National Swimming Pool Foundation
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National Swimming Pool Foundation
Established in 1965, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving public health worldwide by attracting more people to safer aquatic environments. NSPF is committed to improving public health by encouraging healthier living through aquatic education and research. NSPF is a leading educator for pool and spa professionals who service and operate public and private pools and spas, and for public health officials who are responsible for pool safety.
NSPF works toward its mission with educational products such as Certified Pool/Spa Operator certification training, the Pool Math Workbook, the Aquatic Safety Compendium, eProAcademy Online Training Center and the World Aquatic Health Conference. The foundation also funds research grants to prevent illness, injury and drowning, as well as grants to study aquatic health benefits. Additionally, NSPF partnered with Human Kinetics to launch the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education (IJARE), a respected source for research and educational information.
Education
CPO course: Since it began in 1972, NSPF’s Certified Pool/Spa Operator certification program has produced more than 240,000 CPO certifications in 44 nations and is widely accepted by health departments.
CPO training comes in two forms: (1) a two-day class lasting 14 to 16 hours, taught by a certified instructor or (2) a blended format that combines the online Pool Operator Primer and one day of the Pool Operator Fusion class. The training covers pool and spa water chemistry, testing, treatment, filtration, maintenance, automatic feeding equipment and government requirements. The CPO certification program requires an open-book, written exam. CPO certification is valid for five years.
NSPF Instructor Course: This class teaches participants everything they need to know to conduct the CPO certification course, as well as other NSPF education products. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to instruct on the following: Pool Operator Primer, Certified Pool-Spa Inspector, Aquatic Play Feature, Pool Math Workbook and eProAcademy online courses.
Pool Math Workbook: Designed to make pool and spa calculations easier, this textbook features sample calculations, conversions, problems and solutions. Topics include how to calculate pool surface area, pool water volume, saturation index, filter surface area, flow rate, filter flow rate capacity, chemical dosage amounts and turnover rate, heater sizing, pool draining frequency, makeup water amount, maximum user load and total dynamic head.
eProAcademy: This online course covers the following topics in English: Pool Operator Primer, Pool Operator Fusion, occupational safety, employment law, health care, Department of Transportation, environmental management, and electrical safety work practices and standards (NFPA 70E).
Courses offered in Spanish: Pool Operator Primer, Pool Operator Fusion, Equipo de Proteccion Personal and Comunicacion de Peligros.
Home Essentials: Maintenance and Safety: This two-hour online course covers easier maintenance and improved aquatic safety for pool and spa owners. The class describes how to help prevent tragedy, as well as pool and spa care. It includes a 30-page resource guide.
World Aquatic Health Conference
Founded in 2006, WAHC convenes every year to help prevent aquatic injury, illness and drowning. More than 35 seminars are presented by 33 leading scientists at the two-day conference, where attendees and presenters share in a global exchange of knowledge. The seminars are available online following the conference.
Grants
Studies: NSPF funds numerous grants to prevent illness, injury and drowning. For example, the foundation has financed a grant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce recreational water illness, and to a study by the American Red Cross, YMCA and US Lifesaving to understand the science behind drowning prevention at guarded facilities. The foundation also has funded CDC’s Health Swimming Project for three years in a row.
Research: NSPF has funded research to understand and ultimately prevent suction entrapment, and also made donations to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and many other groups.
NSPF is the largest funding source for grants to study aquatic health benefits. For instance, it allocated $247,000 to Dr. Bruce Becker of Washington State University to study the benefits of deep-water exercise. Also approved were matching grants for Becker to conduct a two-year study of the cardiac health benefits of immersion in spas.
Contact Information
National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF)
4775 Granby Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3131
Tel. 719.540.9119
Fax 719.540.2787
External Links
Featured Articles
- Healthy Rivalry — Pool & Spa News —11.13.2009
- Studies Show Pool Hygiene Poor — Pool & Spa News — 6.23.2009
