Lifeguard Training

1

• Lifeguard Training
• Week 1
• July 10th-July 13th
• Dave Gelber, WSI, LGI
• Hackensack High School
• Summer 2007

2
Lifeguarding

• Lifeguarding is
• Dynamic!
• Challenging!
• Important!
• Inspiring!

3
The FIND ModelUsed to Make Decisions

• F Figure out the problem
• I Identify possible solutions
• N Name the pros and cons of each solution
• D Decide which solution is best

4
Legal Considerations

• Duty to act
• Standard of care
• Negligence
• Good Samaritan laws
• Consent

• Refusal of care
• Abandonment
• Confidentiality
• Documentation

5
The Lifeguard Team

• Whenever another lifeguard is on duty with you,
  you are part of a lifeguard team.
• The aquatic safety team is a network of people
  who prevent, prepare for, respond to and assist
  in an emergency at an aquatic facility.

6
Facility Management and Professionalism

• How does management support lifeguard
  professionalism?
• By providing a policies and procedures manual
• By conducting an orientation and regular
  in-service trainings
• By providing opportunities for recognition and
  career development

7
Preventing InjuriesPatron Safety

• Risk management involves identifying dangerous
  conditions or behaviors that can cause injuries
  and then taking steps to minimize or eliminate
  them.
• Injury-prevention strategies
• Communication with patrons
• Facility safety checks
• Patron surveillance

8
Communication

• Communication as an injury-prevention strategy
  requires lifeguards to
• Inform patrons about the potential for injury.
• Educate patrons about inappropriate behavior.
• Enforce rules and regulations.

9
Rules and Regulations

• Lifeguards need to understand the rules and
  regulations of the facility where they work.
• Rules do not keep patrons from having fun, but
  are for everyones health and safety.

10
Preventing a Patron from Engaging in Risky
Behavior

• Get the patrons attention, for example, by
  blowing your whistle, and then saying, Excuse
  me, but what you are doing is dangerous.
• Explain the hazard or danger.
• Explain a safe alternative behavior or activity.

11
Enforcing Rules and Regulations

• Enforcing rules helps prevent injuries and
  encourages safe patron behavior.
• When enforcing rules, always be consistent and
  fair.
• When enforcing rules, explaining the rule is
  usually enough.
• Asking a patron to leave the facility should
  always be the last resort.

12
Safety Checks

• Safety checks are conducted
• Before opening the facility.
• During daily operations.
• At closing.
• Use the facilitys safety checklist when
  performing a safety check.
• What are the general areas and equipment to
  inspect during a safety check?

13
Weather Conditions

• Lightning and thunderstorms happen more often in
  the summertime.
• Follow your facilitys emergency action plan
  (EAP) for severe weather.

14
Management is responsible for

• Creating, reviewing and revising a facilitys
  policies and procedures, rules and regulations
  and EAPs as needed.
• Warning staff about actual and potential dangers.
• Addressing unsafe or dangerous conditions.
• Complying with local, state and federal
  regulations for facility operations and
  employment.
• Maintaining records on the facility and its
  employees.
• Assisting after an emergency.