Pete DeQuincy

When it comes to lifeguarding, the term “rescue ready” implies that a lifeguard is proficient in all aspects of the rescue. It means they’re focused on stopping the drowning process as quickly as possible. It means they’re doing everything to avoid delay in patient care.

A “rescue ready” lifeguard can identify the victim, make the appropriate rescue, extricate the victim from the rescue point to the side of the pool, extricate from the side of the pool onto the deck, and initiate the appropriate care. That care could include ventilations, CPR, the use of an AED, and the administration of emergency oxygen. All this must occur within 90 seconds or less.

Rescue ready lifeguards can accomplish the task with any number of available lifeguards, in any area of the pool, at any depth, during any activity or program, in a crowded or uncrowded space, and in any environmental conditions, including hot or cold temperatures or inclement weather.

For now, let’s focus on the rescue portion of the “rescue ready” definition by doing drills that will provide proficiency, skill development, and teamwork.

MULTI-LIFEGUARD RESPONSE DRILL: Lifeguards will be in pairs with rescue tubes. An active victim is on the surface of the water, about 10-15 feet away from the side of the pool.

Objective: Get to the victim, stop the drowning process, and secure the victim to the rescue tube as quickly and safely as possible.

Timing goal: This drill should be accomplished in 3-10 seconds. Because each lifeguard has their own rescue tube, it is necessary that both lifeguards practice securing the victim onto their tube. Once both lifeguards have proven to be proficient at initiating the rescue and supporting the other lifeguard in the rescue, they can progress to the variations:

• Lifeguards will do a staggered entry with a 5-second delay between lifeguards 1 and 2. Once proficient, they can increase to a 10-second delay.• Move the victim farther away from the side of the pool.
• The victim is passive on the surface, face down in the water.
• The victim is submerged just below the surface of the water.
• The victim is submerged at the bottom of the pool.

IN-WATER VENTILATION DRILL: Lifeguards will be in pairs with rescue tubes, hip pack, and resuscitation masks. The passive, unresponsive victim will be 10-15 feet away from the side of the pool, face-up on the surface.

Objective: Get to the victim and stop the drowning process by securing the victim to the rescue tube and opening the victim’s airway. Begin to ventilate the victim immediately.

Timing goal: This drill should be accomplished in 10-20 seconds. Because each lifeguard has their own rescue tube, hip pack and resuscitation mask, it is necessary that both lifeguards practice securing the victim onto their rescue tube and providing ventilations to the victim.

Once both lifeguards are proficient at initiating the rescue, supporting the other lifeguard in the rescue, and ventilating the victim, they can progress to the following variations:

• The victim is face down on the surface.• The victim is submerged just below the surface of the water.
• The victim is submerged at the bottom of the pool.

TEAM TOWING DRILL: Lifeguards will be in pairs with rescue tubes, hip pack, and resuscitation masks at the side of the pool. The passive, unresponsive victim will be 10-15 feet away from the side of the pool, face-up on the surface.

Objective: Get the victim, secure the victim to the rescue tube and get them to the side of the pool as quickly and safely as possible.

Timing goal: It should take 5-12 seconds to complete the objective. Each lifeguard should practice securing the victim to their own rescue tube.

Once the lifeguards have shown themselves to be quick, proficient and synchronized in towing as a unit, they can progress to the following variations:

• The lifeguards will enter from the deck.• The victim will be face-down on the surface.
• The victim will be submerged just below the surface.
• The victim will be submerged at the bottom of the pool.
• In-water ventilations will be given, prior to extrication of the victim to side of the pool.

EXTRICATION WITH CARE DRILL: Four lifeguards will be utilized — two lifeguards in the water at the side of the pool with the victim secured to the rescue tube, while two lifeguards are on the deck with a backboard, ready to extricate. A backboard and rescue tubes are needed.

Objective: The lifeguards in the water will work in unison with the lifeguards on the deck to extricate the victim from the water to the deck with the use of the backboard. The victim then is transitioned to the deck, quickly and safely.

Timing goal: 10-12 seconds to complete the objective. Once both lifeguard pairs have become proficient in their roles, switch positions.

Once both lifeguard pairs have become proficient in all roles, move to the progression:

• The victim will 10-15 feet away and need to be rescued by the lifeguards.• The rescuing lifeguards will enter from the deck and rescue the victim.
• The victim will be submerged.
• Once the victim is brought to the surface, in-water ventilations will need to be provided before extricating the victim to the side of the pool.
• Once the victim is extricated, the lifeguards in the water will move to the deck to join in providing care.
• Remove one lifeguard from the drill, so the objective must be accomplished with only three lifeguards.
• Remove two lifeguards from the drill so the objective must be accomplished with only two lifeguards.

MISTAKES TO LOOK FOR

As the trainer, your critical eye is needed so lifeguards don’t make mistakes that could delay or compromise care. Here are some errors you might see:

• Rescue tube placement on the back of the victim doesn’t support the victim’s airway.• The victim slides off the rescue tube after placement.
• Sealing the mask for in-water ventilations is not done.
• Lifeguards fail to get synchronized when towing the victim, one lifeguard is dragging both the victim and the other lifeguard.
• The backboard is allowed to list to one side during placement of the victim.
• Allowing the rescue tube to get entangled with the victim on the backboard.

As the trainer, establish clear objectives, and transition quickly between drills.

Good luck and keep training.

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