Lifeguards Must Be Properly Alert to Actually Spot Troubled Swimmers
All
too often observers believe that being a good lifeguard only requires
being certified in some form and being a good swimmer. However, it is
often forgotten that if a lifeguard is not capable of noticing a swimmer
who is drowning or distressed than the guard’s swimming ability is
irrelevant. Unfortunately swimming pool accidents strike all the time across the area even when lifeguards are on duty.A helpful article was posted last week by Mario Vittone on how lifeguards at public pools are often less effective than believed. It is explained how far too many managers, operators, and owners of public swimming pools have no lifeguard training themselves and are therefore unfamiliar with what proper pool safety and observation requires.
Most importantly, various actions should be taken by lifeguards so that they are actually mentally fresh and capable of spotting those in danger and in need of rescue. Far too many lifeguards miss drowning swimmers because, as many visual experts suggest, the mind can only scan and concentrate accurately for certain periods of time before needing a break. In fact, studies indicate that it is literally impossible for a lifeguard to scan a pool effectively for more than 30 minutes at a time before needing a 5 to 10 minute “reset.”
This is how a lifeguard who has not been relieved for an hour or two is capable of staring directly at a distressed swimmer without attempting a rescue. Many a swimming pool drowning has occurred in just this manner.
Many experts suggest that it is impossible for a single lifeguard to be effective at a pool for a considerable length of time. Those advocates state that it is imperative that there are at least two employees watching the pool—either two guards or one guard and one other staff member to keep people out of the pool while the guard takes a break. Also, guards should be sure to move around, because staying in the same place decreases attention span.
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