IFSTA's David Speechley suggests aquatic industry and pool lifeguards are failing

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IFSTA’s David Speechley suggests pool lifeguards are failing in aquatic safety

August 9, 2017

The International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Associations (IFSTA) President David Speechley has revealed that across the globe, lifeguards are under trained and overworked.

Speaking to Mike Hosking on New Zealand's Newstalk ZB today (9th August), Speechley went on to advocate for automatic drowning detection systems to be introduced at public pools in New Zealand need.

The IFSTA President told Hosking that the systems are camera-based and when someone isn't moving in the water, an alarm goes off.

He explained "there is 33 documented cases throughout the world now, where these systems have actually saved peoples’ lives."

Damningly, Speechley continued “there’s plenty of evidence now showing that lifeguards just often don’t see people in the water who are drowning, who are motionless.”

Speechley said when people go to public pools, they have an expectation lifeguards will keep them safe, adding "I've asked around a fair bit with patrons at polls and they are quite happy to pay an extra 10, 20, 30 cents to have that extra layer of protection by the pool."

Speechley's claims come in the week that the New Zealand Recreation Association is holding its annual Just Add Water Seminar - JAWS 2017 Aquatics Conference and with Royal Life Saving Society - Australia presenting its National Aquatic Industry Safety Awards.

Speechley was the long time Chief Executive of the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) until he departed the role earlier this year.

Click here to listen to David Speechley’s Newstalk ZB interview.

7th August 2017 - NEW ROYAL LIFE SAVING AWARDS RECOGNISE HOPPERS CROSSING’S AQUAPULSE

29th May 2017 - NZRA INVITES NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL AQUATIC INDUSTRY AWARDS

21st April 2017 - ROYAL LIFE SAVING LAUNCHES NATIONAL AQUATIC INDUSTRY SAFETY AWARDS

6th June 2017 - BRENDON WARD NAMED NEW ASCTA CHIEF EXECUTIVE

3rd February 2017 - KEY SPEAKERS CONFIRMED FOR ASCTA CONVENTION 2017

23rd August 2016 - ASCTA TO PRESENT COACHING AND LEARN TO SWIM CONFERENCES IN FOUR STATES

20th August 2016 - 2017 ASCTA CONVENTION TO PLOT PATHS TO THE 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

3rd July 2016 - ASCTA’S SPEECHLEY NAMED PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SWIMMING TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATIONS

9th June 2015 - US SWIMMING POOL INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS HOW PEOPLE DROWN QUIETLY

31st January 2015 - DOWNWARD TREND IN NEW ZEALAND DROWNINGS

24th April 2013 - ANTI-DROWNING DETECTION SYSTEM ASSISTS WITH FIRST AUSTRALIAN LIFE SAVING

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