Lifeguard Training

1

• Lifeguard Training
• Week 2
• July 17th - July 20th
• Dave Gelber, WSI, LGI
• Hackensack High School
• Summer 2007

2
Patron Surveillance

• A lifeguards primary responsibility is to ensure
  patron safety and protect lives.
• The primary tool to accomplish that function is
  patron surveillance.
• Effective surveillance has several elements,
  including
• Victim recognition.
• Effective scanning.
• Lifeguard stations.
• Area of responsibility.

3
Effective Scanning

• Scanning is a visual technique for watching
  patrons in the water.
• What does effective scanning require?

4
Lifeguard Stations

• Patron surveillance is performed in a lifeguard
  chair or by standing on the deck or in the water.
• The location of your lifeguard station must
  enable you to see your entire area of
  responsibility.
• You might have to move your lifeguard stand or
  change your position during the day.

5
Area of Responsibility

• Your supervisor will establish the area of
  responsibility for patron surveillance.
• Areas of responsibility can include
• Zone coverage.
• Total coverage.
• Back-up coverage.

6
The RID Factor

• Most drownings at supervised swim areas happen
  when neither lifeguards nor patrons notice that a
  victim has slipped below the surface.
• RID
• Recognition
• Intrusion
• Distraction

7
Patron Surveillance at Play Structures

• Consider the following elements when conducting
  patron surveillance at play structures
• Pay close attention to nonswimmers or weak
  swimmers.
• Do not let a play structure become overcrowded.
• Watch that patrons return to the surface after
  dropping into the water from a drop-off slide.
• Pay close attention to children playing in sprays
  and fountains.
• Pay close attention to patrons in moving water.
• Keep play safe and orderly.

8
Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

• EAPs are detailed plans describing everyones
  responsibilities in an emergency and should be in
  the facilitys policies and procedures manual.
• EAPs should be practiced regularly during
  orientation and in-service training sessions.

9
What are the steps of an EAP?
10
General Procedures for Water Emergencies

• Assess the victims condition.
• Safely enter the water, if needed.
• Perform an appropriate rescue.
• Move the victim to safety.
• Remove the victim from the water.
• Provide emergency care as needed.

11
General Rescue Procedures

• Activate the facilitys EAP.
• Assess the victims condition.
• Safely enter the water.
• Perform an appropriate rescue.
• Move the victim to shallow water whenever
  possible.
• Check for consciousness and for signs of life.
• Remove the victim from the water.
• Provide emergency care as needed.