Lifeguarding Overview and Responsibilities

  • Early lifeguarding: 1700s, aiding battle and waterway travelers.
  • Mid-1800s: Increased recreational swimming led to demand for swimmer protection.
  • 1855: Volunteer lifeguard team formed in New Jersey.
  • Early 1980s: ENA developed water park lifeguarding curriculum and rescue tubes usage.

Drowning Statistics

  • Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death globally.
  • Approximately 360,000360,000 people drown each year worldwide.
  • It is a leading cause of death for children aged 14 and under.
  • Main risk factors: lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers, unsupervised children, no life jackets, alcohol use, and seizure disorders.

Lifeguard Importance

  • Lifeguards prevent drownings through water rescues and emergency care (including CPR).
  • ENA lifeguards aim for zero drownings and protect over 70,000,00070,000,000 guests annually, making approximately 35,00035,000 rescues each year.

ENA Lifeguard Training Program

  • Values include guest and employee safety, consistency, and integrity.
  • Candidates can achieve certifications: shallow water, pool, special facilities, or open water.
  • Course requirements: attend all classes, follow rules, pass written exam, and demonstrate skills (water rescue, CPR, AED, first aid, oxygen support).
  • Credentials are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Ongoing Training

  • Pre-service training: Reviews concepts at a specific site.
  • In-service training: Ongoing practice, skill enhancement, and team meetings.
  • Operational drills/audits: Periodic testing to ensure readiness.

Lifeguard Responsibilities

  • Prevent aquatic emergencies, recognize incidents, respond, and render care.
  • Preventive lifeguarding: alertness, rule enforcement, hazard warnings, and communication.
  • Secondary responsibilities: facility inspection, cleaning, documentation.
  • Maintain accurate documentation, including rescue and incident reports.
  • Guest interaction: answer questions, enforce rules, provide directions.
  • Crowd control during emergencies

Accountability

  • Anticipate, recognize, and manage emergencies.
  • Accountable to facility guests, employer, and self.
  • Practice skills, seek clarification, and continuously evaluate performance.
  • Audits verify lifeguard commitment to training, including performance evaluations.

Legal Concepts

  • Abandonment: Do not abandon a person who requires ongoing care.
  • Confidentiality: Protect personal information.
  • Informed Consent: Seek consent before providing care (unless guest is unresponsive).
  • Documentation: Document injuries and incidents.
  • Duty to Act: Legal responsibility to act in an emergency.
  • Negligence: Failure to prevent harm, provide appropriate care, or exceed training scope.
  • Refusal of Care: Respect the decision, document the refusal, and contact a supervisor if available.
  • Standard of Care: Competent and attentive lifeguarding to protect guests.
  • Maintain ENA Lifeguard standard of care to prevent harm.

Post-Traumatic Stress

  • Acknowledge the positive steps during the event.
  • Be prepared for questions from authorities.
  • Don't comment to the media; be sure to share support with other lifeguards and ask for help when needed, don't let yourself feel intimidated
  • Exercise to reduce stress, resume routines, and seek counseling if necessary.