The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPFR) has increased the delivery of pool and spa education around the world to improve the health and safety of pools and patrons. Since 1984, an outstanding 139 active NSPF Instructors outside of the US have provided CPOR Certification opportunities in 97 countries and certified over 19,900 students.
The non-profit organization has accomplished much in the year 2016 in terms of bringing a higher standard of pool care to numerous countries. May was a busy month internationally and began in Barcelona with NSPF representatives and Consejo Superior de Normalización y Seguridad Integral en Piscinas (CNORSIP) members meeting with the governor from Tarragona, Spain. Evidence that minimum educational requirements help keep pools safer and encourage more people to live happier and healthier lives was presented to a roundtable of peers.
Ishtvan Kokhan represented NSPF in Ukraine at Aquatherm Kyiv, providing information on standards/requirements for public pools in the U.S. and how CPOR Certifications can benefit operators, patrons, and facility owners. Kokhan had an incredibly active Q&A session which demonstrates that the Ukrainian pool industry is ready to grow and learn. Over 420 companies from 20 different countries joined Aquatherm Kyiv and NSPF was on the forefront of providing answers to the eager crowd.
NSPF held an Instructor Training Course in Puerto Rico recently. Students from Canada, Dubai, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela became new NSPF Instructors. NSPF Instructor, Rudy Stankowitz, also held the first CPO Certification course in Guyana, South America. The director of engineering at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown wanted the custodial staff of eight to be certified for the country’s upcoming Golden Jubilee.
“The CPO® Certification has such a long and incredible history in protecting swimmers at aquatic facilities throughout the world. I was extremely flattered at the opportunity to bring this program into the country of Guyana,” stated Rudy Stankowitz, CEO and President, Aquatic Training & Consultants. “You could see the tremendous amount of pride and excitement in the faces of the individuals at this facility as they received their test results knowing that they were making swimming pool history in being the first in their entire country to earn this certification.”
NSPF is continuing its efforts in Australia and Mexico to impart pool care knowledge. An NSPF Instructor Course, CPO® Certification Course, and marketing seminar will take place at the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show on August 15-17 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center in Australia. NSPF will also have an exhibit booth at SPLASH! Candidates participating in the NSPF Instructor course will hail from Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Australia.
The Asociación De Profesionales de la Piscina A. C. (APPAC) will conduct, for the fifth consecutive year, a CPO® Certification Course during the Expo Tecno Agua in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from August 31-September 2, 2016. NSPF has had a long standing partnership with APPAC, who has trained over 25 NSPF Instructors, who have, in turn, certified over 900 students with the CPO® Certification.
The National Swimming Pool Foundation® has had a busy summer, and intends to continue educating countries around the world about pool and spa operation. Keeping pools open and safer begins with providing knowledge and imparting skills to aquatic professionals that will foster healthier recreational waters. To learn more about bringing CPO® Certification to a new country, email service@nspf.org.
