1900 - Risk Awareness/Safety Training (RAST) for Aquatic Therapy & Rehabilitation Practitioners Certification

Beginner / Pool Workshop

“At the Washington, DC conference, I had a truly eye opening experience taking "RAST" (Risk Awareness & Safety Training) by Dr. Mary Wykle. The course was centered on risk awareness and delivered essential information about the need to be safe and prepared for the unforeseen in the aquatic therapeutic environment. Dynamic lectures that presented therapy pool and practitioner safety, legal and rational emergency actions plans following OSHA guidelines, response plan for contagious exposures on advice from the CDC based on the importance of water and air quality, and pool training that included important assists. I left inspired to make changes that I know will make a difference in the lives of my patients. I would recommend this course very highly to my colleagues in the world of rehabilitation.”

- Bill Riley, LPTA, ATRIC

Washington, DC / Thursday, Feb. 21 – 7:30 am-4:30 pm – 8.0 credit hours equal to 8.0 CECs/.8 CEUs

Classroom: 7:30-11:30 am

Lunch (on own): 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Pool: 12:30-2:30 pm

Classroom: 2:30-4:30 pm

Fort Myers, FL / Monday, June 30 – 7:30 am-4:30 pm – 8.0 credit hours equal to 8.0 CECs/.8 CEUs

Pool: 7:30-9:30 am

Classroom: 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Lunch: 12:30-1:30 pm

Classroom: 1:30-4:30 pm

Washington, DC / Thursday, Oct. 30 – 7:30 am-4:30 pm – 8.0 credit hours equal to 8.0 CECs/.8 CEUs

Classroom: 7:30-11:30 am

Lunch (on own): 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Classroom: 12:30-1:30 pm

Pool: 1:30-4:30 pm

Faculty: Mary Wykle, PhD, ATRIC

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A majority of aquatic exercise instructors, aquatic therapy and rehabilitation practitioners, and arthritis leaders have minimal training in recognizing and responding to emergencies in the dressing room, on the deck, or in the pool. Many work in facilities without lifeguards because of pool classification. In lifeguard-staffed pools, they need to identify their role in an emergency. Most instructors and practitioners focus on session content. Awareness and prevention of potential emergency situations with appropriate response increases the safety of all involved. The positive reputation of a reliable and trustworthy program increases participation and program revenue. Identification of potential risk areas such as the locker room and deck are crucial. Knowledge of and involvement with Emergency Action Plans and Recreational Water Illness Policies ensure the safe operation of the aquatic facility and excellence in programming.

The course content of Risk Awareness and Safety Training (RAST) for Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Practitioners covers five major areas of safety when providing therapy in an aquatic setting. RAST fills the gap because courses in the medical field do not address aquatic risk in a comprehensive way and neither do courses in aquatic safety address aquatic therapy. RAST covers facility evaluation, supervisory guidelines, and infection control to include MRSA and cryptosporidium, practitioner and client safety, emergency recognition with emphasis on sudden illness, emergency response, bioethics, and risk management.

Recognizing emergencies and precursors to emergency situations and being able to respond are included in the RAST course along with signs of physiologic stress demanding immediate attention, and performing aquatic assists and rescues appropriate to the water depth of the facility. Emphasis is on prevention and the necessity of having a plan of action in case of an emergency.

Facility evaluations address the safe environment, including compliance with legal codes, water chemistry, communication, signage, and ADA standards; inspection checklists for rescue equipment and first aid supplies; closure guidelines for severe weather and lightning storms; and basic hygiene rules.

Practitioner safety includes awareness of safe immersion time, self-rescue skills, emergency communication avenues, and supervisory guidelines regarding client surveillance. Safety for the client includes pool entry and exit, transfer protocols, equipment use, positioning in water, and communication techniques. Bioethics as related to practitioner/client interaction includes familiarization with resuscitation orders, refusal of care guidelines, and client choice of treatment options.

The safety training portion of the course includes basic assists, rescues, and emergency extrication. Risk management includes checklists for facility access and security meeting ADA guidelines and state/local codes; awareness of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards; a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP); and guidance in required training in the Bloodborne Pathogen Plan and an outline for writing the Exposure Control Plan.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

· Provide risk management skills and knowledge to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies

· Review care for sudden illness, communicable disease outbreaks, and injuries with proper response

· Differentiate types of emergencies and requirements in various types of therapy pools

· Develop written plans for addressing varying types of emergency situations

· Insure top-notch therapy and rehab care is a priority

· Gain a safety perspective on all areas of aquatics and comply with current safety standards

· Practice basic water assist skills

· Recognize potential emergency situations – your role, lifeguards, facility

THE RAST CERTIFICATION WILL REVIEW AND TEST:

¨ Supervisory guidelines including ratios of practitioners to clients, monitoring of clients and clients’ appropriate water depths

¨ Practitioner safety and client safety, including immersion time, transfers for entering and exiting pool, communication with client, equipment for heat retention, flotation, shoes, emergency communication, recovery to standing and safe positioning

¨ Risk management, including basic assists, rescues and extrication, ADA guidelines, OSHA standards, record keeping, Emergency Action Plan, counseling and Exposure Control Plan – including prevention of transmitting communicable diseases

¨ Emergency recognition including signs of physiological stress, facility communication system, rescue equipment and practicing emergency response

¨ Facility evaluation which includes familiarization with ADA standards, facility maintenance, signage, water chemistry, air quality and ventilation, closure guidelines, rescue equipment and patron cleanliness

¨ Bioethics including do not resuscitate orders, refusal of care guidelines, and client choice of treatment options

PREREQUISITES:

¨ Documentation of CPR and First Aid certification

¨ AED Training is Recommended

FACULTY: Mary O. Wykle, PhD, ATRIC, is a professor of physical education at Northern Virginia Community College. She holds multiple certifications in aquatics and fitness. Her company, MW Associates, offers consulting workshops in health and aquatics. Mary is a long-time faculty member and serves on varied committees for ATRI. She is a regular presenter for the Aquatic Exercise Association/IAFC. Mary is Committee Chair for Aquatic Therapy Practitioner of NCCARD (The National Commission for the Credentialing of Aquatic Rehabilitation Disciplines). She is the author of Risk Awareness and Safety Training and developed Aqua Pi-Yo-Chi™.