Media Articles and Coverage

Aquarena Turns Turtle
COG News, October 30, 2006.

As part of its ongoing effort to stay at the forefront of safety best practice, the City of Geraldton Aquarena has become the first aquatic facility in Australia to use a specialist radio device to improve emergency response times at the centre.

Called the Safety Turtle Extended Range Alarm System, the system is designed to quicken response to rescue situations by sounding an alarm when a rescue is in progress, according to Aquarena manager Colin Hassell.

“The idea behind the system is relatively straightforward,” said Mr Hassell.

“All our on-duty lifeguards now wear a wristband, containing a small ‘Safety Turtle’ sensor,” he said.

“As soon as this sensor is immersed in water when a lifeguard dives in, it sends a signal to an integrator base station, located in the pool area, sounding an alarm.

“A transmitter in the base station transmits a signal to a receiver, located in reception, which also triggers an alarm.

“So if a lifeguard enters the water to perform a rescue, alarms in the pool and in reception instantly sound, alerting all other lifeguards and centre staff that a rescue is in progress and that emergency assistance is urgently required,” Mr Hassell said.

The Aquarena has received two Safety Turtle systems, for indoor and outdoor pools, from the Aquarena Combined User Group, with funds derived through their paper-recycling project.

“Aquarena is the first centre to introduce these additional safety systems into its operation and within one day of the installation the system has already proven its worth, assisting in the rescue of a young child who got into difficulties,” he said.

Mr Hassell said while the introduction of the Turtle Safety System would heighten safety for patrons and staff, it didn’t reduce the responsibility of parents and carers for their children at the centre.

“The City makes every effort it can to employ best safety practice but there is no substitute for constant parental supervision of any swimming child – as the slogan says, ‘ a swimming child should never leave your sight’,” he said.

“Once again, we are incredibly grateful to the Aquarena Combined User Group and its volunteers for providing the funds required to purchase these systems,” said Mr Hassell.

“The group has raised considerable funds for the Aquarena in recent years for the purchase of additional equipment, through the work of its volunteers gathering newsprint for recycling.

“The User Group is currently appealing to residents to drop off old newsprint at the facility for recycling, as stocks are low and demand for old newsprint continues to outstrip supply.

“They are located at the Recycling Shed in the Aquarena car park and are open seven days a week, during Aquarena opening hours,” he said.

Mr Hassell said he and the Aquarena Combined User group wished to thank all residents who had donated their unwanted newspapers to the recycling facility.

“Without the community’s support for the recycle scheme, it would not be possible for the Aquarena to purchase these additional systems,” Mr Hassell said.

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