Valleyfair Receives Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award
Kelsey Megard
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Valleyfair received the Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award for the third year in a row by Jeff Ellis & Associates. Valleyfair ranked in the top 16% of the Aquatic and Risk Management Consultant's 650 clients worldwide.
"The safety of our guests is our top priority and we are proud of our aquatics team for their hard work," Raul Rehnborg, Valleyfair's General Manager, said, "They consistently go above and beyond and in doing so, have now created a tradition of operational excellence."
Valleyfair was audited by Ellis & Associates multiple times throughout the 2018 season and received 100% scores on all their evaluations.
"Our lifeguards are committed to safety," Jim Smith, Valleyfair's Aquatics Manager, said, "It starts during our lifeguard training program at the beginning of the season and our guards continue to grow those skills throughout the rest of the summer."
Not only does Valleyfair receive audits from Ellis & Associates, but Valleyfair's aquatics leadership team also performs daily audits and tests to keep associates alert.
Smith credits a fun work environment as one of the key factors to Valleyfair's high scores. "Our lifeguards enjoy the work they do and the people they work with which is why they are so dedicated throughout the entire season," Smith said.
According to Jeff Ellis & Associates, International Aquatic Safety Awards are presented annually to participants in E&A's Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program (CARMP) and are based on the results of multiple random Unannounced Aquatic Facility Operational Safety Audits throughout the year. These audits include undercover video surveillance of individual lifeguards while they protect their Zone of Protection areas, to accurately evaluate their professional diligence.
Additionally, individual and team basic life support and rescue skills are evaluated, along with simulated emergencies that measure the effectiveness of established Emergency Action Plans. The audit concludes with administrative, supervisory and facility evaluations.
