Why Lifeguarding is Such an Important Job By Kylie Munro
Globally, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in the world with approximately one million deaths a year.
In Canada, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death among people under 60 years of age, with 500 fatalities annually.
Among children 1-4 years of age, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury deaths, and for children under 10 years it is the second leading cause of preventable death.
Many people assume that people who are drowning are easy to identify because they will be yelling or waving their arms. However, this isn't always common. Instead, people tend to drown in more quiet, less attention-getting ways. Drowning people usually struggle to keep their mouth above the surface of the water in order to breathe, so they are rarely able to call out or wave their arms. Observational studies of people at flat beaches have revealed that non-swimming adults are generally able to struggle on the surface of the water for about 60 seconds, while infants and very small children can submerge in as little as 20 seconds. The inability of a person to call or wave for help in the short time period before submerging emphasizes the need for lifeguards as a source for continuous surveillance and immediate action.
Lifeguards are certified under the National Lifesaving Society and are highly trained in water rescue and emergency care.
National Lifeguard is Canada's only nationally recognized lifeguard certification program. National Lifeguard is a legal certificate for lifeguarding throughout the country. It is the only lifeguard certificate recognized by the province of Ontario for lifeguarding public swimming pools.
Steps to becoming a lifeguard:
The main roles of a lifeguard are to prevent accidents and spot potential trouble/hazards before they become life-threatening, and responding to emergencies when needed. They also educate the public about the risks associated with aquatic activities and how to be Water Smart.
National Lifeguards guards are always in training to keep their skills, knowledge and fitness sharp. They are required to keep important certifications such as their lifeguard certification, CPR and first aid up-to-date.
Lifeguards must stay focused at all times while scanning the water for signs of trouble.
Read this article and watch the accompanied video of a lifeguard saving a young boy who falls out of his tube in a crowded wave pool. Thanks to her keen focus and ability to spot trouble, she was able to identify the problem arising and save the boy despite the many distractions around her.
Many times children's drownings happen within close proximity to their parents, so is it always important for parents to be watching their children while they are swimming even when lifeguards are there.
Its not only young children that are at risk of drowning. Even the strongest of swimmers could be swept out by a RIP current or just have a bad day that can lead to an accident.
Read this article and watch the video about a Barrie man who swims past the buoy line at a beach and has to get rescued by the Lifeguards that were supervising that day.
Life guarding is a very tough job that involves being alert and attentive at all times. Scanning and watching the water all the time is physically and mentally draining to these Guards.
Lifeguards face many dangers while doing their job everyday, and don't always work in the best conditions. The most common danger; the sun. The sun plays a big role in the effectiveness of the Guards working at a beach or outdoor pool/ water park setting. They will be under constant sun for most of the day and this puts them at serious risk of heat exhaustion. This is why it is important for the guards to stay hydrated and put sunscreen on so that they can work and perform to the best of their abilities in case of an emergency.
Lifeguards go through these things every day as part of their job to keep the swimmers at their facility safe.
It is in the swimmers best interest that lifeguards follow through and keep consistent with their rules.
Although guards are telling all ages of swimmers about things they should not be doing to keep themselves and others around them safe, sometimes people can get frustrated with them.
It is important to remember that Lifeguards are just doing their job and looking out for you to making sure you or someone else does not get hurt.
Lifeguards are very beneficial for people of all ages to have at aquatic facilities and waterfronts. They are highly trained in emergency procedures and are able too keep focused on the water as they scan it. They are there to look out for you to and can identify different potential hazards before they become fatal. Lifeguards educate the public about water safety and supervise public beaches and pools. Together we can lower the drowning rates all over the world.