American Red Cross: 10 Ways to Keep Trick or Treaters Safe This Halloween

Halloween is just days away. Fast becoming one of the most popular holidays in this country, masses of little superheroes, cartoon and television characters will soon be out in their neighborhoods for trick or treat fun. The American Red Cross has ten tips parents can follow to help keep the kids safe while enjoying the festivities.

  1. Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen.
    – Use face makeup instead of masks which make seeing difficult.
    – Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.
    – Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
    – Have everyone wear light-colored clothing.
  2. Use flame-resistant costumes.
  3. Make sure adults know where the kids are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door.
  4. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
  5. Walk, don’t run.
  6. Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
  7. Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.
    – If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic.
    – Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner.
    – Don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
    – Don’t cross between parked cars.
    – Drivers – use extra caution. The youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing.
  8. A grown-up should check the goodies before eating.
    – Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.
    – Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.
  9. If you are planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, follow these safety steps:
  10. Light the area well so young visitors can see.
  11. Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

To the memory of our dearly departed friend – Kenneth (Kenny) Peters

Aquatic Solutions and the team celebrate the life of Ken Peters.  Ken passed away surrounded by family on February 12, 2022 at 1:10PM.  Ken was an idol and role model in the Aquatic world and American Red Cross Programs.  Our staff and team at Aquatic Solutions had the pleasure of working with and discussing his love for Aquatics and his extensive experience with lifeguarding, Water safety, First aid, and CPR courses.  Ken would consistently be found in the pool while spreading his positive vibes and energy to all around him.  He will be missed however his lessons and contribution to the Aquatic world will always live on with everyone at Aquatic Solutions.

Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic

Opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed during the pandemic, killing more than 69,000 people in 2020.

As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage too many communities, Aquatic Solutions is taking a significant step that, we hope, will help save lives with the American Red Cross Naloxone(also known as Narcan) Program.

Saving lives, with minimal training

For those wondering about the safety of this step — having the nasal spray available to anyone to administer — addictions experts and public health officials say it’s safe. Administering the nasal spray is something anyone can do, with just a little training. Naloxone does not require medical training to administer, and there are no harmful effects if it’s given to someone not experiencing an overdose.

Signing up for this training is made easy!  Check out our full schedule today.


Sources:

https://time.com/6129899/opioid-overdose-west-virginia/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/1/10/22872675/chicago-public-library-overdose-reversal-medication-narcan-opioids-public-health

https://www.verywellmind.com/why-you-should-take-narcan-training-right-now-5194545

Healthcare Suite Highlight

Aquatic Solutions is so much more than Aquatics.  We are the leading Provider in American Red Cross training and have constantly been eager to get the newest programming to the community.  The recent updates for the healthcare programs have been incorporated from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations and the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020.

Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Aquatic Solutions is with the times and brings all training needs to the community.  With the release of the Advanced Life Support program in 2019 Aquatic Solutions was one of the first to teach this with trained Red Cross Instructors.  Sign up for a class now to check out this awesome program!

First Aid For Severe Trauma (coming soon)

With the new release of this program Aquatic Solutions is taking steps to offer this program to the community.  This program will be a great addition for communities as uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma.

The American Red Cross First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) program provides participants with the knowledge and skills they need to respond to an emergency involving life-threatening bleeding, including how to:

  • Recognize a life-threatening bleeding emergency.
  • Ensure safety and communicate effectively in an emergency.
  • Control life-threatening bleeding using direct pressure, a tourniquet, or both. The program is designed to enhance participants’ ability to take decisive, lifesaving action to assist a person with a traumatic injury and life-threatening bleeding until professional responders arrive.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

With busy schedules, Aquatic Solutions has always been up and front when it came to healthcare providers finding training so we answered with an abundance of offerings.  The American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) course is designed to train healthcare

professionals including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public

safety personnel to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants.

Content in this program is consistent with:

  • The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 International
    Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Science with Treatment Recommendations.
  • The American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course emphasizes providing high-quality patient care by integrating psychomotor skills, rhythm interpretation, electrical interventions and pharmacologic knowledge with critical thinking and problem solving to achieve the best possible outcomes for pediatric patients.  Join our waitlist in your area to sign up for the course.  Email us for your interest.

American Red Cross Training Near ME

Aquatic Solutions takes Training near me to another level.  Over the last few decades Aquatic Solutions has been expanding to many locations around the country to better service the community with high quality safety training courses.  Our mission to provide these courses to help save and sustain life.

Many jobs require up to date lifesaving skills because they address health emergencies every day – people such as health care providers, first responders, and lifeguards. Others, including teachers and babysitters, are entrusted with precious young lives that could require aid on a moment’s notice.

Those of us who don’t face health emergencies every day can also benefit from Red Cross training. With a wide array of Lifeguarding, Caregiving and Babysitting, and Swimming and Water Safety courses the Red Cross can provide you with the training and skills you need to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

American Red Cross Training

If you are in need of training check out the programs and location for your next training:

Deepest condolences to the family of Linda-sue Sutherland

With great sadness, Aquatic Solutions would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Linda-sue Sutherland. Linda-sue unexpectedly passed away last week. She was part of the American Red Cross and Aquatic Solutions family as a Water Safety Instructor Trainer for many years and she will be remembered fondly and warmly as an incredibly amazing mentor and a friend to us and everyone she knew. She was a true American Red Cross warrior and a champion of Aquatics for over 40 years. Her work and her impact on so many will never be forgotten but rather warmly remembered.

The Aquatic Solutions Health and Safety Promise!

Enter the Aquatic Solutions Safe Zone, leave even safer!!

The Health and Safety for our participants is our top priority. We take very diligent steps in making sure the mannequins and equipment used in all our courses are properly sanitized according to the American Red Cross guidelines.

Ways you are protected:

  • Brand NEW Pocket Face Masks! – Professional Rescuer and Health Care Provider classes (Adult and Pediatric Face Mask Included – Yours to Keep)
  • Brand NEW Breathing Barrier – First aid/CPR/AED (lay Responder Classes
  • FREE Hand Sanitizer bottle – Yours to Keep
  • Hand Sanitizer Station and handwashing breaks
  • Brand NEW Single-use, hospital grade, Nitrile Gloves and First Aid Equipment
  • Wearing of masks and social distancing are fully enforced in accordance with CDC and American Red Cross guidelines.
  • Equipment extensively sanitized after each use with at least 70% alcohol-based sanitizer. We use upwards of 91% as well.
  • Reduced Class sizes
  • MERV-13 Filters!

New York City Indoor Pools To Reopen On Sept. 30 At 33% Capacity

NEW YORK CITY — After months of lockdown and the inability to swim inside at gyms and rec centers across New York City, indoor pools will be open the end of September, meaning some more ways to exercise and stay healthy throughout the colder season.

Aquatic Solutions has extensive guidelines that exceeds the CDC, American Red Cross, and DOH requirements to keep you safe!  Aquatic Solutions is providing each participant with a free hand sanitizer with there in person course.  We are excited to get everyone the certification they need to save lives in the safest environment possible.

“As New York City continues its gradual reopening and economic recovery, we’re proud to announce we are ready to reopen indoor pools. Swimming pools are a community anchor, an exercise center, and an oasis in their neighborhoods — both literally and figuratively. New Yorkers have worked hard to fight back COVID-19. As transmission rates remain low, we’re proud to offer more ways to slowly return to business as usual,” the mayor said in a statement.

New York Post: Why Pools Are Facing A Severe Lifeguard Shortage

The hottie European lifeguards often seen strutting their stuff around private pool clubs will be nowhere to be found July 4.

Recruiters up and down the East Coast are reporting a severe shortage of the exchange students they’ve relied on for years — and they’re blaming visa issues.

“In the last year or so, we’ve seen dramatic ups and downs from certain countries that have long been where these pool management companies have been recruiting from. So we’re seeing dramatic (changes) with the visa denial rate,” said Jennifer Hatfield, director of government relations for the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals.

Brian Bergeski, president of American Pool in New Jersey, said he has got enough domestic lifeguards to cover his clients, but the visa problem at other companies has set off a “bidding war” for students as young as 15.

“There are pools that to date are still not open,” Bergeski said of his competitors. “It’s probably the hardest staffing year.”

Recruiters sounded the alarm in May and predicted — accurately — that some pools would have to close because there was no one to oversee safety.

Authorities in Allentown, Pa., closed one public pool and limited hours at three others because they can’t find enough guards.

B.J. Fisher, health and safety director for the American Lifeguard Association, said a shortage of domestic lifeguards coupled with the “unprecedented” J-1 visa troubles have made for a “double storm.”

He said increased vetting and the Trump administration’s fiery rhetoric have hurt recruitment of foreign lifeguards, who must pay their own way.

“The concern is they spend the money and then at the last minute they get denied,” Fisher said.

Meanwhile, American students are shunning lifeguard gigs for other opportunities.

On Staten Island, recruiter June Tata starting offering incentives. In addition to a referral bonus, Tata is reimbursing teens with good grades the cost for their lifeguard certification – which runs upwards of $400 in New York City.

“I needed more guards,” said Tata, operations manager of the Pool Therapist on Staten Island. “I have so many facilities I have to staff with multiple guards that I needed to be able to get the word out there that you want to work for Pool Therapist.”

The State Department insists it hasn’t made major changes to the Summer Work Travel Program.

But there were fewer visas granted from eastern European countries that are usually a major source of the pool guards.

The number of student visas for Serbia and Ukraine dropped by more than a third from May 2017 to this year. Moldova, Poland and Russia also had decreased.

Pool operators predict a crisis situation over Labor Day after many student lifeguards head back to school in America and abroad.
“Come August it’s going to be rough,” said Andy Slutsky, owner of Aquatic Solutions, which offers American Red Cross lifeguard training certification classes on Long Island and in New York City.

“The one thing that I do fear is that places … will cut corners. I know there is heavy desire to satisfy management …but my only hope is if they don’t have life guards, they shouldn’t be opening their pools. They need to staff accordingly, because the last thing anybody wants is to be in the headlines (for a tragedy).”

The American Lifeguard Association estimates that 20 percent more lifeguards are required this summer for swimmers to be safe at the 309,000 pools nationwide.

The association is encouraging retirees to become certified lifeguards to create a “silver” guard force.

The city Parks Department said it doesn’t rely on foreign lifeguards and is fully staffed at its pools and beaches.

Read Article on New York Post