Willamalane Park and Recreation District's Pool Safety Signs

The Need for Pool Safety Signs that Communicate Effectively
Every swimming environment – from indoor racing pools to community recreational facilities to outdoor bodies of water – comes with its own set of challenges, which translate into unique policies for visitors. Safety signs are a critical part of keeping swimmers safe and fulfilling legal duty to warn requirements. But, many pool safety signs in use today are inadequate. Text-only messages and long rule lists bury important information. To be an effective layer of protection, signs have to be seen by guests and understood.

Community Recreation In a Safe Environment
Willamalane Park and Recreation District, a special development district in Springfield, Oregon, offers hundreds of recreational programs to people of all ages and abilities, including aquatic activities. With a mission to deliver exceptional parks and recreation to enrich its community of five recreational facilities and 45 parks, pool safety is a key issue. But at its Splash! At Lively Park swim center, their text-based, ‘list of rules’ safety signs failed to stand out or be engaging to park-goers throughout its 37,000 square foot building. Plus, with a growing Latino population, the district decided a bilingual approach would give staff and patrons a heightened awareness of safety issues.

Clarion Safety’s Fix: Best Practice Designs and Message Repetition
After learning about Clarion Safety’s sign system at an aquatics industry trade show, Willamalane Park and Recreation District chose us as a partner for their safety sign improvements. Clarion Safety developed a pool safety sign system using best practice graphic designs and repetition of messages to communicate effectively. The result is a true “systems” approach to risk reduction, including tabletop placards that provide a first impression at check-in areas; signs in and around locker rooms to give additional information; and poolside signs and cones which reinforce core messages. Patrons now have key information to avoid harm, and are more fully informed with bilingual wording. These attention grabbing images and short phrases now attract patrons to stop and view signs throughout the facility – something that just never happened before!

Engaging and Bilingual Safety Signs For Better Water Safety
What was the overall outcome of the signage improvement issue?

According to Kory Holt, Aquatics Supervisor at Willamalane Park and Recreation District, “We’re big fans of Clarion Safety’s pool safety sign system. The signs are high visibility, making them very easy to see on a crowded pool deck.”

“And, their excellent design means that they don’t seem out of place. With their bilingual messaging, more of our community is able to enter our facilities with an understanding of our expectations. We feel that the signs help swimmers to understand our concerns – leading to a safer environment.”

Clarion Safety Can Help at Your Pool or Aquatic Facility
For over 25 years, Clarion Safety has been at the top of the field of visual safety communication. We’re long-term leaders of the best practice ANSI and ISO standards – and we’ll use that knowledge to help you warn as effectively as possible. With 15,000+ clients and nearly 100 million signs and labels in use, zero Clarion Safety customers have had warning-based allegations brought against them.

Clarion Safety offers a variety of best practice pool, water and environmental safety signage to help promote safety and reduce risk – whether it’s at your pool, beach or waterpark. We also provide customization services for signs and labels that are one of a kind; that include bi-lingual and multi-lingual signage to warn guests in other languages, like Spanish or French, or full safety sign systems that take all areas of your facility or environment into account. You can rest easy knowing that our signs have proven effectiveness. Our pool safety signs have been ‘put to the test’ – undergoing extensive comprehension testing designed by independent experts and administered by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) – confirming that key symbols and signs are quickly recognized and clearly understood by viewers. 

Find out how Clarion Safety’s best practice, standards-compliant safety systems can help increase safety and reduce liability at your property or pool by contacting us today!