What skills did you practice with your lifeguard staff this summer? Pete DeQuincy, Aquatics International contributor and aquatics supervisor for the East Bay Regional Park District in Castro Valley, Calif., presented a dozen drills in his 2014 LIfeguard Challenge, and saw some great results. Three of those drills focused on rescuing passive victims.
1. Rescue Passive Victim, Shallow, Face-Up, Facing Away, 1 Rescuer
Guidelines:
Victims are at least 10 feet from the pool edge, face up on the surface and facing away from the rescuer. Depth of the water is between 3 1/2 feet to 4 1/2 feet deep.
Rescuers will have at least one hand on the wall with the rescue tube strap on.
Rescuers need to make contact with the victim and have them placed on the rescue tube. Once the victim is secured on the tube, rescuers need to raise their hands into the air. This is to show that the victim is stable on the rescue tube.
All rescuers hands in the air when finished with victims stable, secure on their rescue tubes. You'll have 5 seconds to do this.
This is an all pass drill, meaning all rescuers must complete the drill for the lifeguard team to receive a pass.
Here's a look at how the winning team, Palo Alto Lifeguards.
2. Mid-depth (5-7 feet deep), face-up victim, facing away from the rescuer, 1 Rescuer
Guidelines:
Victims are at least 10 feet from the pool edge, face-up on the surface and facing away from the rescuer. Depth of the water is between 5 to 7 feet deep.
Rescuers will be on deck holding the rescue tube with the rescue tube strap on.
Rescuers need to make contact with the victim and have them placed on the rescue tube. Once the victim is secured on the tube, rescuers need to raise their hands into the air. This is to show that the victim is stable on the rescue tube.
All rescuers hands in the air when finished with victims stable, secure on their rescue tubes. You'll have 5 seconds to do this.
This is an all pass drill, meaning all rescuers must complete the drill for the lifeguard team to receive a pass.
Here's a look at the winning team, Highlands Recreation Lifeguards.
3. Rescue Passive Victim, Shallow, Face-Down, Facing Away, 1 Rescuer
Guidelines:
Victims are at least 10 feet from the pool edge, face down on the surface and facing away. Depth of the water is between 3 1/2 feet to 4 1/2 feet deep.
Rescuers will have at least one hand on the wall with the rescue tube strap on.
Rescuers need to make contact with the victim and have them placed on the rescue tube. Utilize rolling the victim to avoid the rescuer or victim from being injured. Once the victim is secured on the tube, rescuers need to raise their hands into the air. This is to show that the victim is stable on the rescue tube.
All rescuers hands in the air when finished with victims stable, secure on their rescue tubes. You'll have 5 seconds to do this.
This is an all pass drill, meaning all rescuers must complete the drill for the lifeguard team to receive a pass.
Here's a look at the winning team, Yountville Lifeguards.
Try these drills with your lifeguards today, and let us know how well they do in the comments below!
