Analysis of Risk Management Practices and Litigation Status in Aquatic Centers

Water-related events are the most popular all year around activities in Taiwan. Aquatic facilities deliver value to users and the community when they are well planned and designed, and meet the public's expectations for health and safety. Approximately two people die from drowning or swimming-related accidents every day; the average age range of victims is between 15 to 24 years. An average of 961 people has died in accidental drownings each year over the past ten years in Taiwan. The Taiwanese accident rate of drowning increased by 11% between the years 1999 and 2000. Because of the high rate of accidents in water-related activities, the focus of this research was to investigate the management status of aquatic centers (schools, YMCAs, public/private communities, fitness centers, hotels, theme parks); the risk management practices employed by these institutions; and associated legal concerns. The purpose of this study was to establish the management status of aquatic centers, the risk management practices employed by organizations, and the associated legal concerns in Taiwan. The significance of this study was to provide first-hand information about risk management in general aquatic center settings in Taiwan. This study provided an in-depth understanding of risk management implementation, the relationship of demographic elements, risk management practices and considerations of aquatic directors at swimming/aquatic facilities in Taiwan. The results drew a prospective picture, revealed a lack of risk management practices in aquatic centers in Taiwan and provided a clear direction for future study. This study used a self-developed survey questionnaire and tried to get a better understanding of the risk management practices among aquatic directors in Taiwan. The findings of this study represent 937 aquatic directors at swimming facilities across Taiwan. There were no attempts to reach inferences or generalize the findings. It would be a worthwhile study to track all settled cases related to accidents/incidents and to compare the case facts with demographic elements related to risk management practices in Taiwan. Results of the study suggest that Taiwan's aquatic directors should have a fundamental concept and knowledge of risk management and sports law in order to provide safer and better aquatic environments for all participants.