Ch. 3 Lifeguarding

Patron Surveillance and Emergency Preparation

Patron SurveillanceA lifeguard’s primary

responsibility is to ensure patron safety and protect lives.

The primary tool to accomplish that function is patron surveillance—keeping a close watch over people in the facility.

You will spend most of your time on patron surveillance.

You must be alert and attentive at all times

Patron Surveillance continued…

With effective surveillance, you can recognize behaviors or situations that might lead to life-threatening emergencies.

Effective surveillance has several elements, including—– Victim recognition.– Effective scanning.– Lifeguard stations.– Area of responsibility.

Victim Recognition

• It’s important to understand the behaviors that a victim shows

Swimmer Distressed

Swimmer

Active

Drowning Victim

Passive

Drowning Victim

Breathing Rhythmic Can continue & might call for help

Struggles to breath; cannot call out for help

Not breathing

Arm & Leg Action Relatively

Coordinated

Floating, sculling, or treading water; might wave for help

Arms to sides alternately moving up & pressing down; no supporting kick

None

Body Position Horizontal Horizontal, vertical or diagonal

Vertical Horizontal or vertical; face-down, face

Locomotion Recognizable Little or no forward progress;

None; has only 20-60 seconds before submerging

None

Effective Scanning

Scanning is a visual technique for watching patrons in the water.

What does effective scanning require?

Effective Scanning requires that you--- p. 31

• Scan patrons in the assigned area of responsibility.

• Scan above & below the water• Scan crowded areas carefully.• Do not be distracted by people or

activities.• Be aware of conditions that affect

visibility at different times of the day

Lifeguard Stations

Patron surveillance is performed in a lifeguard chair or by standing on the deck or in the water.

The location of your lifeguard station must enable you to see your entire area of responsibility.

You might have to move your lifeguard stand or change your position during the day.

How do periodic rotations from one station to another,

along with breaks, help keep you alert and

decrease fatigue?

Area of Responsibility

Your supervisor will establish the area of responsibility for patron surveillance.

Areas of responsibility can include— – Zone coverage.– Total coverage.– Back-up coverage.

The RID Factor

Most drownings at supervised swim areas happen when neither lifeguards nor patrons notice that a victim has slipped below the surface.

RID– Recognition– Intrusion– Distraction

Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

EAPs are detailed plans describing everyone’s responsibilities in an emergency and should be in the facility’s policies and procedures manual.

EAPs should be practiced regularly during orientation and in-service training sessions.

What are the steps of an EAP?