|
by Greg Friese, Thomas Amodio, and Andy Douglass
The lakefront lifeguarding skills challenge is a safe,
fun, and enriching way to assess staff swimming abilities, practice lifeguarding
skills, and build awareness about the difficulty of lakefront lifeguarding.
It is another training opportunity for staff to work together, practice
skills, and think of themselves as risk managers or overseers of camper
safety.
Camp staff and waterfront lifeguards typically receive
lifeguarding certification in the calm, warm waters of a swimming pool.
Water depth is marked and known, water temperature is the same at all
depths, the swimming area is well lit, and the swimming area is clearly
defined. However, in the lakefront swim area the bottom depth often varies
greatly, visibility is less than two to four feet, and there are great
seasonal and water depth temperature variations.
Camp lifeguards need to transfer their pool lifeguard
skills to the lakefront swim area. The lakefront lifeguard skills challenge
is a process to assess staff swimming ability and to transfer pool lifeguarding
skills to a lakefront situation.
Getting Started
The skills challenge has three stations. The stations
were developed to be relevant to the lifeguarding challenges faced at
a camp where all campers participate in canoe, backpack, or sea kayak
trips. Develop skills stations based on your camp’s programming.
Staff are assigned to groups of two to three and rotate
through the skills stations. Participant safety is very important. Lifeguards
should be stationed within reaching distance — pole or rescue tube — of
participants at all times. Participant teams of two or three should be
working in “buddy” groups. During the briefing make sure to clearly outline
the stations, safety procedures, and give options for participation. Create
an environment where staff feel supported and part of a community. Acknowledge
that many participants are not comfortable swimming in cloudy lakes, touching
the bottom, or are not ready for the cold water temperatures during staff
training.
Brief staff on the skills challenge and general lakefront
lifeguarding policies — such as size of swim area, lifeguard is aware
and alert, and hazard evaluation (weather, bottom conditions). (See sample
trail swimming guidelines.)
Station 1: Retrieve Object from Lake
Bottom
Purpose: To be able to sight and retrieve a sunken
object. This station builds sighting skill and awareness of bottom conditions,
water clarity, and temperature variation.
Directions: A capped, orange plastic jug (for
visibility) filled with sand or rocks is thrown into seven to nine feet
of water fifteen to twenty yards from shore. The rescuer along with two
observers sights the location of the sunken plastic jug by lining up the
jug with two stationary points beyond it, such as pier sections, swim
raft, moored boat, or shoreline feature.
The observers stand fifteen to twenty feet on each side
of the rescuer. They guide the rescuer to the object’s location, where
their sight lines intersect. The rescuer performs repeated surface dives
until the object is retrieved. The station is completed when the jug is
returned to the thrower and the rescuer has returned safely to shore.
Safety: A lifeguard is positioned within reaching
distance of the rescuer. Sighters also keep an eye on the rescuer and
offer verbal guidance and encouragement until the skill is completed.
Station 2: Tired Swimmer Assist
Purpose: To enter the water and swim to a tired
swimmer, while maintaining voice and visual contact with the swimmer,
and tow them to shore. The station builds awareness about a reasonable
distance for a swimmer to be from the lifeguard in a trail swimming situation
and how quickly lifeguards and swimmers can become fatigued in cold lake
water.
Directions: The rescuer swims out to a tired swimmer
fifty feet away, places a PFD on them, and tows them back to shore.
Safety: Perform this skill next to pier so a lifeguard
can walk alongside the rescuer. “Victims” are also guarded while waiting
for their rescuer.
Station 3: Canoe Re-entry from Water
Purpose: To help a swimmer re-enter a canoe from
the water. It is not always feasible for a swimmer to re-enter their swamped
canoe and maneuver it to shore. The quickest action may be to lift the
swimmer into another canoe. The station builds awareness about the difficulty
of canoe entry from water.
Directions: A swimmer swims ten to fifteen yards
out to a canoe that has two rescuers. The two rescuers help the swimmer
into their boat by lifting, encouraging, balancing, and preventing their
boat from swamping. The rotation continues by having one rescuer swim
back to shore and a new swimmer comes out to the canoe.
Safety: Canoe entry from the water can cause uncomfortable
skin pinches, rubs, and bruises. Encourage rescuers to grab clothing or
PFDs for lifting, rather than limbs or digits. For their own safety, the
two rescuers should lift together, and bring the swimmer into the canoe
in stages — arms over gunwale, torso over gunwale, one leg over, etc.
A lifeguard should be nearby in a second boat.
Upon successful completion of the lifeguard skills challenge
staff members’ swimming abilities has been assessed, important trail and
lakefront swim area lifeguarding skills have been practiced, and staff
can more safely set up and guard swim areas.
Originally published in the 2001 May/June
issue of Camping Magazine. |
