Typhoon Texas Head of Safety Takes Message Overseas

KATY, TX (February 11, 2019) – While the start of waterpark season is still a couple months away, the head of safety at Typhoon Texas has been busy spreading her message of aquatic safety and lifeguarding to those more than 8,000 miles from Houston.

Vera Solis of Typhoon Texas (right) spends time with water safety personnel from Atlantis Resorts in the United Arab Emirates during her recent training in Abu Dhabi.

Rather than take time off before the busy summer season, Typhoon Texas Risk Manager and noted water safety authority Vera Solis recently traveled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to help lead classes for waterpark personnel from across the Middle East.

“I was approached by Scott Deisley from Safety Skills Training World Wide at a trade show to come to Abu Dhabi and train those who teach and manage water safety personnel at several Middle East waterparks,” explains Solis. “Essentially we trained the trainers by giving them skills, drills, and lifeguarding information from the Jeff Ellis and Associates International Lifeguard Training Program to pass along to their front line water safety personnel back at their individual waterparks.”

For Solis, the Abu Dhabi trip marked her second visit to the region to train waterpark personnel.

“Regardless of where we train, our overall goal is to reduce the loss of life due to drownings,” says Solis, who has trained thousands of lifeguards, hundreds of lifeguard instructors and numerous front line aquatics managers and supervisors during her 30-year career.   “It’s all about prevention and how to be effective in the event something happens.”

In 2017, Solis received the World Waterpark Association’s Kelly Ogle Safety Award for her contributions to guest and employee safety.  In 2009, she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Ellis & Associates, the international aquatic safety and risk management consulting firm.

Now back from her weeklong trip, Solis says she’s preparing to train more than 250 water safety staff members for this year’s summer season at Typhoon Texas in Katy.

“The hard work we put in now pays off when our guests come to the park,” she adds.

Typhoon Texas opens for the 2019 season weekends beginning April 20 and daily beginning Memorial Day weekend.  Three new levels of 2019 season passes and single-day passes are on sale now at www.typhoontexas.com.