Photo: Jim Wheeler
In a lifeguard-certification course, participants learn the skills necessary to protect swimmers and provide emergency care when required. They learn a lot in a 25- or 30-hour course, but how much is really retained over time? No matter what the activity, a human’s ability to perform declines without practice. That’s why an effective lifeguard in-service training program is the backbone of safety and performance.
Seven Skills
What does a lifeguard really need to know to perform properly and effectively to rescue a swimmer or provide lifesaving care? The multitude of skills and knowledge that are introduced in an initial training course can be overwhelming. An experienced aquatic manager understands there are seven basic skills and activities that every lifeguard needs to know:
- Entry and rescue of an actively drowning guest