Safety
Red Cross Releases Lifeguard VR Training Simulator
New Lifeguard VR Training app released by The American Red Cross provides enhanced surveillance and scanning training for lifeguards.
The American Red Cross has been a pioneer in water safety, aquatic science, certification, and instruction since 1914. Annually, its curriculum trains over 300,000 lifeguards, demonstrating its enduring commitment to ensuring the safety of swimmers.
Lifeguard VR Training: A Deeper Dive
Recently, The American Red Cross took a pioneering leap forward with the introduction of their new Virtual Reality (VR) lifeguard training simulator. This groundbreaking technology promises to transform the way lifeguards are trained, particularly in the crucial areas of surveillance and scanning skills, ultimately enhancing their ability to save lives.
At the recent Association of Aquatic Professionals (AOAP) show held in Reno, Pool Magazine had an opportunity to experience firsthand the innovative lifeguard training simulator developed by the American Red Cross in collaboration with Lucid Reality Labs. Chris Whipple, M.Ed., NREMT, a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the American Red Cross, spoke about the significance of this technological advancement.
“The Red Cross, already the gold standard in water safety and drowning prevention, is enhancing lifeguard training for surveillance skills with the Lifeguard VR virtual reality tool,” stated Whipple, who explained how the tool will help provide effective scanning and surveillance skills that will assist them in identifying individuals in distress and help reinforce cognitive skills through immersive training scenarios.
How The Technology Works
Lifeguards can access the Lifeguard VR app, which offers a range of unique scenarios set in realistic aquatic environments, from the Meta Quest app store. The technology is compatible with all Meta Quest VR devices. In each scenario, lifeguards are placed on an elevated stand within their assigned zone and must swiftly identify individuals in need of assistance. By blowing a virtual whistle, they signal their recognition of the distressed person. Scores are calculated based on performance metrics that evaluate scanning and recognition abilities.
“The award-winning Lifeguard VR tool uses the best cutting-edge technology to ensure that lifeguards are at the top of their game, keeping facility patrons safe,” added Whipple.
Tackling Real-World Problems
This VR lifeguard training simulator is designed to replicate real-world scenarios with remarkable accuracy. It incorporates elements such as typical water behaviors, drowning behaviors, and the presence of other patrons or swimmers. Lifeguards are also challenged by obstacles like lane ropes and floating features, mirroring the complexities they face in actual pool environments.
Moreover, the Lifeguard VR app provides valuable performance metrics, allowing trainers to track progress and identify areas for improvement. Heatmap data on scanning patterns, along with quiz and identification metrics, offer valuable insights into lifeguard competency at various stages of training.
“Lifeguard Instructors and supervisors can now provide dynamic scenarios set in a realistic pool environment to analyze surveillance and scanning skills, recognition of drowning response, and support first aid skills,” explained Whipple.
By harnessing the power of virtual reality, the American Red Cross aims to revolutionize lifeguard training, ensuring that lifeguards are better equipped to respond effectively to emergencies. This innovative approach not only enhances learning outcomes but also offers a more engaging and accessible training experience for lifeguards.
As Whipple aptly summarized, “With the new Red Cross Lifeguard VR app, lifeguards can practice and hone their skills taught in the classroom. By immersing users in dynamic, realistic drowning scenarios, lifeguards are able to improve learning outcomes while learning in an engaging, modern, and accessible way.”
In an era where technology continues to reshape industries across the board, the integration of virtual reality into lifeguard training represents a significant step forward in ensuring water safety and drowning prevention. The American Red Cross’s commitment to innovation underscores their dedication to excellence in safeguarding aquatic environments and protecting lives.
Photo Credits: The American Red Cross
BIG NEWS! The Florida Building Commission Voted Unanimously to Keep Single Wire Swimming Pool Bonding in the 2026 Florida Building Code.
Sarasota, FL — December 10, 2025 — On Tuesday, December 9, the Florida Building Commission unanimously and unequivocally voted to keep the single wire bonding loop method of Bonding Swimming pools and spas in the Florida Building Code for the 2026 code and beyond. This is a big win for Florida residents and for the swimming pool and spa industry.
FSPA and the Pool Industry Council undertook this initiative to prevent the single wire bonding method from being eliminated in Florida, which would force Florida residents to rely on unnecessary and costly methods of swimming pool and spa bonding.
A study funded by the Pool Industry Council and conducted by SunSmart Engineering this year demonstrated that #8 AWG single wire loop bonding was effective in mitigating voltage from a 120V ground fault event at a swimming pool and protecting bathers.
Read the Bonding Study Results here.
Press Releases
Step Into Swim Celebrates GivingTuesday by Garnering Support for 2026 Grant Programs
Millions around the world to participate in annual generosity movement on December 2, 2025
(Alexandria, Va.) — This GivingTuesday, Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, will inspire generosity and expand its lifesaving impact by rallying support for its 2026 learn-to-swim grant programs. Step Into Swim grants increase access to swimming and water safety education for children and communities across the globe.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday kicks off the giving season each year by inspiring people to give back on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and throughout the year.
For Step Into Swim, participating in GivingTuesday is a powerful opportunity to strengthen its mission of creating more swimmers, reducing childhood drowning, and ensuring all children have equitable access to swim education. In 2025 alone, Step Into Swim has:
- Raised over $1.5 million
- Funded 180,000+ swim lessons
- Supported 250+ learn-to-swim programs
- Partnered with leading aquatic organizations, donors, and community programs to expand equity in water safety
- Reached children across 43 states, as well as American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, and Canada
With continued donor support, Step Into Swim plans to expand its reach even further in 2026 by equipping more swim schools, YMCAs, parks and recreation departments, and aquatic programs with the resources they need to provide safe, effective, and accessible swim lessons.
“Every child deserves the chance to learn how to swim — and every donor who supports Step Into Swim is helping save lives,” said three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, Vice President of Partnerships & Development at PHTA, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “GivingTuesday is an incredible opportunity for the pool, spa, and hot tub industry to unite for one cause: eradicating accidental drownings. Together with our supporters, Step Into Swim works every day to ensure more children learn to swim, gain confidence in the water, and enjoy a safer future.”
GivingTuesday began in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past 13 years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Each action—big or small—contributes to lasting positive change. For more details about GivingTuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org.
Every dollar donated to Step Into Swim goes directly to learn-to-swim programming. To join Step Into Swim’s GivingTuesday efforts, visit stepintoswim.org/donate.
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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and Step Into Swim™:
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.
Step Into Swim™ is an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance committed to safe swim education and drowning prevention. By investing in the next generation of swimmers through learn-to-swim programs, the Step Into Swim initiative instills confidence, empowers long-term participation in water activities, touts the positive benefits of water play, and advocates for safe practices. Since its inception in 2012, Step Into Swim has played a role in reducing drowning fatalities and has gifted swim lessons to more than 500,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.
About GivingTuesday:
GivingTuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world. It was created in 2012 at New York’s 92nd Street Y and incubated in its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. What started as a simple idea of a day that encourages people to do good has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity year-round. The movement is brought to life through a distributed network of entrepreneurial leaders who lead national movements in more than 110 countries across the globe. An integral part of the global generosity movement is the GivingTuesday organization, which offers support and resources to GivingTuesday leaders and fosters connection and collaboration across the network. To learn more about GivingTuesday, please visit: www.givingtuesday.org.
(Alexandria, Va.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, welcomes public review and comments on revisions to the ANSI/APSP/ICC-11 2019 American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas. Public review is a fundamental part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards consensus development process.
The PHTA/ICC-11 standard provides recommended minimum guidelines for the specifications for water quality parameters in the public swimming pool and spa industry. It covers a range of values relating to various chemicals that are acceptable for pool and spa operation, and for purposes of public health and safety.
The draft revision of the standard is now available during the 45-day public review. The public review draft can be found on the PHTA website and includes updates and revisions to the language used to standardize water quality in public swimming pools and spas. The PHTA-11 Standard Writing Committee also reorganized the order and placement of content, notably in Section 6 and Section 7, while keeping stated parameters the same.
This standard applies to pool manufacturers, builders, designers, retailers, U.S. public health and code officials, local municipalities, pool and spa operators, and service companies, as well as consumers who use these types of pools and spas.
PHTA invites all pool, spa, and hot tub professionals, as well as non-industry members, to review the revisions and submit comments for consideration. The ANSI public review period for the PHTA-11 standard was published in the ANSI Standards Action newsletter on October 24, 2025. All public review comments are due by December 8, 2025.
For more information on the draft standard, please visit the PHTA-11 webpage, email [email protected], or call (703) 838-0083.
About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.
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