A lifeguard is an emergency service worker who is responsible for overseeing the safety of the users of a recreational water feature, such as a swimming pool, a water park, or a beach. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Emergency services are organizations which ensure Public safety by addressing different emergencies Safety is the state of being "safe" (from French sauf) the condition of being protected against physical social spiritual financial political A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is an artificially enclosed Body of water intended for Swimming or See List of waterparks (for a list of all waterparks in the world A waterpark is an Amusement park that features waterplay areas such Lifeguards are qualified strong swimmers, trained and certified in water rescue, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and sometimes in the use of automated external defibrillators, oxygen administration and specialized equipment for airway management or aquatic rescue. Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Rescue refers to operations that usually involve the saving of Life, or prevention of Injury. First aid is the provision of initial care for an Illness or Injury.

Contents 1 Ocean lifeguard 2 Lifeguard duties 3 Equipment 3.1 Equipment carried by most lifeguards 3.2 Equipment stored at the establishment used by lifeguards 4 Lifeguards in different nations 4.1 Australia 4.2 Belgium 4.3 Canada 4.4 Germany 4.5 Italy 4.6 New Zealand 4.7 Spain 4.8 United Kingdom and Ireland 4.8.1 Pool Lifeguards 4.8.2 Beach lifeguards 4.8.3 Canoe lifeguards 4.9 United States 5 Lifeguard competitions 6 Lifeguards in popular culture 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Ocean lifeguard

On shore, an ocean lifeguard can typically be seen watching the water from an elevated chair or tower, or patrolling the water's edge on foot or with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Some of the better equipped lifeguard services operate inflatable or rigid hulled patrol boats that can provide added support in the event of a rip current situation or other emergency. A rip current, rip tide or rip is a strong surface flow of Water returning Seaward from near the Shore (not to be confused with an Additionally, some also have rowboats, and specially marked personal watercraft equipped with a rescue 'Sled' (a reinforced oversize bodyboard to bring victims onto) available to respond from the beach. A personal water craft ( PWC) is a Recreational Watercraft that the rider sits or stands on rather than inside Bodyboarding is a derivative of wave riding The average board consists of a small rectangular piece of Hydrodynamic foam

An individual lifeguard tower will typically be staffed with one or two lifeguards responsible for a specific length of beach. Equipment used will vary depending on the area. This will normally include communications equipment and a well stocked first aid kit. Additional equipment may include a large long spine board, an oxygen resuscitator, an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) or simple scuba diving equipment. A long spine board (LSB, or backboard, is a medical device used for the immobilization and transportation of patients with suspected spinal injuries A resuscitator is a device using positive pressure to inflate the lungs of an unconscious person who is not breathing, in order to keep him Oxygenated and Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for the life-threatening Cardiac arrhythmias Ventricular fibrillation and Ventricular tachycardia. Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. A lifeguard vehicle or patrol boat will be equipped with two way radios and may also carry cardiac care medical equipment, an oxygen tank, and more advanced scuba gear.

In some communities, the lifeguard service also carries out mountain rescues, or may function as the primary EMS provider. Emergency medical services (abbreviated to the initialism "EMS" in many countries are a branch of Emergency services dedicated to providing out-of-hospital

Lifeguard duties

A key part of any lifeguard's mission is the prevention of in-water (as well as on-land) incidents. Borkum is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Therefore, one of the most useful measures of the effectiveness of a lifeguard force is not the number or rapidity of rescues, or the skill with which they are executed, but the absence or reduction of drownings, accidents, and other medical emergencies. Drowning is Death as caused by suffocation when a liquid causes interruption of the body's absorption of oxygen from the air leading to Asphyxia. An accident is a specific identifiable unexpected unusual and unintended external event which occurs in a particular time and place without apparent or deliberate A medical emergency is an Injury or Illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health While the ability to save lives is of paramount importance to lifeguards, the ability to prevent life-threatening situations is nearly as important.

Many young people in high school and college see lifeguarding as an enjoyable and rewarding part-time or summer job. High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. Lifeguarding requires that one be constantly alert for any dangers to the patrons of the area under supervision. Like many other jobs, lifeguarding requires quick decision-making and communications skills. The primary duty of a waterpark, waterfront, or pool lifeguard is the safety of the patrons or swimmers. This primary duty includes water surveillance and rule enforcement, as well as rescues and first aid when required. Secondary duties include filling out incident report forms after accidents or injuries, ensuring safe and clean facilities are maintained, answering questions that patrons might have (rule concerns or directions), and in-service training to maintain lifeguarding skills.

While performing patron surveillance, usually from an elevated stand or a water-level standing or sitting position, lifeguards watch for unusual activities on the part of swimmers to recognize struggling swimmers, drowning swimmers, and swimmers with sudden medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, asthma, diabetes, or seizures. While performing patron surveillance, lifeguards try to prevent drowning or other injury and death by looking for swimmers in these categories and conditions.

1. Swimmers who are inactive in the water, submerged or otherwise (Passive drowning victim). When a lifeguard sees this kind of swimmer he performs an emergency rescue.
2. Swimmers who are taking in water while attempting to stay at the surface (Active drowning victim). Lifeguards look for swimmers in this condition by looking for arms flailing vertically, with the body vertical and no supporting kick. This behaviour is known as the instinctive drowning response^[1][2]. Lifeguards perform an emergency rescue to assist this kind of swimmer.
3. Swimmers who have become tired and are having trouble swimming (Distressed swimmer) and may or may not be calling out for help. Lifeguards usually swim out and help these swimmers to the side. They may or may not require additional assistance.
4. Normal swimmers (Healthy swimmers).

Problems may occur at any time, so a lifeguard must be in good physical and mental condition in order to pull someone from the water and possibly perform rescue breathing, CPR, or first aid. Artificial respiration is the act of simulating respiration, which provides for the overall exchange of gases in the body by pulmonary ventilation external respiration and internal First aid is the provision of initial care for an Illness or Injury.

Lifeguards also are trained in first aid. Before administering first aid, lifeguards preform an initial assessment, and then a secondary assessment with the acronym SAMPLE.

1. S stands for signs and symptoms. Lifeguards will try to find out what happened and where the patron feels any pain, discomfort, numbness, or loss of sensation.
2. A stands for allergies. This is to find out what allergies the patron might have.
3. M stands for medications, such as what medical conditions they have or what medications they have taken in the past 24 hours.
4. P stands for pertinent past medical history. The lifeguard will try to figure out if the patron has experienced any recent falls, accidents or blows to the head, or if they have been in any medical, surgical, or trauma incidents.
5. L is for last oral intake; what and when the patron ate or drank.
6. E is for events leading up to the incident. What the patron was doing before the incident and what they were doing when the incident occurred.

Lifeguarding is not the same as instructing swim lessons, although (at pools) most lifeguards are instructors and vice versa.

Equipment

Lifeguards in different situations have to maintain, carry and be proficient in the use of several pieces of equipment. These pieces of equipment vary in type or style from establishment to establishment but are generally used in most establishments where lifeguards are employed.

Equipment carried by most lifeguards

The equipment carried by a lifeguard will be dictated by the conditions the lifeguard may encounter. Lifeguards at a pool may only have the equipment below, while an ocean lifeguard would also have swim fins, a paddle board, or even a personal water craft available to them.

• Whistle
• CPR rescue mask
• Basic first aid kit
• a Rescue Buoy, Rescue Tube
• Watch
• Latex Gloves

Equipment stored at the establishment used by lifeguards

• Long spine board
• Large first aid kit
• automated external defibrillators (AED)
• Megaphone or some other method of speaking loudly
• High chair
• Oxygen tank
• Reaching poles used for scooping or pulling objects out of the water
• Ring Buoys
• Rescue Boards

Lifeguards in different nations

Australia

In Australia lifeguards are distinguished from Surf Life Savers. A simple whistle is a Woodwind instrument which produces Sound from a stream of forced air A rescue buoy or rescue tube is an essential part of the equipment that must be carried by Lifeguards The Rescue tube is a long foam Flotation device that A rescue buoy or rescue tube is an essential part of the equipment that must be carried by Lifeguards The Rescue tube is a long foam Flotation device that A long spine board (LSB, or backboard, is a medical device used for the immobilization and transportation of patients with suspected spinal injuries A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn or loud hailer is a portable usually hand-held funnel-shaped device whose application is to amplify Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary Lifeguard services and competitive surf sport Lifeguards are paid employees who patrol beaches, lakes and pools/aquatic venues. Beach lifeguards are usually employed by local government authorities and patrol the beach throughout the year. Surf Lifesavers are a large voluntary organization that patrol beaches on weekends and public holidays during the warmer months (usually from mid-September to late April) and also perform public training of kids, the nippers, as well as competitions, such as surf carnivals or winter swimming events. Nippers in Surf lifesaving are young Surf Lifesavers aged between 7 and 13 years old In Australian culture Sports carnivals are held to perform competitions in the individual or team disciplines like athletics swimming or Surf Life Saving. Ice swimming is swimming in a body of Water with a frozen crust of Ice, which requires cutting a hole in the ice

Belgium

Belgium has a small coastline, with a length of 68 km. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Despite its small size, the coast is highly urbanised over practically its entire length and is visited by many thousands of tourists each year so a good lifeguard service has been built up over the years. Because the North Sea only borders Flanders, more particularly the province of West Flanders, the training of the lifeguards is organised by the province. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region also named Flanders, in Belgium. Beach lifeguards in Belgium are trained by the WOBRA (Dutch abbreviation for West Flemish training centre for firemen, lifeguards and ambulance crew). Beach lifeguards in Belgium are mostly students who are employed for a month during the summer holidays (July and August). Some municipalities also employ lifeguards in June and September. In order to obtain uniformity, all municipalities from the belgian coast are joined in the IKWV (dutch abbreviation for intercommunal coast lifeguardservice of West Flanders). This is the coordinating organ for all the municipalities regarding the organisation of the lifeguardservice.

Canada

Main article: National Lifeguard Service

In Canada, all lifeguards and assistant lifeguards are certified by the Lifesaving Society of Canada. National Lifeguard Service (NLS is "the standard measure of Lifeguard performance in Canada " The Royal Life Saving Society Canada, operates throughout Canada as the Lifesaving Society The lifeguarding certification offered by the LSS is the National Lifeguard Service (NLS) program, which was officially launched in 1964. National Lifeguard Service (NLS is "the standard measure of Lifeguard performance in Canada " Very seldomly are American Red Cross Lifeguarding Courses offered in major aquatics facilities, instead favouring the more popular NLS program. The American Red Cross (also known as the American National Red Cross) is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance disaster relief and education inside

Germany

In Germany there exist two major organizations that train people in lifesaving. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The bigger one is the DLRG, the largest aquatics life saving organization in the world, and the smaller one, Wasserwacht is part of the German Red Cross. Logo of the DLRG The Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft The Wasserwacht ('vasərvaxt is a German lifeguard service. It is one of the five voluntary societies of the German Red Cross. The German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz is the national Red Cross Society in Germany.

Italy

In Italy Lifeguard are certified by the Italian Swimming Federation and the National Life Saving Society (Società Nazionale di Salvamento). The Italian Swimming Federation (Federazione Italiana Nuoto - FIN founded in 1899 is the major Swimming Federation in Italy, it brings together more than 1200 All the Diplomas are recognized everywhere in Italy and in Europe. Differences exist between pool, lakes and sea diplomas.

New Zealand

In New Zealand the term lifeguard generally refers to pool lifeguards but can be used interchangeably with lifesaver. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island These are qualified paid professionals employed by the pool management to watch over pool users. Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is responsible for training and maintaining Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand. Surf Life Saving New Zealand ( SLSNZ) is the organisation that controls Surf lifesaving in New Zealand. Surf Lifesavers patrol various beaches in New Zealand. Lifesavers are able to sit their Bronze Medallion which qualifies them as a volunteer Surf Lifeguards. Volunteers patrol New Zealand's beaches on weekends over the summer months from Labour Day to around Easter. Paid Lifeguards patrol beaches during the week over the busiest summer months. They also come under the control of SLSNZ.

Spain

In Spain there are many organizations that teach and train people in lifesaving. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The INTERNATIONAL LIFEGUARD SOCIETY and Federación Española de Salvamento are a couple of the prominent organizations.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Pool Lifeguards

In the United Kingdom, there are two bodies that train Lifeguards. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and the Swimming Teachers Association (STA); who train the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) and the National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NaRS) (this qualification is becoming less important and fewer employers accept it as an appropriate qualification) respectively. The RLSS trains the vast majority of pool Lifeguards in the UK. The course studied lasts a minimum of 38 hours, and is made up of two units - both of which must be completed. The qualification is valid for two years from the date of assessment. A minimum of 20 hours training must be logged in those two years for the individual to be eligible to submit for a renewal examination. The employer of the lifeguard must also provide a minimum of 1 hour of training per month to comply with HSE guidelines. The NPLQ can be trained with the addition of a module in the use of a long spine board, a specialist piece of rescue equipment designed for immobilizing a casualty suspected of suffering a Spinal Cord injury. A long spine board (LSB, or backboard, is a medical device used for the immobilization and transportation of patients with suspected spinal injuries The spinal cord is a long thin tubular bundle of Nerves that is an extension of the Central nervous system from the brain and is enclosed in and protected

In Northern Ireland and Ireland the NPLQ is the qualification of choice of the leisure industry. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

Beach lifeguards

The Royal Lifesaving Society UK offers training and assessment for the National Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NBLQ). There are currently approximately 700 newly qualified lifeguards each year (in addition to those who renew their qualification). This qualification is currently on version 3. 1 and is valid for two years from the date of the assessment. There are a variety of "specialist modules" that can be added to the basic qualification, these include; VHF Radio Operator; Personal Water Craft PWC, Rescue Surf Skills, Paddlecraft Rescue, Rescue Boat (Crew), Rescue Boat (Helm), AED and CPR Oxygen Administration. Very high frequency (VHF is the Radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. A personal water craft ( PWC) is a Recreational Watercraft that the rider sits or stands on rather than inside

There is currently a drive by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to provide well-funded beach lifeguards, which currently focusses on the South Coast, with plans to roll out nationally in the next few years. The founder Sir William Hillary Sir William Hillary came to live on the Isle of Man in 1808

Canoe lifeguards

The British Canoe Union has canoe life guard units in the UK managed by the BCU Lifeguards. These are special units that operate in Kayaks and Canoes in areas where motor boats would have problems. A kayak is a small human-powered Boat. It typically has a covered deck and a cockpit covered by a Spraydeck. A canoe is a small narrow Boat, typically human-powered though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors Pictures of the London Triathlon lifeguard cover can be found on the Globe360 website. The London Triathlon (currently known as the Mazda London Triathlon, and previously the Michelob ULTRA London Triathlon, for sponsorship reasons is the largest Rob74797 (talk) 10:39, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

United States

In the United States there are seven nationally recognized organizations that certify lifeguards. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The American Red Cross (ARC) and its Lifeguard Training Program, the YMCA, Starfish Aquatics Institute (StarGuard), Jeff Ellis & Associates, the Boy Scouts of America, and National Aquatic Safety Company (NASCO). The American Red Cross (also known as the American National Red Cross) is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance disaster relief and education inside The Young Men's Christian Association (" YMCA " or " the Y " was founded on June 6, 1844 in London England by a young man The Boy Scouts of America ( BSA) is the largest youth organization in the United States with over five million Many people go to these organizations to get their first aid and CPR certification that do not get the lifeguard certification. The standard in open water surf training is the United States Lifesaving Association.

Lifeguard competitions

Continuous training is necessary to maintain lifeguarding skills and knowledge. Formal competitions have developed as a way to encourage training, and also as a social activity. In Australia, the annual Surf Lifesaving competition at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast is the largest athletic event in the world after the Olympic Games with tens of thousands of Lifesavers competing. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Lifeguard competitions include both physical events and technical (medical) events. Technical events are challenging accident simulations in which guards are evaluated on their adherence to treatment standards. These events are a subject of controversy amongst some lifeguards due to their subjectivity. Purely physical competitions have recently become more popular, often including various combinations of running, swimming, paddleboard, and surf ski. Most lifeguard competitions include an Ironman event that combines three different physical activities. The sport of Ironman was developed in 1964 in Australia to combine the four main disciplines of surflifesaving into a single race swimming board paddling ski paddling and running

• Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Perth Australia
• Risser's Beach, Nova Scotia
• Bournemouth Lifeguards Corps Regatta, UK
• Nova Scotia Surf League
• British Universities Lifesaving Clubs Association League
• Federacion Aragonesa de Salvamento y Socorrismo

Lifeguards in popular culture

In popular culture, such as film or television, lifeguards are afforded a high status, often that of a "hero. The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service (also NSLS) is a Canadian Lifeguard service operating in Nova Scotia. " A primary example is the show Baywatch, which was at one time the most viewed show in the world (although not in the United States, where it first aired). Baywatch was an American Television series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the crowded Beaches of The 1975 dramatic film Lifeguard, starring Sam Elliott, takes a serious look at the life of one professional. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor

Specific cultural perceptions of lifeguards include:

• Association with youth, linked to the tendency of guards to be younger. Older guards are often typecast as beach bums.
• Association with surf culture. Surf culture includes the people language fashion and life surrounding the sport of modern Surfing.
• Rite-of-passage jobs, linked again to the tendency of teenagers working part-time as guards, but moving onto different professions.

Perhaps one of the most widespread connotations raised by lifeguards is sexual in nature (several polls revealed that "lifesaver" was considered one of the "sexiest" professions)^[3]. Generally speaking human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings This is often linked to the sexual overtones of resuscitation as well as the physical fitness required to work as a lifeguard.

See also

• First Aid
• Swimming pool
• Beach
• Firefighter
• Paramedic

References

External links

• Lifeguard.es International Lifeguard Society
• Los Angeles City Lifeguards
• Huntington State Beach Lifeguard Association
• Federacion Aragonesa de Salvamento y Socorrismo
• Surf Life Saving Australia
• North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards
• The Early Lifesavers of Cape Cod, MA
• National Aquatic Safety Company (NASCO)
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Training
• The United States Lifesaving Association
• Canadian Lifesaving Society - Société de Sauvetage Canadienne
• Lifeguards Ireland Website
• Jeff Ellis & Associates Lifeguarding

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