The Venetian Pool is an aquatic facility unlike any other in the country and one of the safest places to take a swim. The pool’s lifeguard staff recently scored in the top 10 percent in aquatic safety excellence receiving the Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award.
May was “National Water Safety Month” and safety is key at the City of Coral Gables’ Venetian Pool. Earning the Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award demonstrates that the aquatic facility consistently exceeds industry standards in risk management and epitomize aquatic safety excellence. International Aquatic Safety Awards are conferred to deserving aquatic facilities by Jeff Ellis and Associates Inc. (E&A), an international aquatic safety and risk management firm.
International Aquatic Safety Awards are presented annually to participants in E&A’s Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program (CARMP) and are based on the results of multiple random unannounced aquatic facility operational safety audits throughout the year. These audits include undercover video surveillance of individual lifeguards while they protect their zone of protection areas, in order to accurately evaluate their professional diligence.
Additionally, individual and team basic life support and rescue skills are evaluated, along with simulated emergencies that measure the effectiveness of established emergency action plans. The audit concludes with administrative, supervisory and facility evaluations.
International Safety Awards are presented only to E&A’s most elite clients. Presented in three levels — Silver, Gold, and Platinum — only the top 10 percent receive a Platinum International Safety Award each year.
With an annual attendance of morethan 80,000 visitors, Venetian Pool has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, and is still one of the main tourist attractions in Coral Gables. The pool was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry, from which the original coral rock was excavated and utilized in the construction of the pool and several of the first homes in Coral Gables. It also features two waterfalls, caves and two large historic lookout towers, with a view to the City Beautiful. The 820,000-gallon pool is fed with spring water from an underground aquifer and drained and filled daily in the spring and summer months.
Today the pool offers a variety of amenities and programs such as swim lessons, camp programs, CPR and Lifeguard Certification Courses, birthday party packages, private rentals, film and photo permits and even an annual Dog Swim.
