A short video montage from Poolview - thanks to everyone for your continued support.
Poolview - providing "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
Happy New Year from Poolview Limited
Elite swimmer Tate Ramsden’s death spotlights dangers of ‘Shallow Water Blackout’
Tate Ramsden
The death of an elite college swimmer has drawn attention to a dangerous condition called “shallow water blackout,” which can threaten even the most skilled swimmers.
- Hypoxic Training : Misunderstood application
- U.S. swimming pools ban long breath-holding after deaths
- Shallow Water Blackout : The Facts
- Hypoxic Blackout vs. Shallow Water Blackout
Tate Ramsden, 21, died this week while doing laps at a YMCA in Sarasota, Florida, according to a police report. Despite being a member of the Dartmouth swim team, Ramsden had to be pulled from the pool by lifeguards who attempted to save his life.
The student had already swum 4,000 yards when he attempted to swim four additional laps without taking a single breath, police said. Competitive swimmers train to take a minimal number of breaths in order to swim faster.
But such training without breathing can lead to a dangerous condition called “shallow water blackout.”
It can occur when swimmers hold their breath until they blackout, after which the body forces a breath and inhales water. The severe lack of oxygen can lead people to blackout “without warning” so they don’t surface for air before becoming incapacitated, according to the Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Organization.
Dr. Rhonda Milner, a retired radiologist and founder of the organization, said it’s key for advanced swimmers to understand that extreme training can be dangerous without proper supervision.”It’s another tragic event; it’s completely preventable,” Milner told ABC News today. “One of my current concerns, he was an excellent swimmer; he didn’t understand that he was putting himself at risk.”
Milner pointed out that if swimmers hyperventilate before breathing, their bodies may not build up the carbon dioxide that signals the body to take a breath, meaning they can pass out before they realize there’s a problem.
The same problem can occur if a swimmer works out with few breaths, leading to insufficient oxygen levels.
“You can ignore your urge to breathe; you get endorphins,” like a runner’s high, Milner said. “You’re set up for really putting yourself at risk.”
Milner, who started the foundation after her son died from a shallow water blackout-related drowning, said coaches must warn swimmers to be careful about trying to hold their breath for extended periods of time and not rely on lifeguards, who may not be used to seeing such cases.
“It should only be done in practice where they’re really closely watched,” Milner said.
Ramsden’s family released a statement mourning the young swimmer.
“His capacity for love for his family and friends was his great gift,” they said, “We truly cherished every moment we shared together.”
The family also said they wanted to raise awareness about this issue.
“This is an issue we feel swimmers and coaches should be made aware of,” the family said.
Norway, SwimEye™ and Poolview
Director - Robin McGloughlin has just returned from an exciting few days in Norway with our partners Davo - reviewing the latest software and hardware updates for the SwimEye Computerised Automatic Drowning Detection System. Robin was accompanied by Caleb Brown where they discussed Aquatic Safety in general whilst seeing the latest SwimEye™ System being "put through it's paces"
A resounding success - look forward to further SwimEye™ product information updates and the latest installation news in the New Year.
Poolview Installation in Buckinghamshire 50m
It has been a busy week again for us in the lead up to Christmas. We have been on-site at a beautiful 50metre pool, installing a Poolview Safer Swimming System alongside a Poolside Wireless Assistance Alarm.
Poolview - Providing "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
West Midlands Poolview Installation Survey
On site today meeting management to discuss forthcoming Poolview installation. Reviewing the business case, the camera and Lifeguard positions whilst confirming daily rota matrix. Looking forward to this one!
Poolview - "seeing" below the glare and providing "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
The Pool Awaits Poolview
On site this week getting ready to install Poolview in this "crazy design" swimming pool. A magnificent £12million refurbishment project in Kent - but the 70's style pool tank remains which has it's own set of debatable and inherent design features.
Swimming pool in Kent - ready for a Poolview Safer Swimming System
Our Poolview System will provide the lifeguards with some much needed "Additional Essential Vision" - Looking forward to the re-opening in a couple of months.
New Build Projects
Always better to get us involved at a very early stage in a new-build programme - in that way we can cast the camera niches into the pool tank walls during this critical phase. Makes for a perfect finish and moving floors just slide on past!
Poolview Safer Swimming Systems - providing "Additional Essential Vision to Lifeguards"
Shallow Water Blackout - Explained
A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Melanie, Luke's mother. This is a very powerful video which explains how Shallow Water Blackout occurs. The hope is that future devastating events like this can be prevented.
Our Sales Director is also the PRO at Banbridge RFC
As part of the "get to know you" series at Banbridge Rugby Football Club - Robin McGloughlin our Sales Director was asked to complete a short questionnaire - thought we should share - here it is!
Robin during one of his Macmillan Cancer fund raising cycles this summer
Top 5 Terrifying Drowning Facts
Thought I should share a video my 14 year old son showed me this morning about drowning. He was really amazed about our bodies different pyhsical reactions to drowning in fresh or salt water! As always - the silent drowning fascinated - many questions were asked.
Poolview Site Surveys
A busy couple of days as we travelled through England visiting four different sites and meeting two new Leisure Management Company partners wishing to install our Poolview Safer Swimming System. Great dialogue, probing questions and current practice scrutinised. Some excellent financial savings identified. New business relationships developed - good times!
Poolview Systems - for safer pools and more flexible staffing arrangements.
Showing our new Leisure Management partners an established Poolview installation
Poolview - Covering the "Blind Spots" - Reducing Overheads
On site today installing Poolview for Lifeguards.
1 Lifeguard, 1 monitor, 4 views - removing the need for 3 additional lifeguards to monitor a small area of water!
Position with a view - Thanks to Poolview
Measuring up for SenTag
On site in London today, conducting a site survery for a prestigious new "high end" luxury housing development. Contained within, is a residents swimming pool and the developers are seeking to ensure that the highest levels of safety are achieved.
Inspecting the swimming pool for a SenTag installation
The SenTag Safer Swimmer System is ideal for this type of non-lifeguarded swimming pool. If a resident does get into difficulty, the individuals SenTag Wristband will alarm and alert a trained member of staff who will, if necessary perform a rescue.
Poolview reveals their all new Wide Screen Monitor
Say hello to the latest development for our Poolview Safer Swimming System i.e. a 16:9 wide screen monitor.
Wide screen monitors have been around for a while in all walks of life, however at Poolview we are now manufacturing our own specialist pool-side monitors in 16:9 format, specifically designed for the poolside environment, with upgraded connections and zero buttons to "play with"!
The monitors are also available with an anti-glare screen which in our field trials proved to be highly effective.
Having just completed a Poolview installation in North Warwickshire the staff are delighted with screens which provide even greater "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
Wycombe Poolview Installation Progressing
On site at the new 50metre swimming pool in Wycombe. We are installing the below water cameras before the pool starts to be filled - which will take about 2 weeks.
After that - we will return to site and install the above water cameras before assembling the control rack and commissioning.
Poolview Safer Swimmer Systems - bringing "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
South Norfolk gets the Poolview Treatment
We were on site this week in a pool in south Norfolk. The pool was being drained to repair some expansion joints etc. so the opportunity was taken to install Poolview at the same time as the facility was closed (a luxury for us as we normally install when the pool is operational AND work at night).
A few comprehensive staff training were also delivered and now the pool just needs to be re-filled.
Poolview - providing "additional essential vision" and reducing operational running costs!
Poolview - Saving Lives AND Increasing Efficiencies
Poolview Ltd is the UK's leading manufacturer, supplier and installer of safety swimming pool systems. Established in 2012 they have installed underwater camera safety systems in over 50 pools UK wide as either part of a refurbishment, new build, or as a stand alone retro-fit.
‘Poolview System’, part of the range of five products produced by Poolview Ltd, is an above water and below swimming pool water CCTV system which digitally records and stores all moving images. Real-time digital video images are relayed to any lifeguard monitoring station in any combination depending on the pools design and risk assessment requirements. The display gives Lifeguards an un-compromised view of below water swimmer activity and behaviour. Lifeguards view these images as part of their 10:20 scan to help with early identification of an incident developing or abnormal events occurring.
When a swimmer is observed getting into difficulty, or the likelihood of an incident developing is unfolding the Lifeguard will initiate their normal ‘Emergency Action Procedures’ by either taking quick preventative action or activate the pool side alarm for additional assistance.
Lead time from a request to install ranges from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the size of the project. Robin McGloughlin, Sales Director of Poolview Ltd explains, “new builds are usually an 18 month operation with Poolview engineers working with the client from when they are first casting the tank then return a year later just before they fill the pool to install the cameras. We then arrive on site the last two weeks before handover and complete the installation and training whilst retro-fits can be completed in less than a week”.
Operators can reduce their lifeguarding costs saving between £6k and £20k in a 12 month period through a streamlining lifeguard attendance due to the addition technological safety features of Poolview. Payback of an installation can be as little as six months. Further and much more substantial cost reductions can be made when Poolview is introduced to specifically cover “small area” difficult blind spots enabling alternative methods of lifeguarding to be introduced.
Andy Read, Safety & Quest Manager at Places for People has overseen the installation of 30+ Poolview systems at individual facilities throughout the UK with a further 6 new builds installations to come over the coming months. Andy Read said “We have partnered with Poolview Limited to make our pools as safe as possible for both swimmers and staff using technology. Installations have been efficiently completed with clear communication throughout the process from the Poolview team.”
“This system has allowed us to further demonstrate our commitment to the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ approach to successful Health and Safety management using our ‘SAFE Places for People’ quality management system. The introduction of Poolview to our pools has been a seamless operation from initial contact to launch. The professional support and training aligned to the exceptional product has enabled us to achieve our safety goals and pay back of the system in as little as six months in some cases.”
For further information see www.poolview.co.uk.
Poolview takes on the Giant's Causeway
On Saturday 12th September 2015, Poolview's Robin McGloughlin will be taking part in the Giants Causeway Coastal Sportive, raising funds once again for Macmillan Cancer Support. Poolview are the UK's leading manufacturer, supplier and installer of safer swimmer systems for swimming pools with their Sales Director, Robin based over in Co.Down.
www.justgiving.com/RobinMcGloughlin
The 182km Giant Killer offers cyclists the chance to cycle through an area of unsurpassed beauty. It is definitely classed as the BIG one and is not for the faint-hearted but for serious cyclists up for a lung-busting challenge. The route starts off by heading west towards Bushmills, along the Coast Road before tackling some reasonably tough, long climbs through the Glens of Antrim. At Glenarm the route follows the coast road all the way back to Ballycastle including the Torr Head Road which is sure to push cyclists of every level right to the limit. Robin hopes to be rewarded with the best scenery on offer along the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Make no mistake this will be a tough day in the saddle with some serious climbs and thrilling descents but for all who complete this challenge it will certainly be a day to remember.
Macmillan Cancer Support provide support for patients and their families right from the moment they are diagnosed, through their treatment and beyond providing a constant source of support, giving energy and inspiration to help sufferers and their families take back control of their life.
Robin McGloughlin, Sales Director of Poolview said “no one should face cancer alone, we have all been effected either personally or know someone close that has suffered, raising money and supporting Macmillian means a lot to us. I’ve been training hard for this challenge using a ‘MyZone’ heart rate monitor to track my progress. I’ve managed to clock over 40000 MEP points and cycled over 6000 kilometres this summer.”
If you would like to support Robin in his efforts to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer, please follow the link below to donate.
Early New Build Site Meeting for Poolview Ltd
We were on site today at one of the NINE new build projects on which we are currently specified to install our Poolview Safer Swimmer System.
Early days yet on this one, but great to see the steel work up. Next time we are back, the building will be wind and weather proofed and the pool will be tiled ready for our cameras.
We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to get us involved "BEFORE" the tank is cast!
Poolview - providing "Additional Essential Vision" to Lifeguards
All is well in Norfolk
On site this week in beautiful Norfolk installing a Poolview Safer Swimming System - in this case as part of a refurbishment project.
Nearly all complete and ready for commissioning - all we need is some water in the pool!
Poolview - providing "Additional Essential Vision" for Lifeguards
