Every day, people are making the switch to SAI. Recently, Leslie Donovan spoke with Steve Vaughn from Castaway Cove Waterpark in Wichita Falls, Texas about his experiences making the switch to SAI.
Leslie Donovan: Why did you switch training agencies?
Steve Vaughn: We wanted to make a switch from our former training agency because it was too expensive. We looked at three other agencies and researched all of them in depth. The people at SAI put me in touch with clients so that I could ask questions and find out what people liked about it. We chose SAI because the training program was excellent and the cost was very fair.
LD: Was your staff reluctant to switch? If so, why?
SV: At first, my staff didn’t want to make the switch; they were reluctant to make the transition. After the first class, they were sold. They really like the experiential learning model. It keeps them interested because they’re interacting in class instead of being lectured to. They love the StarGuard program.
LD: How was the transition? How helpful was the SAI staff?
SV: The transition was very easy. SAI staff is A+ in my book! They were very helpful. I wanted to move over to SAI, but I thought I didn’t have the time because I was in the middle of an ownership change at my facility. It was a very busy and stressful time. SAI called to ask what they could do to help. I told them that I needed instructors, but didn’t have the money to send them to another state for class. The next day I had a message saying that they could send an instructor to my park to do the training.
LD: What did you like best about the transition?
SV: When the SAI staff came to Texas, they spent time with our management team helping us with the new materials. They went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable with the program and the materials. And even now, if we ever have a question, I can call and get an answer almost immediately.
LD: What do you like best about SAI?
SV: The StarReview was a great experience. It motivated everyone to achieve the highest level of professionalism. Our staff was worried about the audits until we had our first one. But we got four out of a possible five stars, and the lifeguards loved it!
The StarReviewers were very polite while touring our park. They asked questions about our park’s policies and procedures and then pointed out some minor items and gave recommendations for how we could improve park safety. When talking to staff, they always had something positive to say. If a mistake was made, they worked with our staff to show them how they could handle the situation differently the next time. If there was an easier way to do a certain skill, they pointed that out. During the skill reviews, they covered a lot of different scenarios. It wasn’t just unresponsive victims or people with spinal injuries, we learned about other injuries and medical issues too. This was great because it made our lifeguards really think about what was happening and how to respond and that made them want to learn even more. At the end the lifeguards knew they were very important members of the team.
LD: What would you tell others who are considering switching to SAI?
SV: Even our patrons have noticed the difference in our lifeguards since we switched to SAI. They notice the professionalism, the scanning, and the attitude of our guards. We are adding Starfish Swimming this year because we have been so happy with the StarGuard program. I would recommend SAI to anyone.
