This is much needed, and terrific news for people and organizations who need data that will help them formulate solutions and action plans to make positive change.
Here's the Media Advisory from National Swimming Pool Foundation . We want to hear from you!
New Searchable Database, WANID.org, Tracks Aquatic-Related Incidents Worldwide
National Swimming Pool Foundation® provides access free, because information sharing
is paramount to producing positive change for the future.
Colorado Springs, Colorado (December 19, 2012) –The Worldwide Aquatic News Incident Database, www.WANID.org, a searchable database, has been developed by non-profit National Swimming Pool Foundation®. WANID tracks global aquatic incidents that occur in, or are related to, swimming pools and hot tubs. These events may result in injury, illness, and death. WANID also tracks aquatic-related lawsuits and pool closures. The Foundation provides access to the database at no charge for educational purposes. The detailed information system began first data collection in May 2006 by drawing from online news reports. Although the database is not completely comprehensive, it contains about 2,500 records thus far.
“We have been tracking and categorizing news stories for years to help us understand the issues in our field,” says Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D., CEO of National Swimming Pool Foundation. “Understanding issues empowers us all to undertake solutions.”
WANID searchable fields include pool type (residential or commercial), incident type (17 different), country, state, date range, age, gender and ethnicity when reported. A hyperlink to the original news report from which the data was collected and a photo associated with the story are also available. Users can pinpoint specific incidences depending on their interests.
WANID tracks the following types of incidents: Air Quality, Bodily Fluid, Chemical Exposure, Chlorine Spill/Leak, Drowning, Injury/Accident, Lawsuit, Pool Closure, RWI– Crypto, RWI – E.Coli, RWI – Giardia, RWI – Legionnaires, RWI – MRSA, RWI – Norovirus, RWI – Pseudomonas A., Shallow Water Blackout, and Suction Entrapment.
About NSPF®
The National Swimming Pool Foundation® is a non-profit organization established in 1965, dedicated to improving public health worldwide and is the leading educator of aquatic facility operators and pool and spa professionals, and the chief philanthropic research sponsor in the aquatics field. The foundation has donated over $4 million since 2003 to fund grants to prevent illness, injury, and drowning, and to demonstrate the health benefits of aquatic activity. In 2012, the Foundation launched the Step Into Swim Campaign, a 10-year initiative to create 1 million more swimmers. Teaching people to swim is an investment in the next generation. The campaign raises funds that are directly given to leading learn-to-swim organizations. Visit www.nspf.org and www.StepIntoSwim.org to learn more and to donate.
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