Section 1 – The Lifeguard, the Law, and Pool Supervision

What is duty of care

It is a legal obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. Lifeguards must always act in the best interests of swimmers.

What is negligence

Failing to act as a reasonable lifeguard would, which results in harm or injury to someone.

What should be included in an incident report

Date, time, location, people involved, details of the incident, actions taken, witnesses, and signature.

What are the two parts of the PSOP

1. NOP (Normal Operating Procedure) – how the pool operates day-to-day.

2. EAP (Emergency Action Plan) – what to do in emergencies.

Give three examples of an emergency covered in the EAP

• Fire or evacuation

• Chemical spill

• Serious injury or unconscious casualty

What is the 10:20 system

A scanning system where a lifeguard should spot a problem in 10 seconds and reach the casualty in 20 seconds.

What are common poolside hazards

Slippery floors, running, poor lighting, blind spots, glare, obstructions.