On-Shift Training Ideas
1 MIN READ
Monitor the lifeguard?s scanning time and give spontaneous feedback.
Give real-time feedback on the lifeguard?s head movement and scanning patterns.
Plant scanning pitfalls during public use to heighten realism for example, silhouette dummy on pool bottom (sub-guard needed to maintain coverage).
Put a CPR manikin on deck and alert a lifeguard to administer CPR (sub-guard needed to maintain coverage).
Do individual and team back-boarding during rest period.
Perform rescue skills on cue directly from guard post (sub-guard needed to maintain coverage).
Lifeguards watch video of patrons using your pool to help define infractions and unsafe practices.
Guards monitor other guards in a buddy or mentor system (sub-guard needed to maintain coverage).
Lifeguards watch video of themselves to critique their own performances.
Lifeguards watch segments of professional training DVDs; American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, Tom Griffiths? 5-Minute Scanning Strategy and others.
Review EAP protocol.
Stage an injury and have the guard administer first aid, including incident report (sub-guard needed to maintain coverage).
Some educational opportunities are not done on shift, but do not require special in-service hours. In other words, homework. These include worksheets on pool rules, procedures and the like; review questions from lifeguard training manual; view professional training DVDs with specific assignments; reading material from industry publications concerning the latest developments, trends and concerns within the industry; research topics on the Internet such as fecal accidents, 5-Minute Scanning Strategy, emergency action plans and RID factor.
