Scenarios make up a key component of in-service training.
As the trainer, you should use the scenario format to help elevate your lifeguards’ ability to work as a synchronized team, think ahead, communicate effectively, execute skills proficiently, and fill in gaps when administering the rescue, extricating the victim, and providing the appropriate care.
To make the most of this format, it’s crucial to customize the scenarios to your circumstances. It’s easy for trainers to rely on the scenarios that were provided in a given lifeguard certification course, believing they can serve as a catch-all, covering all situations your lifeguards may encounter. However, those scenarios were developed for certification, not in-service training.
Instead, trainers should develop and employ scenarios that incorporate agency specifics, such as staffing in a given moment, facility features, rescue equipment, and county/state policies.
What this means
These are fully fleshed-out scenarios, as opposed to drills meant to develop one or two skills. Scenarios provide more of a backstory and should reflect a situation that your team could realistically face.
They should state the date and time, how many are on staff, temperature and weather conditions, and other factors that could impact your team’s ability to perform. Multiple scenarios should be used to cover different situations. Say it’s a Sunday at 3 in the afternoon: There’s going to be a very specific size staff at the facility, as opposed to what we have at 5 o’clock on a Monday morning for Masters Swimming. At 5 a.m., if it’s outdoors, there’s probably no light, you’ll have fewer staff on hand, we’re probably dealing with low temperatures and maybe even some fog over the pool. So that’s a very different context that will affect the care or procedures that the team will perform.
In scenario training, continue to highlight the message that lifeguards work as a team, and that the team is fast, efficient and effective in their response. I often see lifeguards fall back on their initial training, rather than responding to the situation in front of them, so they may just look on instead of jumping in the pool when a fellow lifeguard struggles getting the victim to the wall. They should be staging to be ready to participate.
When implementing scenarios, focus on:
Providing a scenario with a clear objective;
Establishing a time limit in which the scenario objective must be completed;
Giving concise feedback that pushes lifeguards to achieve their objective within or below the established time limit;
Identifying in the scenario where the team bogs down or delays;
Demanding clear communication between lifeguard team members;
Reminding the team that in-service is not certification, and proficiency and speed are paramount.
Proper timing
Before moving into scenarios, the lifeguard team should have gone through several in-services focused on individual and group skills.
Once you’re comfortable with the team’s proficiency, then move into scenarios. They should start with a single objective then, once that is achieved, increase the complexity.
With each scenario the team’s actions should reflect these tenets:
Stop the drowning process, immediately: Do whatever it takes to gets the victim’s airways above the water’s surface so they can resume unobstructed breathing. If this means sending additional lifeguards to speed up the rescue, do so.
Provide the appropriate care: Once the victim is pulled to the surface and it is determined they are not breathing, then open their airway. If they are still not breathing, then begin in-water ventilations. Remember: The victim is not breathing because they were drowning. Also, if your lifeguard team is not proficient at in-water ventilations, then perform a rapid extrication.
Speed is essential: All efforts should be made to rapidly perform the rescue, provide patient care, and extricate the victim. Any delays reduce the chances of survival. Don’t stand around waiting for someone to give you orders.
Leads direct the action: As a lead staff member, your role is to make sure the guards effectively provide the appropriate rescue, extrication and care. Offer oversight on what is happening and what needs to happen. Don’t step in and take over care. Delegate, delegate, delegate.
Below, you’ll find three simple scenarios: One for land, one for water and one for a combination of the two. Adjust and tailor it to your staff, any waterfeatures at your site, equipment, and the allowances and requirements of your state and county. This creates scenarios that are more site-specific and agency-specific.
SIMPLE SCENARIO, LAND: Position a dry manikin on a land-based location to allow a lifeguard team to work effectively together around it. Teams should consist of four lifeguards. Fanny packs should be worn in the correct position and stocked with gloves and a pocket mask. BVM and AED should be available. The victim has a pulse but is not breathing.
Objectives:
First rescuer is positioned to open the airway (lateral or cephalic) and check for a pulse;
Second rescuer is situated to provide airway management support with a BVM, or take over pulse check;
The third rescuer gives chest compressions;
The fourth rescuer operates the AED.
Timing goal: Start at 10 seconds to complete the objective, strive to get to completion within 5 seconds. Once the team can position themselves around the victim within 5 seconds, layer the next skills:
Lifeguard teams starts 10-20 feet away from the victim (Objective time: 10 seconds)
Lifeguard team does a primary assessment and determines the victim has a pulse but is not breathing, no severe bleeding visible (Objective time: 15-20 seconds)
Lifeguard team begins to provide ventilations (Objective time: 20 seconds)
Lifeguard team begins to glove up while ventilations are in progress, NOTE: patient care is uninterrupted (Objective time: 30 seconds)
AED is set up in anticipation of CPR/AED, while ventilations continue (Objective time: 30-45 seconds)
SIMPLE SCENARIO, WATER: Position an active victim in the water. Teams should consist of four lifeguards, with fanny packs worn in the correct position and stocked with gloves and a pocket mask. Victim has a pulse and is breathing.
Objective: Rescuer(s) get to the victim before the victim submerges.
Timing goal: Less than 10 seconds. Once the victim can be rescued in less than 10 seconds, layer the next skills:
Victim begins to submerge, still active (Objective time: 10 seconds);
Victim goes from active to passive, and begins to submerge (Objective time: 10 seconds);
Victim is passive and face down in water. Rescuers stop the drowning process by rescuing the victim and opening the airway (Objective time: 10 seconds);
Victim is face down on the surface, and not breathing. Lifeguards must rescue the victim, open their airway, and provide in-water ventilations (Objective time: 15 seconds);
Victim is submerged. Rescuers must bring the victim to the surface, then determine they are not breathing. Rescuers need to open the victim’s airway and provide in-water ventilations (Objective time: 15-20 seconds);
Victim has been rescued, given in-water ventilations but is still not breathing. Rescuers need to do a rapid extrication to shore/side of the pool to the deck (Objective time: 30-40 seconds).
SIMPLE SCENARIO COMBO, WATER & LAND: Position a passive victim. Teams should consist of four lifeguards, with fanny packs in the correct position and stocked with gloves and a pocket mask. The victim has a pulse but is not breathing. BVM and AED should be available.
Objective: Rescuer(s) get to the victim, stop the drowning process, provide the appropriate rescue, care and extrication. Patient care includes both in-water ventilations and ventilations on land.
Timing goal: 60 seconds.
It is important to remember that the team will consist of both new and veteran lifeguards. Provide plenty of time for them to mesh and get synchronized. If it takes multiple in-service trainings to achieve that group unity, then do it.
Good luck and keep training.
