May 21, 2026: Lifeguard Workplace Injuries & Fatalities
Good Afternoon,
Two years ago this week, I was at the Atlantic Recreation Facilities Conference (ARFC) in Saint John, New Brunswick presenting on lifeguard workplace injuries & fatalities - yes, fatalities. That presentation is available on our YouTube channel here, in case you haven't seen it. Sadly, it's all incidents that took place in the US or Canada during the last decade.
The reason I wanted to reshare that conference session with you was because I was speaking with aquatic colleague recently about the topic and said, "There were SO many lifeguard injuries & fatalities I could have included in the conference session, especially outdoor water parks, but I would have needed at least a 3-hour/half-day session. Do you know about Lorna Barr's death in British Columbia in 1992?"
I sent the person resources about Lorna Barr, to which they responded with a point I hadn't previously considered: why does no one in aquatics in Canada - especially Lifesaving Society National Lifeguards in Alberta & BC - know about Lorna Barr? What a missed opportunity for education & advocacy. And it's not performative: the Lifesaving Society uses inquests to create policies and standards from legal precedents - I know, because I've been digging into all of them in Ontario recently - and this is a textbook example of how we can train better lifeguards by implementing recommendations after an inquest.
To be clear, the only reason I know Lorna Barr's name is from my facilities director in Alberta in 2013. He told me the story because he was on shift at the facility as a junior janitor on the day when this incident occurred. The incident pre-dates the internet, so I purchased a temporary license to access newspaper archives (remember those?) so I want to share a selection of articles regarding what little we do know about Lorna's death in the wave pool. You can download those articles here.
May Lorna's memory - and all of the other lifeguards mentioned in my presentation - be a blessing to those of us in aquatics. Please consider making workplace safety a focus of your next inservice or morning pre-shift meeting.
This post from LinkedIn perfectly summarizes the push-pull that many aquatic professionals face on a daily basis.
All Those A.I. Note Takers? They’re Making Lawyers Very Nervous.
In 2025, I made a policy - included on our FAQ - that AI note takers (software/devices) would not be allowed in my Certified Pool Operator (CPO) classes. It wasn't about making some moral or philosophical statement; I just don't believe it's appropriate in my education environment.
Similarly, I've started to see some industry meetings go absolutely overboard and record everything, while other more sensitive topics or projects are recording nothing (they're still using a human person to take brief meeting minutes).
I don't have all of the answers, but I do think this is a relevant point for aquatic facility managers and a good coda for the AI in aquatics conversation a few weeks ago...especially after I saw that robot lawnmowers can be hacked.
Here's everything else I've been reading & thinking about this week.
Student hospitalized after being found unresponsive in pool of Modesto high school
Girl, 10, Gets Finger Stuck In Beacon HS Pool: Firefighters Cut Section To Free Her
Waterslide up, water tested in new Vernon pool
Mexico Review Rcl Project faces Greenpeace protest, permit scrutiny in Mahahual
You don't have to be interested in cruising to know that once Greenpeace gets involved, this large scale pool project is getting messy. "Mexico’s environment ministry, Semarnat, said a few hours after the protest that the Perfect Day project in Mahahual is still undergoing environmental assessment and, to date, does not have environmental authorization for development, construction or operation. That leaves the project in a tense holding pattern: the company is presenting a destination meant to transform the coast, while regulators are saying the legal green light has not been given."
Perfect Day, the Royal Caribbean water park that threatens to devour Mexico’s Mahahual ecosystem
As budgets tighten, Vermont towns struggle to afford recreation facilities
Enderby’s New Outdoor Pool Sets June 12 for Soft Opening
This is one of the few all-metal outdoor swimming pools that I'm aware of in Canada.
Birch Bay Waterslides for sale for $6M
Morgan’s Inclusion Institute Expands Accessibility Training to IAAPA Members
CBRM considers crackdown on firefighters filling private swimming pools
I've never understood why this is a service provided in so many communities.
Charlotte-area splash pads, parks impacted by drought as water restrictions begin
First Spain, then Texas and now North Carolina.
5-Month-Old Girl Who Drowned at Best Western Hotel Identified as Officials Say Her Death Was an Accident
This baby was too young to be physically mobile....
Webinar: Strong Guards & Strong Systems | Lifeguard Training, Documentation & Aquatic Safety Systems
I was listening to the replay of Kate Connell's recent webinar, and I absolutely loved how she reminded me (us) about the risk management side of administering a swim test. So many of us (just) do it out of habit, a task standing between us and our off rotation, without thinking about the implication anymore. There should be a sensible amount of "pressure" on having a young swimmer able to perform certain metrics under a small amount of physical stress, as well as not putting the burden to retest on the rest of our guard team.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants free swimming lessons and Kits pool changes
Read it here without a paywall.
From California to New Zealand: 6 new Wavegarden surf park projects underway
FYI, this is a press release, but I like reviewing these to see where new projects are in progress.
California diver says he will search Johnston Canyon for body of man who drowned two weeks ago
I think it's significant that no one who actually lives (and dives) in Alberta has offered to do this search; the conditions are too dangerous. We also received a bunch of snow in Southern Alberta this past weekend...so much so that some of the surrounding ski hills are extending the season at least another week.
'A dangerous cycle': Buffalo's shrinking pool system leaves few options for city residents
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
Which AI Glasses Are Right For You?
Since this has been an ongoing topic in this newsletter, I thought you might appreciate knowing what they look like and what options they include.
Aquatix: Accent Lights
This is a product profile from a supplier, but it had honestly never occurred to me to add night lights to spray park/splash pad to turn the unused venue into an experience or art installation.
Broken glass found in popular public pool in Tucson likely caused by vandals
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
PS. The audio version of last week's newsletter is here.