LIFEGUARD TRAINING

by

Version 2019.1
Last Updated 05/25/2019
How to use this book

This book is a required component of the certified lifeguard course by Lifeguard University. However, any part of this
book can be reproduced and used without permission, as long as, you cite this book as the source for what you
reproduce. The book itself is a living document and will be changed as needed to improve the lifeguard course and
provide up to date aquatics research and information. There will likely be at least one updated edition every year, if not
more often.

We welcome any and all feedback and are always looking to make the program better. What makes this program unique
is its open nature and the ability to quickly adjust based on changes in the aquatics industry.

Headers

To make the book a little easier to navigate we have color coded headers to denote the type of topic the book is
discussing:

Black Header - This is the generic header indicating a new topic

Red Header - The red header represents sample procedures and checklists
Purple Header - All activities are marked with a purple header
Blue Header - Chapters, skills and notes have blue headers

The table of contents also uses the same color coding for simplification.

For the Instructor

Delivering high quality training to students is the top priority for Lifeguard University. The sole reason this program was
created was because we believe we can put together a quality training program.

To ensure accountability, we provide students with all the course completion requirements in the manual. This helps in
keeping students and instructors accountable to each other. We also conduct random knowledge assessments of
students after classes for additional verification of the training quality.

In addition to the after-class assessments, we conduct phone surveys of students to ensure they completed the course
requirements. When the lead author ran the training team for the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, he could
quickly assess the quality of the training by random surveying and pinpoint potential quality issues in the training.

For the Lifeguard Course Participant

Students are responsible for their learning just as much as the instructor. With the exception of the answers to the tests,
review questions, and lesson plans, the instructor manual and student manual are the same. This allows both the
students and the instructors to be held accountable for learning. For example, the minimum length for this course is 28
hours. Both students and instructors are accountable to ensure enough time is given to the course. If the course is cut
short, the requirements for certification are not met. If an incident happens at any facility and, through discovery, it is
found that the course did not last the minimum amount of time, or all skills were not mastered, Lifeguard University WILL
NOT acknowledge the lifeguard certification.

Authors

James Meyers
Lesley Sprague
Matt Sutton
Jeff Destache
Matt Young

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following swimming pools to allow us to use their facilities for this book:

Brownell-Talbot Mahoney State Park Westridge Pool

400 N Happy Hollow Blvd 28500 W Park Hwy 3506 Paddock Rd
Omaha, NE 68132 Ashland, NE 68003 Omaha, NE 68124

I would also like to thank the people who participated in this book:

Dave Harris Alexa Reed Caroline Worden

Lesley Sprague Jacob Meyers Lane McClannan
Jason Shannon Beth Meyers Emma Dunlap
Zach Samland Jared Kolok Kaitlyn Ketelsen
Nick Barkhurst Nicole Gornell Miranda Paustian
Tyler Gibson Connor Worden Benjamin Meyers
Paige McClannan Aidan Balanay
Wyatt Brauckmuller Gabrielle Shannon

Disclaimer

This manual was written for the Lifeguard University lifeguard certification program. The content is subject to change at
any time without notice. Each aquatics facility and emergency is different. The guidelines in this book do not encompass
all cases or procedures needed to operate a facility or respond to every emergency. They are just templates and
guidelines. Lifeguard University, the authors, employees and authorized providers make no representations or warranties
with respect to any implied future performance by people who completed the certified training course.

Lifeguard University only provides the first step in being a skilled lifeguard. After initial certification, aquatics facilities,
lifeguard management and lifeguards are responsible for future performance.

Local Jurisdictions and Regulatory Compliance

Any information in this book does not replace or supersede local, state, or federal regulations. In a case where a
regulatory agency’s procedures conflict with the guidelines in this manual, the regulatory agency supersedes any of the
content in this book.

Lifeguard University © 2019 3

 Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Before the Class .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Pre-Screen ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13
What to Expect During Training and What to Bring .......................................................................................................... 13
Course Completion Requirements .................................................................................................................................... 14
Course Length ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
CPR Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................... 14
First Aid Requirements ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Instructor per Student Ratio .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Required Equipment ......................................................................................................................................................... 15
Keeping Your Certification Current ................................................................................................................................... 15
Required Skills Checklist ................................................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 2: Introduction to Lifeguarding ................................................................................................................................. 17
Becoming a Lifeguard ....................................................................................................................................................... 17
Lifeguard Job Description/Expectations ............................................................................................................................ 17
Preventing Injuries ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
The Aquatics Team ........................................................................................................................................................... 18
Management ................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Support Staff ................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Lifeguards as Professional First Responders and Legal Considerations ......................................................................... 19
Duty to Act ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Standard of Care ........................................................................................................................................................... 19
Negligence .................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Good Samaritan Laws ................................................................................................................................................... 19
Consent ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Implied Consent ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Refusal of Care ............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Abandonment ................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Confidentiality and Social Media ................................................................................................................................... 20
Documentation .............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Types of Facilities ............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Water Parks................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Waterfronts (both Surf and Non-Surf) ........................................................................................................................... 21
Standalone Swimming Pool .......................................................................................................................................... 21
Multi-Attraction Facilities ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Spray/Splash Park......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Decision Making ................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Decision Making Activity ................................................................................................................................................... 22
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Chapter 3: Surveillance and Scanning .................................................................................................................................. 26
Victim Recognition ............................................................................................................................................................ 26
Normal Swimmer .......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Distressed Swimmer ..................................................................................................................................................... 26
Active Drowning Victim ................................................................................................................................................. 26
Passive Drowning Victim ............................................................................................................................................... 27
RID Factor ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Scanning ........................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Vigilance ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28
Sleep ............................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Temperature of the Environment .................................................................................................................................. 28
Drugs and Alcohol ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Noise ............................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Physical Fitness and Exercise ...................................................................................................................................... 29
Breaks ........................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Lifeguard Stations ............................................................................................................................................................. 30
Elevated Station ............................................................................................................................................................ 30
Ground Station .............................................................................................................................................................. 30
Roving Station ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
Station Rotations ............................................................................................................................................................... 31
Areas of Responsibility ...................................................................................................................................................... 32
Total Coverage .............................................................................................................................................................. 32
Zone Coverage.............................................................................................................................................................. 32
Area of Responsibility Activity 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 33
Area of Responsibility Activity 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 33
Weather ............................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Lightening ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Tornadoes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Rain ............................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Hail ................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Wind .............................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Fog ................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Indoor Pools and Weather ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Sample Program Bad Weather/Cancellation Policy.......................................................................................................... 36
Sample Procedure for Evacuating an Indoor/Outdoor Pool During a Tornado ................................................................ 36
Water Clarity...................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Water Visibility Obstructions ............................................................................................................................................. 37
Chapter 4: Operations and Procedures ................................................................................................................................ 38

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 Rescue Equipment ............................................................................................................................................................ 38
First Aid Kits .................................................................................................................................................................. 38
Rescue Tubes ............................................................................................................................................................... 38
Rescue Cans ................................................................................................................................................................. 38
Shepherd's Crook .......................................................................................................................................................... 39
Ring Buoy ...................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Rescue Board................................................................................................................................................................ 39
Policies and Procedures Manual....................................................................................................................................... 40
Following Government Regulations (National, State and Local) ...................................................................................... 40
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) .................................................................................................. 40
Blood Borne Pathogens and Exposure Control Plan .................................................................................................... 41
Sample Procedure for Cleaning Up Blood and Other Body Fluids ................................................................................... 41
Vomit and Blood in Pool Water ..................................................................................................................................... 41
Hazard Communication Standard ................................................................................................................................. 42
SDS (Safety Data Sheets) ............................................................................................................................................ 42
Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) .................................................................................................................................. 42
Sample Procedure for Solid Fecal Material Incident ......................................................................................................... 43
Sample Procedure for a Loose Fecal Material Incident .................................................................................................... 43
Sample Procedure for Removing a Dead Animal from the Pool ....................................................................................... 44
In-Service Training ............................................................................................................................................................ 44
Drills .................................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Common Pool Rules ......................................................................................................................................................... 45
Common Rules for Equipment and Play Structures ..................................................................................................... 45
Common Diving Board Rules ........................................................................................................................................ 45
Spas or Therapy Pools ...................................................................................................................................................... 45
Common Spa and Therapy Pool Rules ........................................................................................................................ 46
Rules for Water Parks ....................................................................................................................................................... 46
General Rules for Water Parks ..................................................................................................................................... 46
Common Rules for Winding Rivers ............................................................................................................................... 46
Common Rules for Waterslides .................................................................................................................................... 47
Maintaining Records ......................................................................................................................................................... 47
Communicating with Customers ....................................................................................................................................... 47
Enforcing Rules ................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Sample Customer Disciplinary Policy ............................................................................................................................... 48
Facility Maintenance and Fixing Unsafe Conditions ......................................................................................................... 49
Safety Checks and Checklists........................................................................................................................................... 49
Hazards ............................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Threats of violence ............................................................................................................................................................ 49

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 Customers Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol ...................................................................................................... 49
Rest Breaks ....................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Chapter 5: Emergency Response ......................................................................................................................................... 51
Emergency Action Plan-The Basics .................................................................................................................................. 51
When to Call Your Local Emergency Number .................................................................................................................. 51
Roles During an Emergency ............................................................................................................................................. 51
Lifeguards ...................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Aquatics Management .................................................................................................................................................. 52
Support Staff ................................................................................................................................................................. 52
What Happens to a Drowning Victim? .............................................................................................................................. 52
Timely Response .............................................................................................................................................................. 52
Emergency Action Plan Activity ........................................................................................................................................ 53
Sample Emergency Action Plans ...................................................................................................................................... 53
Sample in Water Emergency (Single Lifeguard Facility)............................................................................................... 54
Sample Out of Water Emergency (Single Lifeguard Facility) ....................................................................................... 55
Sample in Water Emergency (Two Lifeguard Facility) .................................................................................................. 56
Sample Out of Water Emergency (Two Lifeguard Facility) ........................................................................................... 57
Sample in Water Emergency (Multiple Lifeguard Facility) ............................................................................................ 58
Sample Out of Water Emergency (Multiple Lifeguard Facility) ..................................................................................... 59
Sample Controlling Bystanders Procedure ................................................................................................................... 60
If the Scene Becomes Unsafe While Providing Care ....................................................................................................... 60
Facility Evacuation Plans and Procedures ........................................................................................................................ 60
Chapter 6: Rescue Skills ....................................................................................................................................................... 61
Prescreen Skills................................................................................................................................................................. 61
Front Crawl .................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Breaststroke .................................................................................................................................................................. 63
Entries ............................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Stride Jump ................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Compact Jump .............................................................................................................................................................. 65
Slide in Entry ................................................................................................................................................................. 65
Run Entry ...................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Approach Strokes .............................................................................................................................................................. 67
Breast Stroke Approach ................................................................................................................................................ 67
Front Crawl Approach ................................................................................................................................................... 67
Approach with Tube Trailing Behind ............................................................................................................................. 67
Assists ............................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Swim Extension from Deck ........................................................................................................................................... 68
Extension with Equipment ............................................................................................................................................. 68

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 Swim Extension from in the Water ................................................................................................................................ 69
Throwing Assist (Ring Buoy) ......................................................................................................................................... 69
Securing the Victim ....................................................................................................................................................... 70
Walking Assist ............................................................................................................................................................... 71
Walking Assist (Two Rescuers) .................................................................................................................................... 71
Two-Person Seated Carry ............................................................................................................................................. 71
Beach Drag ................................................................................................................................................................... 72
Feet First Surface Dives ................................................................................................................................................ 73
Active Drowning Victim Rescues ...................................................................................................................................... 74
Front Approach .............................................................................................................................................................. 74
Rear Approach .............................................................................................................................................................. 74
Passive Drowning Victim Rescues.................................................................................................................................... 76
Front Approach .............................................................................................................................................................. 76
Rear Approach .............................................................................................................................................................. 77
Rear Approach Without a Change in Direction ............................................................................................................. 78
Shallow Water Passive Victim ....................................................................................................................................... 79
Submerged Victim ......................................................................................................................................................... 80
Multiple Victims ............................................................................................................................................................. 81
Removing Victims from Water........................................................................................................................................... 82
Victim Removal from Water Deep Water (Non-Spinal Cord Injury) .............................................................................. 82
Victim Removal from Shallow Water (Non-Spinal Cord Injury) ..................................................................................... 83
Small Person Removal .................................................................................................................................................. 84
Head, Neck or Back (Spinal Cord) Injury In-Line Stabilization ......................................................................................... 85
Face Down Shallow Water (Head Splint) ...................................................................................................................... 85
Face Up Shallow Water (Head Splint) .......................................................................................................................... 86
Head and Chin Support ................................................................................................................................................. 87
Submerged Head, Neck, Back Injury ............................................................................................................................ 88
Head, Neck, Back Injury in Very Shallow Water ........................................................................................................... 89
Head, Neck and Back Injuries on Land ......................................................................................................................... 90
Applying a Backboard on Land (Standing Take Down) ................................................................................................ 91
Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Very Shallow Water) .................................................................................. 93
Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head and Chin Support with No/Minimal Elevated Deck) Main Method ... 94
Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head Splint with No/Minimal Elevated Deck) Main Method ....................... 95
Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head and Chin Support with Elevated Deck) ............................................. 97
Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head Splint with Elevated Deck) ................................................................ 98
Deep Water Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head and Chin Support with No/Minimal Elevated Deck) ..... 99
Deep Water Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head Splint with No/Minimal Elevated Deck) ...................... 101
Deep Water Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head and Chin Support with Elevated Deck) ...................... 102

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 Deep Water Head, Neck, Back Injury Water Removal (Head Splint with Elevated Deck) ......................................... 102
General Backboarding Notes ...................................................................................................................................... 103
Removing a Head, Neck, Back Injury Victim from the Water ..................................................................................... 104
Troubleshooting Issues While Applying a Backboard ..................................................................................................... 105
If a Victim is Too Low on the Backboard ..................................................................................................................... 105
If the Victim’s Feet Sink While on a Backboard .......................................................................................................... 105
Escapes ........................................................................................................................................................................... 106
Front Hold Head Escape ............................................................................................................................................. 106
Rear Hold Head Escape ............................................................................................................................................. 106
Chapter 7: Special Considerations for First Aid and CPR .................................................................................................. 107
Airway Management ....................................................................................................................................................... 107
Spinal Cord Injuries ......................................................................................................................................................... 107
Seizures in the water ....................................................................................................................................................... 108
Using an AED around water............................................................................................................................................ 108
In-Water Ventilations ....................................................................................................................................................... 108
Chapter 8: After an Emergency........................................................................................................................................... 110
After an Emergency ........................................................................................................................................................ 110
When Should I Complete an Incident Report? ................................................................................................................ 110
Incident Reporting ........................................................................................................................................................... 110
Properly Documented Incident Report ............................................................................................................................ 111
Poorly Documented Incident Report ............................................................................................................................... 113
Witness Statements ........................................................................................................................................................ 114
Mapping Accidents .......................................................................................................................................................... 114
Staff Injury or Exposure Reporting .................................................................................................................................. 115
Discussing an Incident With the Media (or Anyone Else) ............................................................................................... 116
Management's Role After an Emergency ....................................................................................................................... 116
Staff Debriefing................................................................................................................................................................ 116
Critical Incident Stress .................................................................................................................................................... 116
Chapter 9: Water Park Lifeguarding ................................................................................................................................... 117
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................... 117
Course Completion Requirements .................................................................................................................................. 117
Course Length ................................................................................................................................................................. 117
Process if Already Certified as a Swimming Pool Lifeguard ........................................................................................... 117
Keeping Your Certification Current ................................................................................................................................. 117
Required Skills Checklist ................................................................................................................................................. 118
Preventing Injuries .......................................................................................................................................................... 118
Signage, Rules and Regulations ..................................................................................................................................... 118
Height Requirements ...................................................................................................................................................... 118

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 Safety Checks ................................................................................................................................................................. 119
Lifeguard Rotations ......................................................................................................................................................... 119
Surveillance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 119
Emergency Preparedness ............................................................................................................................................... 119
Interacting with Customers.............................................................................................................................................. 119
Language Barriers ........................................................................................................................................................... 120
Waterpark Attractions ...................................................................................................................................................... 120
Winding (Lazy) Rivers ..................................................................................................................................................... 120
Water Slides .................................................................................................................................................................... 121
Drop-off Slides................................................................................................................................................................. 121
Speed Slides ................................................................................................................................................................... 122
Catch Pools ..................................................................................................................................................................... 122
Communication Between the Top and Bottom Lifeguards of a Waterslide .................................................................... 122
Wave Pools ..................................................................................................................................................................... 123
Areas for Children ........................................................................................................................................................... 123
Rescue Skills ................................................................................................................................................................... 124
Entries ............................................................................................................................................................................. 124
Run Entry .................................................................................................................................................................... 124
Wave Pool Entry (Compact Jump) .............................................................................................................................. 124
Wave Pool Entry (Slide in Entry) ................................................................................................................................. 125
Wave Pool Entry (Slide in Entry) Alternative Method .................................................................................................. 126
Assists ............................................................................................................................................................................. 126
Walking Assist ............................................................................................................................................................. 126
Two-Person Seated Carry ........................................................................................................................................... 126
Beach Drag ................................................................................................................................................................. 126
Spinal Injuries .................................................................................................................................................................. 127
Head Splint Very Shallow Water ................................................................................................................................. 127
Head Splint Face Up with a Current............................................................................................................................ 127
Head Splint Face Down with a Current ....................................................................................................................... 128
Applying a Backboard in Very Shallow Water............................................................................................................. 128
Applying a Backboard on a Waterslide ....................................................................................................................... 129
Applying a Backboard on a Waterslide (Alternative Method) ..................................................................................... 130
Applying a Backboard with a Current-Head Splint (Winding River or Catch Pool) ..................................................... 131
Moving a Spinal Cord Victim to Designated Exit Point ............................................................................................... 132
Removing a Victim Up Stairs ...................................................................................................................................... 133
Sample Missing Child/Guardian Procedure .................................................................................................................... 134
Chapter 10: Review Questions ........................................................................................................................................... 135
Chapter 1: Before the Class ............................................................................................................................................ 135

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 Chapter 2: Introduction to Lifeguarding ........................................................................................................................... 135
Chapter 3: Surveillance and Scanning ............................................................................................................................ 137
Chapter 4: Operations and Procedures .......................................................................................................................... 139
Chapter 5: Emergency Response ................................................................................................................................... 140
Chapter 6: Swimming Pool Rescue Skills ....................................................................................................................... 142
Chapter 7: Special Considerations for First and CPR .................................................................................................... 144
Chapter 8: After an Emergency....................................................................................................................................... 145
Chapter 9: Water Park Lifeguarding ............................................................................................................................... 146
First Aid ........................................................................................................................................................................... 147
CPR ................................................................................................................................................................................. 150
Chapter 11: Additional Resources, Forms and Procedures ............................................................................................... 154
Getting your First Lifeguard Job ...................................................................................................................................... 154
Orientation ....................................................................................................................................................................... 154
Policies and Procedures Manual..................................................................................................................................... 154
Forms and Procedures .................................................................................................................................................... 154
Sample Procedure for Responding to Suspicions and Allegations of Child Abuse ........................................................ 155
Signs of Abuse ............................................................................................................................................................ 155
If you Become Aware of Possible Abuse .................................................................................................................... 155
Recording Information ................................................................................................................................................. 156
Reporting the Concern ................................................................................................................................................ 156
Confidentiality .............................................................................................................................................................. 156
Internal Inquiries and Suspension ............................................................................................................................... 156
Sample Pre-Employment Test ........................................................................................................................................ 157
Sample In-Service Training Report ................................................................................................................................. 159
Sample Summer Pool Manager Job Description ............................................................................................................ 161
Sample Assistant Manager/Head Lifeguard Job Description ......................................................................................... 162
Sample Lifeguard Job Description .................................................................................................................................. 163
Sample Lifeguard Employee Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 164
Sample Lifeguard Employee Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 165
Sample New Employee Paperwork Checklist ................................................................................................................. 166
Sample Employee Attendance Log ................................................................................................................................. 167
Sample Lifeguard Daily Checklist ................................................................................................................................... 168
Sample Daily Safety Checklist ........................................................................................................................................ 169
Sample Incident Report ................................................................................................................................................... 172
Sample Witness Statement ............................................................................................................................................. 173
Sample Minor Injury Log ................................................................................................................................................. 174
Decision Making Exercise ............................................................................................................................................... 175
Sample Hepatitis B Declination Form ............................................................................................................................. 176

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Appendix A: Planned additions to the book and future certifications .................................................................................. 177
Appendix B: Emergency Action Plan Used for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming................................................... 178
Sources ............................................................................................................................................................................... 181
About the Authors ............................................................................................................................................................... 184

Lifeguard University © 2019 12

Chapter 1: Before the Class
Pre-Screen
Before being eligible to take a lifeguard class the following requirements must be met:

• Be at least 16 years old by the end of the course

• Swim 400 continuous yards. The first 100 yards is front crawl (with rhythmic breathing to either the front or the
side). The next 100 yards is breaststroke (one pull, one breath, one kick and one glide-in that order). The
remaining 200 yards can be either front crawl or breaststroke; it is the student’s choice.

A video on how to swim the front crawl can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIU6yINLBt4

A video on how to swim the breaststroke can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUM3Bp3n1ac

• Starting at one side of the pool, swim 20 yards and submerge at least 7 feet to retrieve a 10 lb. object and swim it
back to the starting point. Both hands must remain on the object on the return swim to the wall. Place the object
on the side of the pool and exit the pool. The time stops when the swimmer completely exits the pool. The time
limit is 90 seconds.
• Tread water in at least 7 feet of water for not less than 5 minutes with the student’s’ hands tucked under their
armpits.
Notes:

• Goggles can be worn for the 400-yard swim ONLY.

• A student can only reattempt one portion of the prescreen one time before they are required to take another
course.
• The instructor will verify age before the course starts. Driver’s license, passport, or birth certificates are the forms
of age verification that will be accepted.

What to Expect During Training and What to Bring

The lesson plans are designed to give instructors some flexibility. They are broken into 4-hour blocks, but can be
modified as necessary, as long as all the objectives and time requirements are met. Students should bring a swimsuit
and towel to every class, unless told otherwise by the instructor. Traditionally, this course is taught as a four (4) full days
course on the weekends. Please bring lunch unless directed otherwise by the instructor.

While in the water, students will practice rescue skills and should plan accordingly. Female students should wear a one-
piece swimsuit without a "U" back. A two-piece swim suit is okay, as long as, the top provides enough support (similar to
a sports bra). Bikinis or any swimsuits that require strings to keep the swim suit on are not permitted. Male students
should wear swim trunks-no cutoffs or shorts will be permitted.

Students should bring their manual to each class in whatever form he/she has it. That means a paper copy or a
computer/tablet that has the manual. If the student is a note taker, he/she should also bring a pen and paper to take
notes. Students will be assigned review questions at different times throughout the class. The review questions are
homework and students are expected to complete them outside the classroom. The instructor will provide the answers
during the class.

Each student is solely responsible for reading the book and knowing the content. Instructors are available to guide the
students through the book. Most of the classroom time will be devoted to skill practice and making sure students properly
recognize and respond to emergencies. To put it simply, the instructor will not cover every line of the book, the student is
responsible for reading it.

Lifeguard University © 2019 13

Course Completion Requirements
• Attend all class sessions (A minimum of 28 hours)
• Complete all required skills
• Read the manual and complete all review questions
• Pass final practical scenarios
o Spinal Cord Injury resulting in applying a backboard in either shallow or deep water
o Near drowning emergency requiring the victim to be removed from that water and CPR to be
administered
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum of 80%
o 50 Questions
• Show a maturity level to effectively work as a lifeguard.
o The instructor has the discretion to not allow a student to become certified if, in the view of the instructor,
the student does not possess the maturity level to be a lifeguard.

Course Length
The minimum length of this course is 28 hours. This includes all lifeguarding, CPR and first aid components. Any student
who does not complete this amount of training does not complete the training requirements. This course is designed to
be completed between 28–32 hours.

Minimum time for each segment:

First Aid: 1.5 hours

CPR: 4 hours
Backboarding: 6 Hours
Classroom: 5 Hours
Rescue Skills: 3 hours

Notes:

The minimum time for each component does not add up to 28 hours. This gives instructors leeway on where time is spent
based on class needs. The times above denote the minimum amount of time that can be spent on each area. The total
class still must be at least 28 hours long.

CPR Requirements
This course does not include CPR training in the curriculum, but does require CPR certification at a healthcare provider
level as part of the course. Instructors are encouraged to use CPR certification by the American Heart Association,
American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute, or National Safety Council to meet the CPR requirement of
this course. To request a CPR program not on this list, please contact Lifeguard University through the website
(www.lifeguarduniversity.com). Review questions for CPR training have been added as a supplement in chapter 10.

First Aid Requirements

This course does not include first aid training in the curriculum but does require first aid as part of the course. We do plan
on including first aid in future editions of the book. Until then, instructors are encouraged to use first aid certification by
the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute, or National Safety Council to
meet the first aid requirement for this course To request a first aid program not on this list, please contact Lifeguard
University through the website (www.lifeguarduniversity.com). Review questions for CPR training have been added as a
supplement in chapter 10. We have included review questions for first aid training as a supplement.

Lifeguard University © 2019 14

Instructor per Student Ratio

Each instructor can train a maximum of 15 students at a time. If a course has more students, a second instructor is
required.

Notes:

To effectively teach this course, there should be a minimum of three students. The course can be taught with less than
three students, but there must be at least two other people available (with one of them being a certified lifeguard) to
complete the in-water skill sessions). The instructor cannot serve as one of the three people.

Required Equipment
• 1 printed or digital copy of this book for each student
• 1 Rescue tube for every two (2) students
• 1 Backboard for every three (3) students
• 1 Manikin for every three (3) students
• 1 AED Trainer for every two (2) students
• 1 first aid kit (2 roller gauze, 2 triangle bandages and 2 3"x3" or 4"x4" gauze pads) for every two (2) students

Keeping Your Certification Current

• Have a valid CPR certification at the Professional level earned within the last 12 months.
• Have a valid first aid certification earned in last 36 months
• Complete a full or review course every 36 months.

Notes:

Lifeguard University acknowledges training by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), American Heart
Association (AHA), American National Red Cross and the National Safety Council. Obtaining certification from any of
these bodies for First Aid and CPR at the healthcare provider level will keep your lifeguard certification current.

Lifeguard University © 2019 15

Required Skills Checklist
This page will allow you to follow along with the required skills you will need to complete this course. Students are just as
responsible for their learning as the instructor and we have made all the information available to you.

Lifeguard Skills:

Assists Completed Drowning Victim Rescues Completed

Front Approach Active Drowning Victim
Assist from Deck Rescue
Rear Approach Active Drowning Victim
Assist in water Rescue
Front Approach Passive Drowning
Equipment Assist Victim Rescue
Rear Approach Passive Drowning
Throwing Assist (Optional) Victim Rescue
Rear Approach Passive Drowning
Walking Assist (Optional) Victim with Change in Direction
Two Person Seated Carry (Optional) Submerged Victim Rescue
Beach Drag (Optional) Multiple Victim Rescue
Shallow Water Passive Victim

Entries Escapes
Stride Jump Front Head Escape
Compact Jump Rear Hold Head Escape
Slide in Entry
Run Entry (Optional)

Approach Strokes Removal from Water

Breast Stroke Approach (with rescue Two-person backboard removal from
tube underneath your armpits) water
Front Crawl Approach (with rescue
tube underneath your armpits) Small Victim Removal
Front Crawl Approach (with rescue
tube trailing behind)

Spinal CPR Skills

Head Splint Face Down In Water Ventilations (Optional)
Head Splint Face Up
Head and Chin Support Other
Head Splint Submerged Station Rotations (Optional)
Head Splint Very Shallow Water Feet First Surface Dives
Injuries on Land
Applying a Backboard on Land
Applying a Backboard in Very Shallow
Water
Applying a Backboard in Deep Water

Lifeguard University © 2019 16

Chapter 2: Introduction to Lifeguarding
Becoming a Lifeguard
Choosing to be a lifeguard can be both rewarding and challenging. This course will cover much of the basic information
and skills you will need. This is only the first step. Each pool operates differently and makes best decisions for its
operations. After the completion of this class, it is important for you to complete an orientation process at your facility to
understand their process before you start. Lifeguarding can be a lot of fun when done properly. Although we do not spend
a lot of time discussing the benefits of being a lifeguard in this course, we have found it enjoyable enough to write about it.

Lifeguard Job Description/Expectations

Generally speaking, a lifeguard’s responsibilities are divided into two categories: primary responsibilities and secondary
responsibilities. Primary responsibilities include:

• Enforcing facility policies and regulations

• Educating customers about facility rules and policies
• Preventing injuries by reducing or eliminating dangerous behavior and hazards
• Identifying and responding to emergencies, including quickly providing care

Secondary responsibilities are duties that do not directly involve recognizing and responding to emergencies but are
necessary functions at swimming pools. Some duties include:

• Completing maintenance logs

• Selling concessions
• Disinfecting restrooms
• Cleaning the pool deck
• Vacuuming the pool

Secondary responsibilities should never take precedence over primary responsibilities.

Preventing Injuries
A lifeguard’s main function is to prevent accidents/incidents before they happen. The two main accidents we try to avoid
(and spend the most time training for) are:

• Drowning
• Head, neck, and back (Spinal Cord) injuries

However, there are other life-threatening emergencies that we want to prevent or know how to respond to. Some of those
are:

• Cardiac Emergencies
• Breathing Emergencies
• Severe Bleeding

We may not be able to prevent a person from having a heart attack, but as part of CPR, lifeguards are trained about how
to respond to those kinds of incidents.

Lifeguard University © 2019 17

There are also non-life-threatening incidents lifeguards are trained to handle including:

• Sprains and Strains • Seizures

• Cuts and Scrapes • Allergic Reactions
• Muscle Cramps • Dislocations and broken bones
• Diabetic Emergencies • Hypothermia
• Strokes • Hyperthermia

All of these topics will be covered in first aid.

Notes:

Please see Chapter 11 for a sample job description

The Aquatics Team

A lifeguard’s primary responsibility is to prevent emergencies and respond when an emergency takes place. Lifeguards
are only one part of a group that makes up an aquatics team. Each facility is different based on their needs. Below we
have outlined a few different positions and how they could fit into an aquatics team.

Management
Aquatics managers are tasked with the overall operations of an aquatic facility. The management can include, pool
managers, aquatics directors, head lifeguards, board members, etc. In general, the role of management is:

• Complying with regulations (local, state, and federal)

• Establishing facility policies and procedures
• Maintaining required records
• Maintaining a safe environment for both customers and staff
• Budgeting
• Assisting during and after an emergency
• Addressing unsafe conditions

Beyond the administrative pieces above, aquatics supervisors are responsible for overall safety and the staff's ability to
respond in an emergency. To ensure a strong lifeguard team, good aquatics supervisors work hard to shape a team that
can respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. Some of their activities include:

• Conduct regular in-service training so lifeguards are trained and are evaluated together.
• Make sure lifeguards work together as a team.
• Ensure everyone knows their role in an emergency and when to call for help.
• Regularly practice the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) so every team member performs their roles correctly.
• Makes sure the team understands what facility management expects from them and from each other.

Support Staff
In addition to lifeguards and management, many facilities also have support staff. This includes maintenance workers,
custodial staff, front desk, concessions staff, swim-lesson instructors, and security guards. All can play a role in a facility’s
aquatics team and, depending on the facility, can even play a role in the facility emergency action plan (see Chapter 5).
For example, at a single lifeguard facility, the front desk staff may be trained to help the lifeguard remove the victim from
the water. Another example is a security guard can help with crowd control, provide first aid or escort emergency
responders in and out of the facility efficiently.

Lifeguard University © 2019 18

 Lifeguards as Professional First Responders and Legal
Considerations
Lifeguards can be considered professional rescuers, depending on the state.
This happens because, in most cases, lifeguards are being compensated to
provide basic emergency care to those who need help. Legal liabilities for
lifeguards vary from state to state and change depending on case law. We
encourage you to consult your facility counsel, insurance company and health
department(s) to stay up to date on the latest laws and regulations. With that
wikimedia.org stated, we will discuss a few basic legal concepts. Keep in mind the definitions
may vary from state to state.

Duty to Act
Lifeguards, in many cases, have a duty to respond to an emergency while working (1). Some of the duty comes from
being compensated but can apply to volunteers. You are encouraged to check with your insurance company or legal
counsel.

Standard of Care
This is the minimum level of expectation that a lifeguard must adhere
to while working. This means enforcing facility policies and
regulations, educating customers about facility rules and policies,
preventing injuries by reducing or eliminating dangerous
behavior/hazards, and responding to emergencies-including quickly
providing care.

Negligence
When a lifeguard fails to meet the standard of care, he/she and the
facility are considered negligent. Negligence can include not enforcing wikimedia.org

facility rules, not recognizing or responding to an emergency, and not providing a safe environment for people to swim.

Good Samaritan Laws

States have implemented laws intended to protect people providing care to victims requiring emergency care. These laws
vary from state to state and we encourage you to evaluate your state’s Good Samaritan Law. In general, the laws protect
rescuers who act in good faith and provide care within the scope of their training. For example, if you chose to amputate
a victim’s finger that is stuck in a door, you may not be protected from liability since, as a lifeguard, you have not been
trained to perform such a procedure. Good Samaritan Laws may not protect someone who has a duty to act. A complete
list of Good Samaritan laws by state can be found here: http://www.cprinstructor.com/legal.htm

Consent
Before providing care to a victim, a lifeguard must have permission to help the victim. For adults (over the age of
majority), this is as simple as telling the victim that you are a lifeguard, explain to them about their injury and why they
need help. Then ask the victim for permission to help them.

It is common at a swimming pool to have a victim too young to give consent. This is a person under the age of majority.
In this case, lifeguards need to obtain permission to provide care from a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian is not
available, consent is implied.

Lifeguard University © 2019 19

 Implied Consent
An unresponsive adult (over the age of majority) cannot verbally
give permission. In this case, consent is implied. That means
lifeguards can assume the victim would give permission to help if
they could.

Implied consent also applies to minors (under the age of majority)

who do not have a parent or legal guardian available. Since a
child cannot give consent, it is assumed the parent or guardian
would allow you to provide care.
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au
Note:

If a victim refuses care while conscious, but then becomes unconscious, consent is implied. The emergency has now
changed and lifeguards can act as if the victim gave consent. It does not matter that the victim refused care while they
were conscious.

Refusal of Care
It is not uncommon for a victim to refuse treatment. Since many lifeguards have a duty to act, it is important to document
the victim’s refusal for treatment. Please follow your facility’s procedures in documenting a refusal of care.

Notes:

Lifeguards do not need permission to call 911 during an emergency. If a victim refuses care and you believe the victim
needs additional treatment, it is appropriate to call 911 and request additional assistance. If additional care is needed,
emergency care providers will be able to assess the victim and direct the victim to seek additional treatment.

Abandonment
Once care is being provided, a rescuer cannot desert the victim (in most cases). The exceptions are if the scene
becomes unsafe, the rescuer physically or mentally is no longer capable of providing care, or someone else with equal or
greater training takes over care for the victim. It is not very common for a professional rescuer to abandon a victim. The
best example we can come up with is the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2). These types of cases, from our research,
are very rare.

Confidentiality and Social Media

Information about a victim should not be shared with anyone unless they are involved in the care or follow-up investigation
of the incident. This means lifeguards should refrain from conversing with co-workers, friends, their relatives, relatives of
the victim, and witnesses about any incident that took place. Part of a lifeguard’s job is not only to help a victim in an
emergency, but also to protect their privacy. HIPAA was a law enacted for the sole purpose of protecting a person’s
medical privacy (3).

Privacy also extends to social media, which includes platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc. There have been many
incidents of healthcare providers violating patient confidentiality on social media websites. A good practice would be to
NOT post any information about an incident that happened while working as a lifeguard. In lieu of a workplace policy, we
recommend using the National Council of State Boards of Nursing guidelines on social media that can be found here:
https://www.ncsbn.org/SocialMedia_rev4-13.pdf

Lifeguard University © 2019 20

Documentation
Documenting an accident or incident is a very important and often overlooked part of lifeguarding. If an event ever results
in legal action, the accuracy, and completeness of the documentation will come into play during a legal proceeding. Every
facility should have their own standard on when and how to document an incident. If your facility does not have clear
guidelines, we recommend you to contact your insurance company for help.

In general, a good recommendation to follow is if a customer requests a Band-Aid, and they apply it to themselves, no
documentation is needed. However, if you, or another lifeguard, put the Band-Aid on the victim, the incident should be
documented. Ultimately, each facility has to make a choice as to what should and should not be documented.

Types of Facilities
No two facilities operate exactly the same way, even in cases of swimming pools belonging to same organizations as
experienced by the authors. For example, the YMCA or municipalities that operate multiple swimming pools may operate
differently from each other. Below are different types of facilities and a brief discussion of unique features.

Water Parks
Water parks are aquatic amusement parks with various
attractions such as water slides, wave pools, lazy rivers,
speed slides, toboggan-style rides, etc. Each facility is unique
with their own unique rides.

wikimedia.org

Waterfronts (both Surf and Non-Surf)

These are open water facilities, which include oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Waterfronts present a unique set of hazards. In general, water clarity is an
issue and lifeguards should have additional certification/training to effectively
work at a waterfront.

wikimedia.org

Standalone Swimming Pool

This is the typical summer swimming pool that most people think of. These
pools are generally outdoors and operate seasonally.

wikimedia.org

Lifeguard University © 2019 21

Multi-Attraction Facilities These facilities are similar to a water park.
They may have a swimming pool, but they will also have other features
such as water slides and activity pools.

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov
Spray/Splash Park
Spray parks are becoming increasingly popular with municipal operated
pools. They replace traditional swimming pools with a series of fountains
where kids can have fun and keep cool in the summer. They are generally
cheaper to operate and require less maintenance than a traditional
swimming pool.

wikimedia.org

Decision Making
Part of what makes a lifeguard good at preventing and responding to emergencies is making good decisions. There are
many different decision-making models available to help people make better decisions. In fact, in many cases, people go
through the decision-making steps without realizing it. We have included a decision-making model used by Boystown and
uses the acronym SODAS (4).

Situation-Correctly identify the situation, which includes the root cause. For example, it is easy to think someone is
breaking the rules just because it is fun to do so. It has been our experience that most people do not get up in the
morning and think about how they can break rules and make a lifeguard’s day miserable. Often times they do not know or
understand the rules or think about the consequences of their actions. We will discuss a few examples later in the book.

Options-After identifying the situation, as lifeguards, we have multiple options on how to handle a particular situation.
Some options are better than others. Many things in life are not math problems and have multiple solutions. It is good to
have at least three solutions in your head before you act.

Disadvantages-Each solution will have disadvantages to them; take a minute to consider the potential negative
consequences of each option.

Advantages-Along with disadvantages, each option will have potential positive consequences that will get us to the
desired results. We need to consider which options have the best advantages.

Solution-After thinking about the pros and cons of each option, a decision is made. When you practice good decision
making, this process can, in some cases, happen very rapidly as a situation is unfolding. Much of that comes with
experience and practice.

Decision Making Activity

Read the example on the next page. With a partner, take 5–10 minutes and complete the two exercises and come to a
consensus with your partner on how you would respond to each scenario.

Lifeguard University © 2019 22

Decision Making Example: A customer is drinking water from a glass bottle they had brought to the pool. What should
you do?

Situation: Glass bottles are against pool rules because of the possibility of the glass breaking. When glass shards enter
the water, it difficult to see and remove them. Customers can be injured by the glass as they swim.

Options: 1. Ignore the issue and hope the bottle does not break.
2. Inform the customer of the rule, the reason behind the rule and ensure the glass bottle is
removed from the deck.
3. Suspend the customer from the facility for one day for breaking pool rules.

Disadvantages: 1 (a) My supervisor could see the bottle and I would be in trouble for not enforcing pool rules.
1 (b) The bottle could break and cause someone to get hurt.
1 (c) The bottle could break and cause damage to the filtration system (depending on what kind
of filtration system is being used).
2 (a) The customer could get angry and not remove the bottle from the deck.
2 (b) The customer might complain about me to the manager.
2 (c) Enforcing a rule can take me away from watching the rest of the pool if the customer wants
to talk about the rule.

3 (a) The customer could get angry and not leave.

3 (b) My supervisor may get angry for enforcing the rules too harshly.
3 (c) The customer might complain about me to the manager.

Advantages: 1 (a) I can avoid a potential confrontation with the customer.

1 (b) I will not break away from my surveillance duties.
1 (c) The customer will be happier since they can continue to use the glass bottle on the pool
deck.
2 (a) The glass will not break on the pool deck and can remain open.
2 (b) Other customers observe the rule being enforced and will not bring glass containers to the
pool.
2 (c) Since I was assertive but understanding the customer probably did not understand the rule,
it will make it easier for me to enforce rules with the customer in the future.
3 (a) The pool will not have to close because the glass bottle did not break on the deck.
3 (b) There is one less customer for me to watch and potentially create other hazards.
3 (c) Other customers observe the rule being enforced and will not bring glass containers to the
pool.
Solution: Inform the customer of the rule, the reason behind the rule and ensure the glass bottle is removed from the pool
deck.

Lifeguard University © 2019 23

Decision-Making Exercise 1:

Situation: A child, who is wearing a life jacket and cannot swim, is jumping into the pool while being caught by her parent.

Options: 1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________

Disadvantages: 1 (a) ________________________________________________________________________

1 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
1 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

2 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

3 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

Advantages: 1 (a) ________________________________________________________________________

1 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
1 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

2 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

3 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Lifeguard University © 2019 24

Decision Making Exercise 2:

Situation: A five-year-old child is not being supervised by his parent and continues to run on the pool deck after you have
repeatedly asked the child not to run on the deck.

Options: 1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________

Disadvantages: 1 (a) ________________________________________________________________________

1 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
1 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

2 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

3 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

Advantages: 1 (a) ________________________________________________________________________

1 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
1 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

2 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
2 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

3 (a) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (b) ________________________________________________________________________
3 (c) ________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Lifeguard University © 2019 25

Chapter 3: Surveillance and Scanning
Victim Recognition
It is important to understand what swimmers with different stages of ability and status look like as they swim, for lifeguards
to be able to respond correctly to an emergency. Below is a basic breakdown of different types of swimmers and what
they will look like.

Normal Swimmer
The main characteristic of a normal swimmer is the clear ability to move through
water in an effective way. Depending on their ability, some swimmers will move
through the water with relative ease. The arms and legs movements are
coordinated. Even a weak swimmer, who does not move through the water very
quickly, is still considered a normal swimmer as long as there is some sort of
coordinated movement.

Distressed Swimmer
The main difference between a distressed swimmer and a normal swimmer is a
distressed swimmer struggles to make any sort of forward movement. This could
be from fatigue, medical conditions, etc. This type of swimmer may need lifeguard
assistance to get safely to the side of the pool. A common distressed swimmer is
a small child who gets to the point where he/she can no longer reach the bottom of
the pool and may need help getting to where he/she can stand. Distressed
swimmers can call out for help.

Active Drowning Victim

By contrast, active drowning victims cannot call out for help. An active drowning
victim can be positioned at or near the surface of the water. They exhibit what is
called the instinctive drowning response (5). This includes:

• Arms are extended to the side and moving up and down in an attempt
to keep their head above the water.
• Their body position is vertical in the water with no forward progress
• Active drowning victims can be located just below the water surface.
• The victim will struggle to keep their face above the water and will not be
able to breathe.

Active drowning infants can become unconscious in as little as 20 seconds. An active drowning adult can struggle for
up to a minute. In any case, the victim is not able to call out for help.

Lifeguard University © 2019 26

Passive Drowning Victim

Passive drowning victims can be anywhere in the pool, face up, face down,
at the surface, or below the surface. They could have been an active
drowning victim that became unconscious because the lifeguards did not
notice them or it could have been caused by something else like a medical
problem (stroke, seizure, heart attack, etc.), trauma (injuries), alcohol use,
etc.

Although discussed in another section of the book, passive drowning victims

are the reason why lifeguards need to clearly see the bottom of the pool.
There was a case in 2011 where a drowning victim was in a pool for three days before being discovered. The link is here:
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2011/07/01/fall-river-drowning.

RID Factor
When lifeguards fail to respond to an emergency, there is generally at least one of three factors that contribute to the lack
of response. This is called the RID factor (5).

Recognition. A lifeguard failed to recognize the emergency and did not act. For example, a lifeguard does not recognize
a passive drowning victim because he/she thought the victim was just playing the “let’s see how long I can hold my
breath” game. Another example would be not understanding the instinctive drowning response and allowing an active
victim to become unconscious.

Intrusion. A lifeguard has many secondary responsibilities that may include cleaning the deck, bathrooms, selling food at
the concession stand, etc. However, a lifeguard should never engage in secondary duties when providing pool
surveillance. An example of this would be of a swimming pool running short of staff and the lifeguard responsible for
surveillance at the shallow end of the pool is also selling candy at the concession stand. While selling candy, the lifeguard
fails to notice a small child get in over his/her head, literally, and went from an active drowning victim to a passive
drowning victim.

Distraction. It is easy for a lifeguard to stop paying attention and start doing other things. Some examples include
texting, surfing the Internet, or socializing with customers and friends when the lifeguard should be focusing on facility
surveillance.

It cannot be said enough times; a lifeguard’s main focus is and should always be preventing and responding to
emergencies. If a lifeguard is not focused, it is very easy for one of these factors to contribute to a drowning death.

Scanning
It is not enough to know the differences in the types of swimmers. Lifeguards must always be watching for problems, or
potential problems to ensure a timely response. There are multiple expert opinions on what constitutes proper scanning
(6). We have compiled generally accepted practices and provided them here:

• Visual scanning should be done with maximum head movement ensuring the lifeguards can see their entire area
of responsibility. This includes the bottom of the pool, as well as, the pool surface.
• Keep your scanning technique flexible and vary scanning direction every few minutes.
• Scan your entire area of responsibility. In many cases lifeguards spend most of the time scanning only what is in
front of them.
• Keep distractions to a minimum.
• Do not spend as much time on good swimmers and focus on swimmers that are weaker.

If your facility does not have a surveillance/scanning procedure, we recommend using the poster created by Griffith
Aquatics that can be found here:
http://griffithaquatics.com/Forms_files/Griffith%20Lifeguard%20Scanning%20Poster%20%28final%29.pdf

Lifeguard University © 2019 27

As a lifeguard scans, we suggest changing the direction of scanning every few minutes. An example is below

wikimedia.org

Changing posture every few minutes can also be helpful.

Notes:

• Supervisors should coach and practice scanning techniques with lifeguards on a regular basis.
• If customers in the water are similar in appearance, it can take longer to identify a potential incident (7). For
example, if a group of 12-year-old girls are playing in the same area, it may be difficult to identify a problem.
• The chance of finding a victim decreases as the number of people in the water increases. If a lifeguard is not able
to sufficiently scan his or her entire area effectively, additional lifeguards should be added
• During an emergency, or when a lifeguard is enforcing a rule, facilities should have a plan in place for back-up
surveillance coverage.
• If a customer asks you a question during surveillance, lifeguards should maintain surveillance of the pool while
talking to the customer. A lifeguard may need to explain to the customer they still have to watch the pool while
answering their question. If a customer’s question takes more than a few seconds to answer, lifeguards should
direct the customer to a lifeguard not performing surveillance duties or a supervisor.
• Be sure to scan carefully when a swimming pool is crowded. A victim can be obscured by other customers and a
lifeguard may only have a partial view of the victim struggling.

Vigilance
Staying focused while scanning the pool can vary based on many factors. Some of these factors include:

• Sleep
• Temperature of the Environment
• Use of Drugs and Alcohol
• Noise
• Physical Fitness and Exercise

Sleep
The sleep needs of individuals vary, but generally vary between six to nine hours for adults (8). Without proper amount of
sleep, a lifeguard is more prone to a lack of vigilance and may ineffectively scan the pool (7).

Temperature of the Environment

An increase in temperature can have a decreasing effect on vigilance. One study found 50% more errors and a 22%
increase in response time when the temperature was increased from 70 degrees to 80 degrees (9). This means
lifeguards should take care to keep their body temperature cool while in extreme heat.

Recommendations to protect lifeguards from excessive heat include:

• Use shade or umbrellas • Wear a hat

• Drink ice water to hydrate and keep the body • Use a fan
temperature lower
Lifeguard University © 2019 28
Lifeguards and lifeguard supervisors should consider frequent breaks as temperatures increase to avoid fatigue, heat
exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Drugs and Alcohol

Without going into great detail, every biological process is also a chemical one. Simply put, this means what we consume
can alter how we behave. For example, caffeine can increase our level of alertness for a period of time (7). However,
there may be long-term disadvantages in consuming large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis. It is well established
that alcohol lowers a person’s alertness and response time. Acting as a lifeguard under the influence of drugs (including
prescribed medication) or alcohol can decrease your ability to recognize and respond to an emergency.

At the writing of this book, a few states have legalized marijuana. Marijuana can also decrease alertness and impede a
lifeguard’s ability to function (10). This book does not take a stand on any particular drug except to say that any lifeguard
who has consumed a substance that impairs their ability to function as a lifeguard should not be working. For example,
one of the authors had an accident and, as a result, was on painkillers for a period of time that impaired judgment. The
author did not do anything illegal and was taking a prescribed medication. However, the author did not engage in
lifeguarding until after he was done with the medication and was no longer impaired. With that said, chronic use of drugs
can cause a decrease of alertness that becomes permanent over time.

Noise
Believe it or not, noise has an impact on a lifeguard’s alertness and ability to scan the water (7). We bring this up to
make sure lifeguards are aware that the constant distraction of noise can cause a lifeguard not to scan the water
effectively.

Physical Fitness and Exercise

Exercise can positively impact alertness (11). Regular exercise should be

included as part of a lifeguard regiment to improve vigilance. This
includes aerobic activity between times the lifeguard is actively scanning
the pool. 15 minutes of aerobic activity can have a lasting impact of a few
hours on alertness.

wikipedia.org

Notes:

• Supervisors should regularly check on lifeguards and provide encouragement not less than every 30 minutes
when lifeguards are actively scanning the pool (7). This improves the scanning effectiveness of lifeguards.

Breaks
There is no clear consensus on how often a lifeguard should take a break from surveillance duties (7). Aquatics
supervisors have to make a good judgment based on a variety of factors including air temperature, number of bathers,
number of lifeguards, etc. We suggest lifeguards take a break at least once an hour.

Lifeguard University © 2019 29

Lifeguard Stations

To provide proper surveillance, lifeguards MUST be able to see their entire area of responsibility. There are different
types of stations used to ensure that lifeguards can not only see their entire area, but also enforce rules and are able to
engage customers that need assistance.

Elevated Station

Generally, an elevated station is the best way to maintain surveillance of pool

customers. It provides a clear view of the area and allows a lifeguard to observe a
large area. A common mistake lifeguards make is forgetting to scan the area of
the pool directly below their station.

Ground Station

Similar to an elevated station, a ground station is a set point for lifeguards to

maintain customer surveillance. A ground station does not allow the same
range of visibility as an elevated station but does allow lifeguards the ability to
enforce rules and make assists easier.

Roving Station

A lifeguard may be assigned a roving station that allows the lifeguard to move
between two or more fixed points. It allows similar advantages as a ground
station; with the added benefit of the lifeguard being able to move position
based on the surveillance needs of the pool.

Notes:

• A lifeguard should not have an area of responsibility greater than a 180-degree viewing area. In short, a lifeguard
should not have to turn their body to observe their area or have to look behind them to scan.
• It should take no more than 20 seconds for a lifeguard to reach a victim (12). Lifeguard stations should be
planned accordingly.

Lifeguard University © 2019 30

Station Rotations

When lifeguards are rotating from station to station, the transition must take place so surveillance is never compromised
and one of the lifeguards is always actively scanning the pool.

The relieving lifeguard takes a position where he/she can

maintain surveillance until the lifeguard currently assigned
the station can transition from the station.

Once the current lifeguard is off the station and is able to

continue surveillance, the relieving lifeguard takes his/her
place at the station.

When the relieving lifeguard is set and able to continue

scanning the area of responsibility, the first lifeguard can
now move to the next station.

Notes:

During the transition, lifeguards should pass any necessary information to each other. Some examples include if a
particular child is having difficulty with swimming, a certain customer is not following rules, etc.

Lifeguard University © 2019 31

Areas of Responsibility
A lifeguard's area of responsibility is the section of swimming pool that a lifeguard is responsible for while providing
surveillance coverage.

Total Coverage
Some pools only have one lifeguard on duty. This means
the lifeguard provides total coverage for the pool.

Zone Coverage
In other pools, multiple lifeguards are watching the pool at the
same time. In this case, the pool is divided into zones where
each lifeguard is responsible for a certain section of the pool.
Lifeguards can have areas of responsibility that overlap.

Notes:

Another type of coverage is back-up coverage. This is when lifeguards are operating in zone coverage and a lifeguard is
temporarily not able to watch their zone. As a result, a designated lifeguard provides back-up coverage.

Lifeguard University © 2019 32

Area of Responsibility Activity 1
Identify the area of responsibilities for the three (3) lifeguard stations

Area of Responsibility Activity 2

Draw a pool (that you have visited) with more than one lifeguard station. Mark where you would place the lifeguards and
list the reasons why. When finished, mark the area of responsibility for each lifeguard

Lifeguard University © 2019 33

Weather
Lifeguard University has an unadventurous view towards adverse weather conditions. The safety of customers and staff
take place over operating a facility in unsafe weather conditions. This section of the manual discusses different weather
phenomenon and what to do in different weather scenarios

Lightening

Lightening is more of a concern at outdoor pools than indoor pools.

We are willing to submit, in general, indoor pools do not need to
close due to lightening. However, both indoor and outdoor pools
should take lightning and thunder storms seriously and have a
contingency plan for bad weather. Some states do require indoor
aquatic facilities to follow the same lightening procedures for outdoor
facilities and close until adverse weather conditions have passed
(13). Managers should follow their regulatory body(s) jurisdictional
regulations.

wikimedia.org

In the absence of regulations for your area, below are good guidelines from the National Lighting Safety Institute:

1. Designate a responsible person as the weather safety lookout. That person should keep an eye on the weather.
Use a "weather radio" or the Weather Channel or other TV program to obtain good localized advanced weather
information.
2. When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine its’ rough
distance and speed. This technique measures the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For
each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles;
etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. People should be directed to safe shelter nearby.
3. Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty (30) minutes after the last thunder is heard. The distance from
Strike A to Strike B to Strike C can be some 5-8 miles away. And it can strike much farther away. Why take a
chance with lightning? (14)

Notes:

During the research of this book, we were not able to find a case of electrocution at an indoor swimming pool caused by a
lightning strike. With that stated, we suggest you follow the protocols of your local health department.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes can have a devastating impact on a region and anyone in

close proximity should take shelter immediately. Aquatic facilities should
have a plan in case of tornadoes and follow that plan when a tornado
warning is issued or a tornado is observed. A tornado plan should
include the following elements:

• Evacuate the pool and surrounding area.

• Move all customers and staff to the designated tornado shelter.
Often times, this is inside at the lowest point away from windows,
doors and outside walls. Try to avoid glass.
wikipedia.org • Crouch down and cover your head.
• Wait for the tornado/tornado warning to pass.

Lifeguard University © 2019 34

In the event of there is no facility in which to seek safety:

• Lay flat and face down on the lowest ground available.

• Stay away from trees and cars
• Cover your head with your hands (15)

Rain

Rain, even light rain, can create multiple issues for swimming pools. One issue is the rain can adjust the pool chemistry
and cause the swimming pool chemistry to be outside the limits allowed by your area’s regulations. Another reason is
with the water droplets hitting the water surface, visibility is decreased and lifeguards may not be able to see the bottom of
the pool. Aquatics managers should follow their established procedures for rain. If lifeguards cannot clearly see the
bottom of the swimming pool, the facility should close until conditions improve.

Hail

Hail can cause injuries to both staff and customers. In the event of hail,
an outdoor facility should close with everyone taking shelter to avoid
being hurt

Notes:

To see how hail can affect a swimming pool, here is a link to a video
wikimedia.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daRMLyi8oO8

Wind

High winds have a similar effect to rain where it obstructs the visibility of the bottom of the pool. If the bottom of the pool
cannot be seen due to high winds, the pool should be closed until conditions improve.

Fog

Fog itself may not be a reason to close a swimming pool. However, if the
fog interferes with being able to see the swimming pool (including the
bottom of the pool) the facility should close until the inclement weather
passes.

wikipedia.org

Indoor Pools and Weather

Fog and hail and other weather does not affect indoor pools in the same way as outdoor facilities. However, severe
weather can cause power failure and other issues. Indoor facilities should have an EAP for adverse weather conditions.

Lifeguard University © 2019 35

Sample Program Bad Weather/Cancellation Policy
The safety of your child(ren) is of the utmost importance to us. We reserve the right to cancel
swim lessons for any reason that puts the safety of your child(ren) at risk.

Inclement Weather: In the case of thunderstorms or other inclement weather, we will place a
notice on the website by 8:00 am the day of the lessons, as well, as update the Facebook page
and voice mail greeting to announce the cancellation.

Mechanical or other issues: We will make every effort to contact parents/guardians at the phone
number provided in cases where swim lessons are cancelled for any reason other than weather.

Make-Up Days: We have purposefully created two make-up days at the end of each two (2) week
session in case a swim lesson was canceled. The class will be made up during one of the make-
up days. A refund will not be provided.

Sample Procedure for closing an indoor/outdoor pool during a lightning storm

1. Designate a weather lookout that can monitor a weather radio, weather TV program or Internet weather information to
obtain up to the minute local weather information.
2. The pool should be cleared and bathers not allowed in the water if there is less than 30 seconds from when a flash of
lightning is observed until when thunder is heard.
3. Have customers collect their belongings and head for the locker rooms, or designated storm shelter
4. We cannot control if customers chose to stay in the shelter. If they chose to leave, they can do so of their own free
will.
5. The swimming pool will remain closed for thirty (30) minutes after the last thunder is heard.

Notes:

Use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine a storm's rough distance and speed. This technique measures the time
from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a
F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. (16).

Attached to the procedure should be a facility map with the designated storm shelters.

Sample Procedure for Evacuating an Indoor/Outdoor Pool During a Tornado

1. Designate a weather lookout that can monitor a weather radio, weather TV program or Internet weather information to
obtain up to the minute local weather information.
2. Once a storm warning has been issued, clear the pool of all bathers.
3. Have customers collect their belongings and head for the locker rooms, or designated storm shelter
4. We cannot control if customers chose to stay in the shelter. If they chose to leave, they can do so of their own free
will.
5. Once the weather warning has expired, let customers know the weather has passed. Facility management should
then make a decision on if the facility will remain open or closed.

Notes:

Every storm shelter should have a radio to monitor the status of the weather warning. This may mean there is a staff
member assigned to each shelter equipped with a weather radio they take with them into the shelter.

Lifeguard University © 2019 36

Water Clarity

Part of the aquatics management's job is to maintain a clean and

safe environment for both lifeguards and customers. Included in
these duties is to ensure the water clarity is sufficient to see the
bottom of the pool. In many states, the general regulation is the
pool must be closed if the deepest point of the pool (main drain) is
not clearly visible. This is not enough in a lifeguard environment.
Not only should a lifeguard be able to see the bottom of the pool,
but also their entire area of responsibility-both at the surface and
the bottom of the pool.

wikimedia.org

If a lifeguard cannot see the bottom of the pool or their entire area of responsibility, the aquatics management has a
variety of options including adding additional lifeguards, changing the location of lifeguard stations, choosing not to
provide lifeguard services or closing the pool. Lifeguards should not put themselves in a situation where they cannot
clearly see their entire area.

Water Visibility Obstructions

In addition to water clarity, there are a variety of factors that affect

a lifeguard’s ability to provide adequate surveillance. One
example is play structures-which create obstructions for
lifeguards to have to look around, through and below to provide
proper surveillance. Another example is various blind spots
caused by the shape of the pool.

wikipedia.org

There are times that Mother Nature also plays a part in disrupting
surveillance duties. One example is sun glare. Anytime a
lifeguard experiences sun glare or any other visual obstruction to
surveillance, the lifeguard station should be adjusted to a vantage
point where proper scanning/surveillance can continue unimpeded.

Lifeguard University © 2019 37

Chapter 4: Operations and Procedures
Rescue Equipment
Lifeguards have the benefit of having tools available to assist them in an emergency. Not only is it often safer for the
rescuer, but for the victim as well. Local regulations may dictate what equipment lifeguards must have available to them.
We will outline many of these tools in the following segments.

First Aid Kits

In some cases, state and local regulations dictate what is required in first
aid kits. In our experience, those requirements do not adequately cover
the types of first aid supplies a swimming pool actually needs. We
recommend taking the requirements and then adding to them based on
the common injuries at your aquatic facility.

wikimedia.org

Rescue Tubes
Often when people think of lifeguards, they envision them holding a
rescue tube. This piece of equipment is generally a piece of foam
wrapped in vinyl (17) or some other material. They vary in size, but
normally have at least six (6) feet of tow line and shoulder strap attached
to them. Rescue tubes assist a lifeguard in rescues by being able to
place the victim on the tube and keep them at the surface of the water.
Lifeguards are then able to easily move the victim to safety.

wikimedia.org

Notes:

When performing surveillance duties, always have a rescue tube ready. This means holding the rescue tube across your
waist (or on your lap if sitting). Any excess line should be held to prevent it getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other
equipment.

Rescue Cans
Rescue cans are normally used in waterfront or beachfront areas and are
not very common in swimming pool environments. They are generally
smaller than a rescue tube and are a hard plastic, in contrast to the soft,
pliable rescue tube.

wikimedia.org

Lifeguard University © 2019 38

 Shepherd's Crook
These poles have a hook at the end and are an excellent tool for lifeguards
to help distressed swimmers. They normally extend between 10 and 15
feet and allow a lifeguard to extend the pole to a distressed swimmer in an
effort to pull them to the side of the pool.

Ring Buoy
We are including ring buoys as rescue equipment because some local
jurisdictions still require them, even if the facility provides lifeguards.
Ring buoys have largely been replaced by rescue tubes and are not used
as frequently. Ring buoys can be used for distressed swimmers. They
do not replace lifeguard intervention for active or passive drowning
victims.

wikimedia.org

Rescue Board
Water and beachfronts sometimes use rescue boards to quickly paddle a
long distance and complete a rescue. They are similar to a surfboard and
allow lifeguards to place one or more victims on the board to be moved to
safety.

wikimedia.org

Lifeguard University © 2019 39

Policies and Procedures Manual
Every facility will have a policies and procedures manual. It is the playbook for how a facility operates and will provide you
with guidance while working. Common components of a policies/procedures manual include:

• General Rules/Regulations • Operating Hours

• Administrative Policies and Procedures (calling • Schedule of Activities
in sick, turning in time cards, dress code, etc.) • Policies for Specific Activities
• Chain of Command • Human Resource Information (hiring, physical
• Call List fitness requirements, vacation time, etc.)
• Emergency Action Plans • Area of Responsibility
• Opening/Closing Procedures • Rotations
• Bad Weather Procedures • Pool Rules/Procedures

This chapter will discuss many policies and procedures an aquatics facility may have in addition to providing sample
templates to use. The needs of each facility are different, and we suggest taking any policy/procedure we provide and
adjusting it to your needs.

Following Government Regulations (National, State and Local)

All swimming pool regulations were managed mainly by state and local regulators (often times by local health
departments), until 2007. In 2007, the federal government enacted the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act to
require swimming pools to place a drain cover that prevents drowning from victims getting entrapped in the suction
coming from drains of pools and spas.

Since that time, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has created a model aquatic health code it wants ALL pools across
the country to follow (12). At the date of this publishing, we are not aware of any cities, counties or states that have
adopted the model. However, we submit that the model, at some point, will become the standard for swimming pool
regulations.

OSHA and other government agencies that govern employment laws, also regulate aquatic facilities. Examples are the
EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and the Department of Labor. In addition, certifying agencies (like
Lifeguard University) also set standards for the certification of lifeguards. This book cannot possibly address every
regulatory body and regulation that each pool may be governed by. In many cases they vary from location to location.
For example, OSHA does not cover workers employed by state and local governments (18).

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

OSHA is a federal government agency that is tasked with protecting workers across the country from unsafe working
conditions. The agency is part of the Department of Labor and was established in 1970. There are a couple provisions
that are important for lifeguards to be aware of, which we will discuss in the following sections. First, OSHA established
guidelines for employers if an employee has a reasonable expectation of coming in contact with blood or other body fluids.
This is called the Blood Born Pathogen Standard (19). The other is the Hazardous Communication Standard, which
outlines how information about hazardous chemicals is communicated to employees (20)

Lifeguard University © 2019 40

Blood Borne Pathogens and Exposure Control Plan
This OSHA standard outlines what employers must do to protect
employees who may, by a function of their job, come in contact
with blood or other bodily fluids. In short, it requires employers to
have an exposure control plan if an employee comes in contact
with potentially infectious bodily fluids. The plan must be
updated annually. In addition to an exposure control plan,
employers must have procedures for universal precautions
(discussed in CPR), have processes to dispose of contaminated
material, remove potential biohazards from the workplace and
provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees
whom handle bodily fluids.
wikimedia.org

The standard also requires employers to provide vaccinations to employees with a chance of exposure within 10 days of
being hired. This DOES include seasonal lifeguards (21). Employers are also required to provide follow-up medical care
if an employee is exposed to an infectious disease-at no cost to the employee. OSHA requires blood borne pathogens
training when an employee is hired and then annually at a minimum.

Notes:

• The full regulation can be found under Title 29 of the Code of Federal regulations (29 CFR 1910.1030)
• A sample exposure control plan can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_2-
2_69_APPD.pdf

Sample Procedure for Cleaning Up Blood and Other Body Fluids

Chlorine is a common chemical used to disinfect the swimming pool. It is also very effective in cleaning any surface that
may come in contact with blood or other body fluids. To disinfect a surface, use the following procedure provided by the
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

1. Block off the area of the spill from customers until clean-up and disinfection is complete.
2. Put on disposable gloves to prevent contamination of hands.
3. Wipe up the spill using paper towels or absorbent material and place in a plastic garbage bag.
4. Gently pour bleach solution onto all contaminated areas of the surface.
5. Let the bleach solution remain on the contaminated area for 20 minutes.
6. Wipe up the remaining bleach solution.
7. All non-disposable cleaning materials used such as mops and scrub brushes should be disinfected by saturating
with bleach solution and air dried.
8. Remove gloves and place in plastic garbage bag with all soiled cleaning materials.
9. Double-bag and securely tie-up plastic garbage bags and discard.
10. Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (22).

Vomit and Blood in Pool Water

According to the CDC, the most common germs spread through swimming pools are caused by "diarrheal illnesses and
skin rashes." As a result, the CDC does not make any recommendations about closing the pool for blood or vomit
incidents. The CDC is not aware of a person being infected with any blood borne pathogen from swimming pool water
(23). Local and state protocols may vary and we suggest checking the guidelines in your area.

Lifeguard University © 2019 41

Hazard Communication Standard

Due to the chemicals used to disinfect and maintain good water quality, the Hazard
Communication Standard is something that lifeguards should be aware of. There are two
main things this standard addresses (24):

• It requires standards to evaluate and identify chemicals and creates safety data
sheets (SDS) to communicate that information to people who may come in
contact with dangerous chemicals
• Employers with dangerous chemicals in the workplace must have the chemicals
labeled and provide SDS for workers who could be exposed. It also requires
osha..gov
employers to train employees how to handle chemicals safely.

Notes:

• The full regulation can be found under Title 29 of the Code of Federal regulations (29 CFR 1910.1200)

A compliance guide that includes a sample Hazard Communication program can be found here:
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3695.pdf

SDS (Safety Data Sheets)

These forms provide information about chemicals, how to handle them, and what to do if someone is exposed to the
chemicals. An SDS is required for each dangerous chemical at your facility and must be made available to everyone.
Starting June 15, 2015, all SDS have the same standard format (25).

Notes:

A sample SDS sheet can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.pdf

Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI)

Even though pools are required to be disinfected to prevent people from getting sick, there are bacteria resistant to
chlorine. Two examples are Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Depending on the chlorine level of the pool, it can take days
for chlorine to kill Cryptosporidium in pool water. Since the most common RWI are spread through diarrheal events,
people that are ill should not participate in swimming activities (26).

Below is a table that shows various disinfection times based on a Chlorine level of 1ppm (parts per million):

Chlorine Disinfection Timetable (27)

Agent Disinfectant Times for Fecal Contaminants in Chlorinated Water
E. coli 0157:H7
less than 1 minute
(Bacterium)
Hepatitis A
approximately 16 minutes
(Virus)
Giardia
approximately 45 minutes
(Parasite)
Cryptosporidium
approximately 15,300 minutes (10.6 days)
(Parasite)

Lifeguard University © 2019 42

Sample Procedure for Solid Fecal Material Incident
The CDC suggests a measured response to a formed stool found in a swimming pool. Their recommendations are below:

1. Close the pool to swimmers. If you have multiple pools that use the same filtration system, all pools will have to
be closed to swimmers. Do not allow anyone to enter the pool(s) until the disinfection process is completed.
2. Remove as much of the fecal material as possible (for example, using a net or bucket) and dispose of it in a
sanitary manner. Clean and disinfect the item used to remove the fecal material (for example, after cleaning,
leave the net or bucket immersed in the pool during disinfection).
3. Raise the free chlorine to 2 parts per million (ppm), if less than 2 ppm, and ensure a pH 7.5 or less and a
temperature of 77°F (25°C) or higher. This chlorine concentration was selected to keep the pool closure time to
approximately 30 minutes. Other concentrations or closure times can be used as long as the contact time (CT)
inactivation value is achieved. The table can be found here:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/swimming/pools/fecal-incident-response-recommendations.pdf
4. Maintain free chlorine concentration at 2 ppm and pH 7.5 or less for at least 25 minutes before reopening the
pool. State or local regulators may require higher free chlorine levels in the presence of chlorine stabilizers, which
are known to slow disinfection. Ensure that the filtration system is operating while the pool reaches and maintains
the proper free chlorine concentration during the disinfection process (28).

Sample Procedure for a Loose Fecal Material Incident

1. Close the pool to swimmers. If you have multiple pools that use the same filtration system, all pools will have to
be closed to swimmers. Do not allow anyone to enter the pool(s) until the disinfection process is completed.
2. Remove as much of the fecal material as possible (for example, using a net or bucket) and dispose of it in a
sanitary manner. Clean and disinfect the item used to remove the fecal material (for example, after cleaning,
leave the net or bucket immersed in the pool during disinfection).
3. If necessary, before attempting the hyperchlorination of any pool, consult an aquatic professional to determine the
feasibility, the most optimal and practical methods, and needed safety considerations.
4. Raise the free chlorine concentration to 20 ppm and maintain a pH 7.5 or less and a temperature at 77°F (25°C)
or higher. The free chlorine and pH should remain at these levels for at least 12.75 hours. Crypto CT
(Concentration X Time) inactivation values are based on killing 99.9% of Crypto. This level of Crypto inactivation
cannot be reached in the presence of 50 ppm chlorine stabilizer, even after 24 hours at 40 ppm free chlorine, pH
6.5, and a temperature of (25°C). Extrapolation of these data suggest it would take approximately 30 hours to kill
99.9% of Crypto in the presence of 50 ppm or less cyanuric acid, 40 ppm free chlorine, pH 6.5, and a temperature
of 77°F (25°C) or higher.
5. Confirm that the filtration system is operating while the water reaches, and is maintained, at the proper chlorine
level for disinfection.
6. Backwash the filter after reaching the CT inactivation value. Be sure the effluent is discharged directly to waste
and in accordance with state or local regulations. Do not return the backwash through the filter. Where
appropriate, replace the filter media.
7. Allow swimmers back into the water only after the required CT inactivation value has been achieved and the free
chlorine and pH levels have been returned to the normal operating range allowed by the state or local regulatory
authority (28).

Lifeguard University © 2019 43

Sample Procedure for Removing a Dead Animal from the Pool
According to the CDC, the following steps should be taken for commonly reported animals found dead in swimming pools:

1. Close the pool to swimmers.

2. Put on disposable gloves.
3. Use a net or bucket to remove the dead animal from the pool.
4. Double bag the animal in plastic garbage bags.
5. Clean off any debris or dirt from the item used to remove the dead animal.
6. Remove gloves and place them in the garbage bags.
7. Close the garbage bags and place them in a sealed trash can to help keep wild animals away from the dead
animal.
8. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately.
9. Raise the free chlorine concentration to, or maintain it at, 2 parts per million (ppm); maintain the pH levels at 7.5
or less; keep the temperature at 77°F (25°C) or higher. The free chlorine and pH should remain at these levels for
30 minutes.
10. Confirm that the filtration system is operating properly during this time.
11. Disinfect the item used to remove the dead animal by immersing it in the pool during the 30-minute disinfection
time (29).

In-Service Training
For lifeguards, especially new lifeguards, in-service training is critical to ensure lifeguards have all the tools necessary to
do their job. From a big picture standpoint, lifeguards must in-service to the point where they can meet or exceed the
standard of care. In-Service training sessions should include:

• Facility Rules • Facility Operations

• Federal, State, County and Local Regulations • Blood Borne Pathogens
• Rescue and CPR Skills • Reports and Record Keeping
• Emergency Action Plans • Customer Service
• Surveillance Skills • Communication
• Record Keeping

Facilities will have different in-service training schedules depending on their needs. For example, a year-round facility
with low employee turnover may only conduct in-service training every month. A summer pool may conduct in-service
training before the swimming pool opens until the standard of care is met with weekly meetings the rest of the summer.

Drills
Regular emergency drills should be conducted at all facilities. There is research to suggest that not only does emergency
drills during normal pool operating hour increase the vigilance of lifeguards but also reduces unsafe behavior of pool
customers (30). Drills should include:

• Active drowning victims

• Passive drowning victims
• First aid scenarios
• CPR
• Spinal cord injuries (Head, neck and back injuries)

Lifeguard University © 2019 44

Common Pool Rules
Local health departments traditionally set standard rules for their areas. In addition, aquatic facilities establish additional
rules to either reduce the risk of injury or address insurance requirements (17). Some common pool rules are:

• Swim only when a lifeguard is on duty. • No glass containers in the pool area and locker
• Obey lifeguard instructions at all times. rooms.
• Swim diapers are required for small children who • Food is only allowed in designated areas.
are not toilet trained. • No alcoholic beverages or drug use allowed.
• No swimming with open or infected wounds. • All bathers must shower, in the nude, before using
• No running, pushing, or rough play. aquatic facility.
• No hyperventilating before swimming underwater or • Only coast guard approved lifejackets may be worn
breath-holding contests. (no water wings).
• No sitting or playing near or with drains or suction • Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied
fittings. • by an adult.
• Dive only in designated areas.

Common Rules for Equipment and Play Structures

• One person on a ladder at a time.
• No sitting or hanging on ropes or lane lines.
• Do not play or congregate around lifeguard stations.
• Starting blocks may be used at designated times under the
supervision of a swim coach or swim lesson instructor.

Common Diving Board Rules

• Bathers must pass a swim test before allowed in a diving area.

• One person on the diving board at a time (this includes the
ladder).
• Only one bounce allowed on the diving board.
• Dive or jump forward, straight out from the diving board.
• Swim immediately to the closest ladder or wall.
• Bathers are not allowed off the board until the person in front of
them has cleared the diving area and made it to the side of the
pool. wikimedia.org

Spas or Therapy Pools

It is not a common occurrence for lifeguards to provide surveillance for

spas or therapy pools. However, it is important to know the dangers of
these attractions if your facility has them available to bathers. Some of
the common issues are high body temperature and disease
transmission.

wikimedia.org

Lifeguard University © 2019 45

Common Spa and Therapy Pool Rules

• Shower in the nude with soap and water before entering the water.
• People with medical conditions such as with heart disease, diabetes, high or low blood pressure, seizures,
epilepsy or other medical conditions are cautioned against using a spa or hot tub.
• Pregnant women and young children should seek their health care provider’s approval before using a spa or hot
tub.
• No unsupervised use by children.
• Do not use the spa or hot tub while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• No diving, jumping, or rough play in the spa or hot tub.
• Do not allow anyone to sit or play near or with the drain or suction fittings.
• Secure or remove any loose or dangling items, including hair, swimwear, and jewelry.
• Limit time in the spa to 10 minutes. Customers then may shower, cool down and return again briefly. Prolonged
use may result in nausea, dizziness, fainting, or hyperthermia.
• Remove swim caps before entering the spa or hot tub.

Rules for Water Parks

Water parks have additional rules due to the attractions and increased risk of injury associated with customers using a
water park. Just like at swimming pools, many of the rules are traditionally posted. Some facilities also make
announcements about certain rules they want emphasized.

Each attraction will have rules specific to the attraction. Common rules are height requirements, type of equipment that
can be worn (for example, no lifejackets or goggles), or clothing that can be worn (for example, no sunglasses). Depth
markers should also be placed in catch pools to inform customers if they can stand once they reach the end of a water
slide. Depth markers are normally a regulatory requirement and a facility cannot open without them.

General Rules for Water Parks

• Height requirement
• Age requirements
• Weight requirements
• Maximum number of bathers allowed to use an
attraction

Common Rules for Winding Rivers

• One bather per tube.

• No stacking tubes.
• Only U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jackets.
• Enter and exit the river at approved areas.
• No chains of bathers.

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Common Rules for Waterslides

• Enter, ride, and exit the slide on your back and feet-first.
• Keep hands and feet inside the slide.
• No stopping in the slide.
• No metal objects to include: keys, jewelry (and watches), metal snaps, zippers or clothes pins.
• No shoes, to include aquatic shoes or socks.
• No glasses or goggles.

Notes:

Use a measuring pole or line to ensure customers are the proper height to use a ride.

Maintaining Records
Record keeping is often discussed, but is often times found lacking at many facilities, especially when it comes to lawsuits
and court proceedings. Often times, lawsuits happen well after employees involved in an incident have moved on and no
longer work at a facility. One of the authors was an expert witness for a lawsuit where witnesses could not be found due
to poor documentation. In general, a facility is as only as good as how well it maintains its records.

Aquatics management is generally responsible for record keeping which can include:

• Employee Paperwork • Maintenance Logs

• Work Schedules • Water Chemistry Logs
• Certification Expiration Dates • Safety Checks
• Timecards • Bather Loads/Usage
• In-Service Training Records • Accident/Incident Forms

In Chapter 11, we include many examples of different forms a pool can use to meet its record keeping requirements.
There are times lifeguards may be expected to help maintain some record keeping. Two examples are completing a
safety checklist or bather load sheet.

Notes:

Lifeguards should not be checking swimming pool chemicals without being properly trained and if it is allowed by
regulations. For example, in some states, only those properly licensed to operate a swimming pool can check water
chemistry. A lifeguard certification is not sufficient.

Communicating with Customers

Facilities communicate with customers in various ways. Before a facility opens, the management may send fliers, letters,
or other mail to discuss the facility to include a schedule and pool rules. The same information may be available on the
facility's website. Once at the swimming pool, there are signs that communicate pool rules and regulations. Finally, the
aquatic staff interacts with customers to make sure they act in a safe manner and prevent injuries.

Enforcing a facility policy is inevitable in lifeguarding. We have yet to visit a facility where someone, at some point, was
not following an established policy. That is when a lifeguard steps in to ensure the facility continues to operate safely by
enforcing rules.

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Enforcing Rules
The style to enforce rules can vary from incident to incident and person to person. For example, an 8-year-old running on
the deck may only require a whistle blow to get their attention followed by asking them to walk. Other times it could be a
parent playing rough with their child and the parent may want to have an additional conversation about the rule being
enforced. The basic steps to enforce a rule are as follows:

1. Get the attention of the customer breaking an established pool rule.

2. Ask the customer to stop breaking the rule.
3. If needed, explain why the rule is in place.
4. If you are actively providing pool surveillance, and the customer wants additional detail or asks to speak to a
supervisor, contact a supervisor immediately.

Lifeguards are expected to enforce rules uniformly and consistently regardless of who is breaking the rules. It is important
to be respectful and calm when enforcing a rule. Customers are there to enjoy themselves, but sometimes they need
some redirection to be safe. Lifeguards should not get into arguments with customers about rules. If a conversation gets
out of control, do not hesitate to call a supervisor to help handle the disagreement.

If a customer repeatedly breaks rules, or engages in continually unsafe acts, many pools have a disciplinary policy that
allows lifeguards to not allow customers in the pool for a period of time. We have found this to be an effective incentive.
For example, there was an incident where two brothers were repeatedly fighting over an inner tube in a wave pool. The
boys were given a warning and when the older brother decided to hit his younger brother, the lifeguard had the boy sit out
of the wave pool for 5 minutes, until the waves ended. The boy was warned that he would sit out longer if it happened
again and when he went back to play with his brother, there was no additional issue. If a customer continues to break
facility rules, a lifeguard should ask a supervisor to help or ask the customer to leave. Below is a sample disciplinary
policy for customers:

Sample Customer Disciplinary Policy

1. The Facility Management has authorized the lifeguards to suspend swimming privileges of those persons who are
not following the rules for a period of up to the remainder of the day.

The lifeguards normally will follow a three-step procedure for swimmers who violate the pools rules:

• First Violation-Warning

• Second Violation-Staying out of the pool for up to ten minutes.

• Third Violation-Suspension of swimming privileges for the remainder of the day.

2. The Facility Management has authorized the pool manager who is on duty to suspend swimming privileges for up
to ten days of those persons who are not following the rules.

3. Facility Management has the discretion to expel or suspend a customer's membership at its sole discretion for
failing to follow facility rules and regulations

Serious violations may result in the guard, pool manager, or facility management imposing more serious penalties than
those listed in the three-step procedure.

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Facility Maintenance and Fixing Unsafe Conditions
Aquatic facilities must have a process(es) in place to identify hazards and address unsafe conditions-not only for
customers, but employees. In many cases, lifeguards do not directly participate in making repairs to the facility or fixing
hazards. However, lifeguards should know what the processes are. Facility management normally empowers lifeguards
to help identify potential issues and provides procedures for how lifeguards should respond. Below are samples of
different policies/procedures that a pool may use to help address maintenance issues and hazards around the facility.

Safety Checks and Checklists

One way to identify unsafe conditions is by using a safety checklist to identify potential problems. Normally, the checks
are conducted before a facility opens, various times throughout the day, at the end of the day, or a combination of all
three. Items found on the safety check should be addressed right away. If it cannot be addressed right away, facility
management should be made aware immediately.

Safety checklists come in many different forms and should be specific for each facility and for each attraction. For
example, if a facility has a wave pool and a water slide, the checklist for each attraction should be different and specific to
the attraction. We also suggest breaking the checklist into sections that identify major and minor issues. Major issues
being those that directly affect the facility (or attraction) remaining open with minor ones not affecting the facility remaining
open but should still be addressed right away. See Chapter 11 for a sample safety checklist

Hazards
If a lifeguard identifies a hazard, immediate steps should be taken to address the situation. Some issues may be simple
to address, for example, a loose bolt for the lifeguard chair or a customer who vomited on the pool deck. Others may be
more complex. For example, the water circulation system is no longer functioning or there was a loose fecal incident. In
any of these cases, facilities should have procedures to handle various different conditions. Sections with a red header
provide sample procedures on different potential issues at aquatic facilities.

Threats of violence
We do not expect lifeguards to put themselves in a position to be injured due to a violent act of a customer or fellow
employee. Each facility should have procedures in place to address customers or employees who become violent. As a
resource, OSHA has excellent guidelines for facilities to develop procedures. They can be found here:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/. Since we were not able to find any procedures we felt could be used as
a universal template, we have chosen not to include sample templates that deal with workplace violence. However,
workplace violence procedures should include: bomb threats, active shooter, sexual assault and aggravated customer
scenarios.

Customers Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol can not only affect a lifeguard's ability to perform surveillance as discussed previously. They can also
impair a bather and lead to accidents or injuries. Alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of water recreation related deaths
in teenagers and adults (31). Facilities should train lifeguards how to recognize and handle an impaired swimmer. This
is generally something a lifeguard should not handle by himself or herself and a member of the management team must
be involved in dealing with a customer who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

We were not able to find a good basis for a template to use in these cases and encourage facilities to create their own
procedure. A good place to start would be your local law enforcement. They may have procedures in place that they tell
the public when dealing with someone who may be under the influence.

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Rest Breaks

Through our research, we have not figured why pools have rest breaks. It is one of those things that are now legend and
nobody can remember how rest breaks came to be. However, it does seem like most lifeguarded pools have some sort
of rest break period. Some reasons for rest breaks include:

• Give small children time to rest.

• Allow time for kids to use the restroom and prevent water borne illnesses.
• A chance for kids to rehydrate and not drink the pool water.
• To give lifeguards a break.
• Present a time to put on sun screen.
• To sell concessions.

Regardless of the reason, a lifeguard(s) should be on deck during rest breaks. When a facility commits to providing
lifeguards, that means the whole time. It does not mean only 45–50 minutes of every hour.

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Chapter 5: Emergency Response
Emergency Action Plan-The Basics
Facilities must have an emergency action plan (EAP) in place to address various potential emergencies. Think of an
emergency action plan as a script or playbook. It outlines the steps to follow in case of an emergency. Each facility
should have an EAP specific to their needs. This includes a plan with various scenarios.

An EAP always has three basic steps that must always be followed. First, a lifeguard must recognize an emergency is
taking place. Second, a lifeguard must active the EAP, which may include calling 911. Finally, the aquatics team must
respond appropriately to the emergency at hand. It is that simple. The rest of the plan is the specific details of how to
respond to each type of emergency. The next sections outline sample emergency action plans and procedures for
various incidents.

Notes:

• An EAP should be thought of as process, it is crucial to execute every duty or step to ensure a successful
outcome.
• EAP’s will be different at each facility based on its layout, features, number of staff on duty, equipment available,
etc.
• Practice during in-service and training sessions. Remember, in an emergency, it is your instincts that will kick in
and tell your body what to do, how you practice will greatly affect how you perform in an emergency.
• Brainstorm the worst-case scenarios. Ask yourself what you would do if the worst happened. What would you do
if a child jumped in the deep end and did not resurface? Or someone runs out of the locker room and tells you
that someone passed out in there? Or a lap swimmer hits his or her head on the edge of the pool? By being
prepared and thinking of the worst ahead of time, you can let your instincts take over and be more confident
during an emergency.

When to Call Your Local Emergency Number

In an emergency, lifeguards should call for their local emergency number ANYTIME a life-threatening condition arises
(32). Life threatening conditions include:

• Someone who is unconscious • Uncontrollable bleeding

• Gasping for air or not breathing • Becomes suddenly ill
• Experiencing an allergic reaction • Head, neck and back (spinal cord) injuries
• Having chest pain • Drowning or near-drowning

Notes:

• Emergency phone numbers should be listed next to every phone in your facility.
• Every phone should have a script of what to say to an emergency medical dispatcher in case 911 is called.

Roles During an Emergency

The members of an aquatics team will have different roles in an emergency and are outlined below. The roles may vary
from facility to facility. We are providing some basic information:

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Lifeguards
In general, lifeguards are the first line of defense in an emergency. Since lifeguards provide surveillance, they are often
the ones to recognize an emergency and respond first. Duties during an emergency can include:

1. Find out the seriousness of the emergency.

2. Determine if an ambulance is needed and call, or have someone call, 911.
3. Be the primary provider of first aid or CPR to the victim.
4. Bring any additional rescue equipment to lifeguard performing the rescue.
5. Help to clear the pool if needed.
6. Assist in any first aid that is needed.
7. Help with crowd control.

Aquatics Management
Depending on the facility, sometimes the management is very active as part of the emergency response, or they can take
a more administrative role of following up and conducting the after-accident investigation. Aquatics management can
have some of the following responsibilities:

1. Find out the seriousness of the emergency.

2. Determine if an ambulance is needed and call, or have someone call, 911.
3. Bring any additional rescue equipment to the lifeguard performing the rescue.
4. Help to clear the pool if needed.
5. Assist in any first aid that is needed.
6. Help with crowd control.
7. Lead the after-accident investigation.
8. Complete reports.
9. Make decisions on when the pool will reopen.

Support Staff
Facilities large enough to have support staff, may have support staff assist during an emergency. Some of those duties
can include:

1. Calling 911.
2. Help with crowd control.
3. If trained, assist with first aid or CPR once the victim(s) are removed from the pool.
4. Bring additional rescue equipment that the lifeguard(s) may need.

What Happens to a Drowning Victim?

A drowning occurs when a victim submerges and attempts to breath. Instead of breathing in air, they breathe in water
(33). Generally, one of two things happen when the victim inhales. Either the airway (larynx) closes or water gets into
their lungs. In both cases the lungs cannot get oxygen supplied to the rest of the body. In short, the victim suffocates.

Timely Response
As was discussed earlier in the book, the two main injuries lifeguards are trying to prevent are drownings and spinal cord
(head, neck and back) injuries. If one of these two incidents occur, a timely response is of the essence. Below is a
timeline of an average drowning victim from beginning of an incident to when biological death occurs and the victim can
no longer be successfully resuscitated.

Please keep in mind, what is laid out below is very approximate. The actual survivability of a victim can vary depending
on many factors including the age of the victim, current level of health, temperature of the water, etc.

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 Total Time Time Event
The victim actively struggles to keep his head above the water before he
20-60 Seconds 20-60 Seconds becomes unconscious.
The heart is starting to struggle and eventually stops due to the lack of
1 min 20 sec-4 min 1-3 minutes oxygen.
5 min 20 sec-10 min 4-6 minutes Brain damage is possible.
6 min 20 sec-12 min 1-2 minutes Brain damage is very likely.
7 min 20 sec-14 min 1-2 minutes Biological death and there is no chance to save the victim.

As you can see, there is a very wide range of survivability and it is imperative for lifeguards to respond quickly to ensure
the best possible chance for a victim to survive an emergency. In a swimming pool setting, a lifeguard should be able to
reach a victim within 20 seconds of recognizing an emergency. (12)

Emergency Action Plan Activity

To get you thinking about emergency action plans, use the pool you drew during the area coverage activity. On the sheet
below, create a sample emergency action plan for that pool including how each lifeguard would respond to an emergency.

You can use the sample emergency action plans as a guide, but you should add very specific steps based on the pool
you are using. For example, if the pool you selected has a diving well and a rope separating the diving well and the deep
end, which lifeguard should disconnect the rope so the victim can be easily swam to the shallow end during a spinal cord
injury? Another example may be the specific point a victim should be removed from the water due to certain areas of the
deck being too small to remove a victim.

Sample Emergency Action Plans

We have compiled some sample emergency action plans for common emergencies a facility may experience. These are
only basic scenarios. Facilities must establish EAPs specific to their needs and review them regularly to make sure they
are up to date. Appendix B shows the sample emergency action plan we used for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-
Swimming in Omaha, Nebraska.

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Sample in Water Emergency (Single Lifeguard Facility)

Lifeguard activates the EAP to include alerting support staff.

The lifeguard surveys the scene, determines the type of victim, enters the water and
performs the appropriate rescue.

The victim is moved to safety.

If needed, the support staff member assists the lifeguard with removing the victim from the
water.

A primary assessment is performed and care is provided as needed.

If needed, the support staff member calls 911.

The lifeguard performs a secondary assessment.

Care is provided as needed.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample Out of Water Emergency (Single Lifeguard Facility)

Lifeguard recognizes a victim.

Lifeguard activates the EAP to include alerting support staff.

The lifeguard survey's the scene, determines the type of injury and approaches
the victim.

A primary assessment is performed and care is provided as needed.

If needed, the support staff member calls 911.

The lifeguard performs a secondary assessment.

Care is provided as needed.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample in Water Emergency (Two Lifeguard Facility)

Primary Rescuer (Lifeguard) Secondary Rescuer (Lifeguard)

Provide back-up coverage and

Lifeguard Activates the EAP
clear the swimming pool.
The lifeguard surveys the scene, determines
Bring any needed rescue equipment to
the type of victim, enters the water and
primary rescuer.
performs the appropriate rescue.

The victim is moved to safety.

If needed, both rescuers remove the victim

from the water.

A primary assessment is performed and If needed, 911 is called.

care is provided as needed.

The lifeguard performs a secondary

assessment.

Care is provided as needed.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample Out of Water Emergency (Two Lifeguard Facility)

Primary Rescuer Secondary Rescuer

(Lifeguard) (Lifeguard)

Provide back-up coverage and

Lifeguard activates the EAP.
clear the swimming pool.

The lifeguard surveys the scene,

Bring any needed rescue equipment
determines the type of injury and
to primary rescuer.
approaches the victim.

A primary assessment is performed

If needed, 911 is called.
and care is provided as needed.

The lifeguard performs a secondary

assessment.

Care is provided as needed.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample in Water Emergency (Multiple Lifeguard Facility)

Primary Rescuer Secondary Rescuer

All Other Lifeguards
(Lifeguard) (Lifeguard)

Provide back-up coverage and Provide back-up coverage and

Lifeguard activates the EAP.
clear the swimming pool. clear the swimming pool.

The lifeguard surveys the scene,

determines the type of victim, enters Bring any needed rescue equipment to Provide crowd control and keep the
the water and performs the primary rescuer. area around the victim clear.
appropriate rescue.

The victim is moved to safety.

If needed, both rescuers remove the

victim from the water.

A primary assessment is performed

and care is provided as needed. If needed, 911 is called.

The lifeguard performs a secondary Make sure there is a clear path from
assessment. the entrance where first responders
will arrive to the location of the victim.

Have a lifeguard meet the first

Care is provided as needed. responders at the entrance and guide
them to the victim.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample Out of Water Emergency (Multiple Lifeguard Facility)

Primary Rescuer Secondary Rescuer All Other

(Lifeguard) (Lifeguard) Lifeguards

Provide back-up Provide back-up

Lifeguard activates
coverage and clear coverage and clear
the EAP .
the swimming pool. the swimming pool.

The lifeguard surveys the

Bring any needed rescue Provide crowd control and
scene, determines the type
equipment to primary keep the area around the
of and approaches the
rescuer. victim clear.
victim.

A primary assessment is
performed and care is If needed, 911 is called.
provided as needed.

Make sure there is a clear path

The lifeguard performs a from the entrance where first
secondary assessment. responders will arrive to the
location of the victim.

Have a lifeguard meet the first

Care is provided as needed. responders at the entrance
and guide them to the victim.

After the Emergency

Contact supervisors (chain of command).

Complete incident report (to include witness statements).

Make sure equipment is in good working order.

Await further instructions from aquatics management.

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Sample Controlling Bystanders Procedure
In an emergency, controlling a crowd of bystanders should be part of a facility's EAP. If not addressed, bystanders can
interfere with a rescue or the care being provided. To provide crowd control:

• In a firm, calm voice direct bystanders to move to a location that does not interfere with a rescue or care being
provided to the victim. This also means keeping a clear path between where first responders arrive and the
location of the victim(s).
• Use barriers such as ropes, chairs or cones to block areas the staff does not want bystanders to go.
• Use volunteer bystanders to help with crowd control.
• If there is a public announcement system, use it to keep bystanders informed and what the staff would like them
to do (17).

Notes:

If there are not enough lifeguards to both respond to an emergency and provide customer surveillance, the swimming pool
should be kept cleared of swimmers.

If the Scene Becomes Unsafe While Providing Care

If while providing care, a scene ever becomes unsafe, rescuers should remove him or herself from harm immediately.
Every effort should also be made to help the victim(s) get to safety as well. However, the main priority is YOUR safety.
For example, if a victim lifeguards are providing care to attempts to harm staff or customers, lifeguards should remove
themselves from harm and call law enforcement. Facilities should have procedures for this type of event.

Facility Evacuation Plans and Procedures

As part of a facility's EAP, they should also have an evacuation plan in case of fire or another emergency event. The plan
should include under what conditions a facility should be evacuated, contain routes, exit points, procedures for evacuating
people with disabilities or who do not speak English, and how to account for employees and customers (34). OSHA has
put together an excellent tool that can be used to create an evacuation plan. It can be found here:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/evac.html#conditions

http://www.oshatrain.org

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