Inswim launches clear acrylic learn-to-swim platform

Inswim Director Steven Bricknell has advised of the launch of a clear acrylic learn-to-swim platform to assist teachers in minimising the risk to swimmers.

Compliant with Royal Life Saving's Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (7.7 Teaching Equipment - Teaching Platforms) the platform weighs just 24 kilograms has integrated wheels for ease of manoeuvrability and a slip-resistant treatment applied to the surface of the acrylic.

It measures 1.6 metres by 805mm. Easy to assemble and sturdy, full custom designs are available on request to meet varying pool depth and specific needs.

Introducing the platform, Bricknell explained “over the past couple of years I have researched the swim platforms that are currently on the market to see what swim schools like and dislike about their current swim platforms.

“During my research I realised that most of the swim platforms have a non see-through base and this rang alarm bells with me over the potential risk of children swimming under the platform without the swimming instructor knowing. So, about a year ago I met up with Royal Life Saving NSW to voice my concerns over swim platforms that are not see-through and now we see Royal Life Saving introducing a new GSPO in direct relationship to the concerns I raised.”

The Royal Life GSPO states

7.7 Teaching Equipment - Teaching Platforms

• 7.7.7 Teaching platforms should be inspected regularly to ensure that they are in good condition, are structurally sound and have no sharp edges.

• 7.7.8 The edges of the teaching platform should be of a contrasting colour to the bottom of the pool to allow students to easily tell where the edge of the platform is.

• 7.7.9 Teaching platforms should ensure visibility beneath them or manufactured so that people are prevented from swimming underneath them.

• 7.7.10 Teaching platforms should be made of a material that does not absorb water.

• 7.7.11 Teaching platforms should be self-draining and allowed to dry fully overnight before being used again to ensure that they do not retain any stagnant water and risk becoming a source of infection.

• 7.7.12 Care should be taken when moving a teaching platform, either within the pool or out of the pool, due to their weight and difficult handling characteristics.

Bricknell added “with my research and over 40 years experience in the Aquatic industry I have made the Inswim Swim Platform which complies with the GSPO's as well as focussing on ensuring the platform is sturdy, easy to manoeuvre, weighing just 20kg and priced at $950 plus GST.

“I am also able to provide custom sizes if your needs are outside our standard Swim Platform.”

Contact Inswim on 0419 090 448, E: stevenbricknell@hotmail.com