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Hiring
Limit your exposure to liability by:
- Checking for original, valid certifications and
expiration dates and keeping a copy of each for your records:
- Lifeguard Training (e.g. American Red Cross,
YMCA, Ellis and Associates)
- Basic First Aid or more advanced training
(e.g. EMT, nurse, first responder)
- CPR for the professional rescuer
- Checking at least two recent previous work
references
- Checking to be sure the lifeguard candidate is
courteous and professional in behavior and appearance. This will
help ensure respect from others.
Lifeguards
should be expected to:
- Continuously scan the water at all times when the
pool is occupied. Whenever there are people in the water, a
lifeguard should NOT read, check pool passes, goof around, or perform
maintenance duties.
- If facility maintenance is required, people
should be cleared from the water until these tasks are
completed. Generally speaking, lifeguards have not received
any training in pool maintenance activities. Additional
training is usually necessary in order for them to perform these
tasks safely.
- Consistently reinforce the facility rules
- Demonstrate courteous and professional
behavior on the job
- Practice preventative lifeguarding (e.g. keeping
children from from running, stopping children on rafts from going into
the deep end of the water before they fall, or other unsafe behavior
- Be trained in the use of rescue tubes,
backboards, and equipment specifically used at your site (e.g. ring
buoys, reaching poles, or other special equipment)
- Be punctual, attentive, and exhibit
professionalism.
Necessary Tools
for Lifeguards to do their Job
- A uniform that identifies the lifeguard
- Whistles
- Basic First Aid Supplies
- CPR resuscitation mask
- Gloves
- Band-Aids
- Scissors
- Guaze Pads, rolls
- Tape
- First Aid Safety Goggles
- Rescue tube
- Backboard with straps and a head immobilizer
- Access to a telephone
- Posted emergency phone numbers (e.g. 911, police,
poison control center)
- Adjustable umbrellas
- Elevated lifeguard stand
What Lifeguards
Expect From Facility Management
- Necessary equipment
- A facility orientation and a list of clearly
explained responsibilities
- Clearly stated and posted facility rules
- Incident report forms for injuries, thefts,
vandalism, etc.
- A detailed, written Emergency Action
Plan/Procedure that is routinely practiced
- A uniform
- Routine breaks (e.g. 15 minutes every hour for a
single-guard facility when the pool is completely cleared, or a
rotation into a different task or break for a multiple-guard facility.
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