of marines who've died on the job over the last 10 years is startling. "They deserve more than just basic swimming skills; they need to embody competence in the water to meet the demands of their diverse and challenging missions."
New data from Surf Life Saving Australia shows increased drowning risk on public holidays
This is something we also see in North America around key holidays like Victoria Day or July 4th, but quantifying the increased drowning risk is the first step to solving it.
Wild swimming gave me the courage to write my own rules
A great piece about how people come to swimming in totally different ways.
If you need a good laugh this week, a colleague reminded me of this OH&S violation.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.