combined lake swim 2015 safety plan

LAKE SWIM SAFETY BRIEFING 2015

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A MESSAGE FOR THE SAFETY STAFF Ladies and Gentlemen: Thank you for signing up to provide lifeguard services for the 27th Annual Jim McDonnell Lake Swim. This event consists of a swim clinic on Saturday, May 23, 2015; and a 1- and 2-mile race on Sunday, May 24, 2015. This event is a challenging and demanding event to provide guard service to due to the volume of swimmers in the water as well as the hazards associated with open-water lifeguarding including diminished visibility, fluctuating weather conditions, and generally unpredictable events which may occur. You have all been chosen by me based on your guard experience and your enthusiasm to provide this service to the participants of this race: to it I expect that everyone bring their A-game and come prepared to work. My expectations of the guarding staff are first and foremost that you remain focused and committed to the safety of everyone at the site – the swimmers, the event staff, and your fellow lifeguards. When you are out on the water, maintain constant situational awareness of your zone: keep your eyes on the water and be prepared to intervene at any time. You are responsible for everyone in your zone, just as if they were swimming in your pool. Always keep your eyes and ears open and follow the directions given to you by Nick, myself, and any Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel. Remember that we have brought an abundance of resources to this event specifically to help you do your job – if you need help with an incident, have a question, etc. PLEASE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE! We’re here to support you so that you can do your job as easily as possible. Beyond all of this, remember to have fun out there and enjoy the day! The weather is supposed to be nice, and Lake Audubon is one of the most beautiful places in Reston. I look forward to seeing all of you this weekend for the pre-event briefing. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Sincerely, Darren Green

Head Lifeguard


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LIFEGUARD DUTIES

Stand-up Paddleboard Lifeguards Building on our success from previous years, we will be deploying several

lifeguards of Stand-up Paddleboards (SUP) this year. SUP guards have an advantage over conventional canoe lifeguards due to better visibility and have an easier time directly accessing distressed swimmers and active/passive victims. Our goal is to utilize as many lifeguards on SUPs as possible: deploying all lifeguards on SUPs is the ideal scenario. All SUP equipment will be provided by Steve Gurney.

All SUP guards will have a canoe assigned to them (“signal boat”). This boat will be staffed by two paddlers, and will stay close by in order to signal for help in the event that you must make a rescue. Each signal boat contains a bright orange flag, which they will wave high in the air to signal for assistance. If you need to get their attention, use your whistle (three long blasts for emergency).

Patrol your designated area (see map) and single out any struggling swimmers. Tell the swimmer to hold on to your board (or to the signal boat), alert your signal boat, and wait until the Fairfax County Zodiac boat picks up the swimmer. If the victim is in immediate distress, perform an in-water rescue and remove the swimmer to the nearest safe location (shore, dock, etc) and have your signal boat direct the Zodiac to that location. Canoe and Pontoon Boat Lifeguards

Monitor your area, single out any struggling swimmers, and tell your paddler to approach (if in canoe). Tell the swimmer to hold onto the boat and wait until the Fairfax Zodiac boat picks the swimmer up, or if on a pontoon boat you may assist the swimmer out of the water onto the boat while awaiting Zodiac arrival. If the situation is really serious, use your rope bag [throw out to] the swimmer. If all other rescue attempts fail, an in-the-water rescue is your last resort.

Due to safety considerations, all Pontoon Boats shall remain stationary throughout the event: lifeguards assigned to a pontoon boat should guard from that location as though it were a stationary platform.

ALL GUARDS

Swimmers wishing to stop may swim to shore at the dogleg or to the nearest

pontoon boat and be returned along with other non-finishers to the finish line at the end of the race; otherwise, they should wait for retrieval by the Zodiac boat. Note: Swimmers automatically disqualify themselves by coming in contact with a canoe or other watercraft.


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ATTENDANCE POLICY: All lifeguard staff is expected to report to the event start location at the designated

times (the boat ramp by Lake Audubon Pool off of Twin Branches Rd.): • Saturday, May 23 – 8:30 AM • Sunday, May 24 – 6:45 AM

Tentative Schedule Saturday – 5K Race & Clinic 8:00 am – Site open 8:30 am – Guard & Paddler Check-in & briefing at bottom of ramp 9:00 am – Guards & Paddlers, get boats & launch; on lake at stations 10:15 am – Guards& Paddlers on lake at stations

11:00 am – 1mi practice race starts 12:00 noon – Clinic closed, canoes & equipment checked in

Sunday – 2 Mile, 1 Mile Races 6:00 am – Site open

6:30 am – Guard & Paddler Check-in & briefing at bottom of ramp 7:00 am – Guards & Paddlers, get boats & launch; on lake at stations

7:30 am – Guards& Paddlers on lake at stations 8:00 am – 1 mi. race starts

9:00 am – 1 mi. race ends, BREAK FOR LIFEGUARDS 9:30 am – Guards & paddlers back on lake

9:45 am – 2 mi race starts 11:45 am – end of 2 mi. race; canoes & equipment checked in 12:00 am – guard debriefing and wrap-up

This means that you’re changed into your guard suit and checked in with me by

this time. Please note that these events draw hundreds of participants, and parking nearby may be limited, so please plan accordingly.

All guards will be expected to check in with me upon arrival to the site, and again

before you leave the event at the end of the day. NO PAYCHECKS WILL BE ISSUED IF YOU DO NOT CHECK OUT WITH ME BEFORE LEAVING THE EVENT AND ALL WORK IS COMPLETED! GUARDING ASSIGNMENTS Each lifeguard has been assigned a specific area for each day of the race. All guards will be stationed in canoes or on SUPs at strategic locations around the lake. Find your name on the roster below, and note the boat you have been assigned to. Below the roster is a satellite map of the course with boats numbered as they appear on the roster. Once the race starts, you MUST remain in the general zone of your assigned boat for the duration of the event unless you are moving in to assist on a rescue, or you have my


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permission to leave your area. If you’re paddling an exhausted swimmer to the shore, make sure that you get back into position as quickly as possible.

THERE WILL BE A BREAK on Sunday between races where you can come ashore for a break/snack/bathroom/water. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POST until prompted by me and Nick – we have to account for all swimmers before leaving the water. If you need an emergency bathroom break during the race, make sure you tell me on the radio (SUP guards – tell signal boat to relay message by radio) when you’re leaving and when you return. Please try to take care of business before the race starts, or during the break between races! EVERY BOAT IS EXPECTED TO BE IN POSITION 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS. (Saturday) Lifeguard Assignments for Lake Swim

Map Designator Radio Name Guard Name

P0 Shore Command Nobbe, Nick P1 Platform 1 Green, Darren P1 Lifeguard Sennett, Emily P2 Platform 2 Kasprowicz, Ryan S1 Sierra One Gurney, Steve S2 Sierra Two Shada, Jimmy S3 Sierra Three Burkert, Casey S4 Sierra Four Ham, Jack S5 Sierra Five Soucy, Paul S6 Sierra Six Kruse, Logan S7 Sierra Seven Camacho, Daniel S9 Sierra Niner Andrews, Ken


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(Sunday) Lifeguard Assignments for Lake Swim Map Designator Radio Name Guard Name P0 Shore Command Nobbe, Nick P1 Platform 1 Green, Darren P1 Lifeguard Sennett, Emily P2 Platform 2 Kasprowicz, Ryan S1 Sierra One Gurney, Steve S2 Sierra Two Shada, Jimmy S3 Sierra Three Burkert, Casey S4 Sierra Four Ham, Jack S5 Sierra Five Soucy, Paul S6 Sierra Six Kruse, Logan S7 Sierra Seven Camacho, Daniel S8 Sierra Eight Ham, Chloë S9 Sierra Niner Andrews, Ken


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

All canoe lifeguards will be assigned a paddler to assist you in paddling your boat, and assist you with signaling for assistance in the event you must make a rescue. The lifeguard should sit in the front of the boat to ensure maximum visibility. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue has graciously supplied us with additional support resources for this event, including two Zodiac inflatable boats and ambulance/paramedic units on the shore. The Zodiac craft are able to rapidly respond to any location on the course to handle rescue and victim removal. If you’ve got a serious situation (or you’re in doubt) please call for these resources. Additionally we will have several volunteers on the course with kayaks to help usher swimmers around the course, provide a floating platform for tired swimmers to grab ahold of, and assist the lifeguards with maintaining aquatic safety. They are primarily mobile and will follow crowds of swimmers around the course. Each Canoe will be supplied by the RMST with:

• hip pack – containing CPR mask, gloves, whistle (Lifeguards only) • rescue tube (Lifeguards only) • rope throw bag – for reaching distressed swimmers • 2-way radio • orange signal flag – your PRIMARY call for help • PFD x2 • Paddle x2

Each Pontoon Boat will be supplied by the RMST with:

• rescue tube • first aid kit (CPR mask, towels, emergency blankets, bandages, tape,

gloves) • rope throw bag – for reaching distressed swimmers • 2-way radio • orange signal flag – use to direct zodiac • AIR HORN – use to signal the Zodiac when you see another boat raise an

orange flag or otherwise are having an emergency • PFD for passengers

Although nearly all of you do not need a reminder, I’ve included the following list of things to bring and not to bring with you in the boat:

DO Bring:

• sunglasses (it’s going to be bright out there) • sunscreen (obviously) • water bottle (we will provide you with free water bottles) • snacks (we will also provide you with free snacks)


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• hat (I highly recommend a hat on the water to keep the sun off your eyes) • whistle (we provide whistles in the hip pack, but yours is probably better)

Do NOT bring:

• cell phone (unless you’re okay with it possibly going overboard for good) • keys (unless they’re in a zipper pocket or tied to your suit so you don’t

lose them) – you can leave them with Nick on the shore • anything that you don’t want to get wet

DARREN’S HELPFUL SAFETY TIPS

• STAY HYDRATED! – it’s going to get hot out there • Apply sunscreen – remember that you get twice the rays on the water than

on land. CHAPSTICK is good also to keep your lips from burning • WEAR YOUR SHADES – once the sun comes out if you don’t have

sunglasses on you won’t see a damn thing! • Wear your PFD – if you have to go in (LAST RESORT!) it can be the

difference between life and death for you and the victim • Always remember your order for making a rescue:

1. Reach 2. Throw – rope bag 3. Row – paddle to them and have them hold onto the boat 4. Go – if all else fails, you know what to do

• Don’t worry about taking swimmers out of the water – just get to them and keep their head above the water. Let the Fire Department handle victim removal – they’ve got better tools for it than us

COMMUNICATION This will be our biggest challenge out there on the water, because there’s a lot of distance between us all. During the event, I will be stationary on Pontoon Boat 1 near the center of the lake to direct traffic, and Nick will be on the shore near the starting line and along the path. Additionally, I’ve stationed a second pontoon boat near the far end of the course to serve as a relay point for communication. Some of my more experienced guards have been designated as “guard lieutenants” and can answer some of your questions. They have experience with this event and with open water guarding, and therefore I expect that you please follow their directions. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Unlike lifeguarding at a pool where you generally rely on whistles, the primary method of communication for this event is VISUAL SIGNALING. Each canoe is equipped with a bright orange flag, which will serve as your main method of calling for help. The orange flag is designed to be highly visible to the pontoon boats (of which there are two stationed on the course), which will signal the Fire Department Zodiac


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boats to rapidly respond to emergencies anywhere in the course. This means that signaling an emergency is a TEAM EFFORT and it is the responsibility of the entire guard team to ensure that a call for help gets to a pontoon boat. As the responding Fire Department Zodiac passes by you, WAVE THEM TOWARDS THE BOAT THAT IS HAVING THE EMERGENCY!


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In the event that you have an emergency (a swimmer with a medical emergency or injury or you have to leave your boat to make a rescue), RAISE THE ORANGE FLAG HIGH IN THE AIR AND HOLD IT THERE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES! Your paddler is an excellent resource for this since you will likely be occupied assisting the victim. IF YOU SEE ANOTHER CANOE WITH AN ORANGE FLAG IN THE AIR, ALSO WAVE YOUR FLAG SO THE PONTOON BOAT CAN SEE IT! Be ready to direct the responding zodiac to the canoe that first waved the flag.

Your whistle, while secondary to the flag, is still a very effective signaling device to get the attention of swimmers or other craft, and can help you call for help in an emergency. Standard whistle patterns apply: one short whistle to signal to a swimmer, two short whistles to signal to other lifeguards, and three whistles (or one very long whistle) to call for help (IN ADDITION TO THE FLAG)! Remember when using your whistle to be as LOUD AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE – the sound will not carry as well as it would at a pool. RADIO COMMUNICATION The radio is primarily used for LISTENING TO DIRECTIONS FROM ME AND NICK, but you can also use it to communicate with us or with other lifeguards. Make sure that your radio is set to Channel 3 (should be already set). To turn it on, hold down the power button until it switches on. To talk on the radio, push down the button and HOLD IT to talk. Radio Etiquette:

• Keep radio chatter to a minimum – do not talk on the radio unless it is important

• keep your messages short and concise – think about what you want to say before you say it, and do not hold down the talk button longer than you need to (because it brings all other radio traffic to a halt)

• KNOW WHAT BOAT YOU’RE ASSIGNED TO (NUMBER) – this is your CALL SIGN which other parties will address you by (for example: if I call for “CHARLIE 2” that means I want to speak to the guard or paddler assigned to CANOE 2 on the roster)

• KEEP AN EAR OPEN ON THE RADIO AT ALL TIMES – somebody might be trying to reach you with important information

When to talk on the radio:

• Tell me that you need to go on a bathroom break both BEFORE you go and WHEN YOURE BACK IN POSITION

• Tell me that you’re taking a tired swimmer to the shore – TELL ME WHICH SHORE YOU’VE TAKEN THEM TO (see map zones)

• Requests for additional water bottles/snacks, etc. (we’ll bring them to you when we get the chance, but make sure to stock up before you launch!)

• Tell me about an emergency or rescue that’s going on AFTER YOU HAVE RAISED YOUR ORANGE FLAG – Let your paddler handle the radio for this if you need to attend to the victim


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• if you see hazardous conditions in the water that you cannot handle (like if you see lightning or a giant maelstrom/whirlpool or something)

• if you have a question for me or Nick

HOW TO TALK ON THE RADIO 1. IF EMERGENCY – RAISE ORANGE FLAG!!! 2. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY AND TO WHOM – is it

important enough to say over the radio? 3. Push and HOLD DOWN the PTT button on the right side of the radio (hold down

as long as you’re talking) 4. Wait one second before talking to allow the radio to start transmitting 5. [Who you’re calling] FROM [Who you are] – RELEASE BUTTON 6. Wait for [Who you’re calling] to acknowledge you (ex. “Go ahead”) 7. Push button (step 3) [Your message here] – RELEASE BUTTON

Example conversation: The paddler in Canoe 2 is calling me on Platform 1 to tell me that a swimmer has exited the water on the shore near them – telling me about it on the map. Lifeguard: “Platform 1 from Charlie Two” Darren: “Go Ahead” Lifeguard: “A swimmer has exited the lake onto the path, he says he’s okay but is done swimming” Darren: “Roger that. We’ll send someone to meet him on the path” AIR HORNS Air horns are used during the race by the pontoon boats and by Nick (on the shore) to signal the Fire Department Zodiacs (when you raise the orange flag and the pontoon boat sees it, they’ll blast the air horn to get the Zodiac’s attention so they know to follow the trail of orange flags to the victim. If you hear a short air horn blast, keep doing what you’re doing- it just means that help is on its way to someone with a flag. IF YOU HEAR A PROLONGED AIRHORN BLAST (you’ll know it when you hear it) this is the EVACUATION SIGNAL – meaning everybody needs to get out of the water at the closest possible point. This is what will happen if we have to get everyone out due to thunderstorms. IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER IF WE SOUND THE EVACUATION HORNS:

1. REMAIN CALM! 2. Tell all swimmers in your area to get out of the water at the nearest possible shore 3. Make sure that everyone in your zone gets out of the water in the same area 4. Stay with this group of swimmers as you and your paddler exit the water. 5. Instruct your swimmers to stay together in the group on land


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6. Get a head count of all the swimmers in your group 7. DO NOT TALK ON THE RADIO UNLESS SPOKEN TO UNLESS YOU

HAVE AN EMERGENCY!!! 8. LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO for instructions from me and Nick – BE

PREPARED TO REPORT YOUR HEADCOUNT OF SWIMMERS to me and Nick AS WE CALL ON YOU – we have to do this to ensure that everyone who went into the water got out okay.

9. SEEK SHELTER FROM THE STORM AND STANDBY FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM ME AND NICK!!! Use your best judgment.

WRAP-UP RACE END

Guards will be notified as the end of each race approaches. As cutoff approaches, one canoe will follow the last group of swimmers and hand them off to the canoe at the next position, and so on until cutoff is called.

At race cutoff, any swimmers halfway down the last leg heading toward the drain (Past Shore D on the map) will be allowed to finish. All other swimmers will be collected by zodiac and returned to the starting ramp, and report in as non-finishers. CUTOFF TIMES FOR EACH RACE

5 k. – 2 hr. 15 min. after start of last wave and blocked after 90 min. if starting final leg

2 mi. – 90 min. after start of last wave 1 mi. – 50 min. after start of last wave

Toward the end of the 5 k., one of the boats will move to the starting line area to

block any swimmers starting the final third leg of the race and instruct them to return to the starting ramp, reporting in as non-finishers. END OF THE DAY At the conclusion of the race, we will do a final sweep of the lake to ensure that there are no stragglers left behind. When the final wave of swimmers is released (this will be announced on the radio), boats can follow behind the last swimmers to ensure they stay safe. After all the swimmers are out of the water, the lifeguards are responsible for moving the canoes from the water to the top of the hill, and for returning all equipment and radios to their proper locations. You can all pick up your paychecks from me and Nick once the cleanup tasks are completed AND you have checked out with me. NOBODY WILL BE PAID UNTIL ALL WORK IS DONE! The sooner we get everything locked down, the sooner we get out of here.


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Everybody stay safe out there, and I’ll see you this weekend!


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Fire and Rescue Response Guide Preface

Thank you for your service in standing by at the 27th Annual Jim McDonnell Lake

Swim in Reston, VA. Many of you probably provided standby service at this event in previous years, and the basic layout of this event remains unchanged, however the deployment strategy for the lifeguards providing in-water surveillance and rescue has been updated this year to optimize communication between lifeguard staff and on-scene FRD personnel. The purpose of this guide is to explain the communication methods used by the lifeguard staff specific to this event, and to assist on-scene Fire and Rescue personnel in locating patients on the course.

This guide also includes a navigational aid to assist Fire and Rescue units in

rapidly responding to emergencies at any location on the course. The following page is a map of the swim course on Lake Audubon in satellite view, with all shores in the course labeled alphabetically in a clockwise fashion about the starting point (think of the boat ramp as “Side A” of a building). The majority of potential medical emergencies have historically been accessible from the staging location via the footpath, however in the event that a patient is located on an opposite shore of the lake, on-scene transport units may prefer to respond directly to the patient’s onshore location rather than transport the patient by boat to the starting location. The lifeguards assigned to this event will primarily work from Stand-up Paddle boards (SUPs), which provide superior visibility on-water as well as faster and safer in-water rescues and extraction of potential victims. The lifeguards are trained to make in-water rescues of both active and passive drowning victims, as well as provide basic first aid and CPR if needed. Each SUP guard will be paired with a canoe staffed with two paddlers (“signal boat”), who shall remain in constant visual contact with lifeguards to provide additional assistance as well as signal for additional resources (see below).

During previous years, lifeguards worked from canoes, each crewed by one lifeguard and one paddler, and strategically positioned throughout the course. Our goal this year is to shift all lifeguards to SUPs, but there may be canoe guards on the course.

In the event that a guard has to render aid to a sick or injured swimmer, each

signal boat (or guard canoe) is equipped with a bright orange flag, which the crew raised and hold high in the air. All other boats in the area will relay this orange flag signal by raising their own flags, so that they are visible to pontoon boats. The pontoon boats will then sound an AIR HORN to alert in-water Fire Department boat crews to the emergency, which will then follow the trail of orange flags to the victim. Each canoe is also equipped with a civilian 2-way radio (secondary signal), which may be used to transmit location and condition information.


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COURSE LAYOUT AND OVERVIEW


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The above map shows the locations of general shore evacuation zones, but please note that boat placements are not accurately reflected in this map (this map is several years old). For this year’s boat placements, please see the preceding two maps. In the event of an emergency, lifeguards will signal for FRD assistance as outlined above, and may attempt to remove the victim from the water at the closest location, depending on victim condition. If in-water crews are unable to transport the victim to the start location (default point-of-access for transport unit based on staging location), the on-scene FRD transport units may elect to respond by road to the patient’s location or call in additional resources from PSTOC (unit OIC’s discretion).


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The following describes each SHORE ZONE in detail, including points of egress from the water and map locations. Zone A – starting zone Points of egress: Main ramp (entry/exit point of race) multiple residential docks serviced by paved footpath which follows perimeter of lake Zone B – behind the drain Points of egress: rocks, bottom of hill. Difficult extraction point

Zone C Points of egress one grassy landing at bottom of hill – approximately 175 feet to residential street small Residential docks vehicle access: Thrush Ridge Rd. off of Glade Dr. Zone D Points of egress small Residential docks vehicle access: Thrush Ridge Rd. off of Glade Dr. Zone E Points of egress


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small Residential docks vehicle access: Thrush Ridge Rd. off of Glade Dr. Zone F Points of egress small Residential docks vehicle access: Thrush Ridge Rd. off of Glade Dr.

Zone G Points of egress small Residential docks – approx.. 300 feet from cul de sac vehicle access: Spinmaker Ct. (pipestem) off of Timberhead Lane off of Glade Dr. Zone H Points of egress small Residential docks – approx.. 300 feet from cul de sac vehicle access: Burgee Ct. (pipestem) off of Timberhead Lane off of Glade Dr.


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Zone I Points of egress small Residential docks – approx.. 130 feet from road vehicle access: Cabot’s Point Ln. (2120 Blk) off of South Lakes Dr. Zone J Points of egress small Residential docks – approx.. 130 feet from road vehicle access: residential driveways off of Owls Cove Ln. off of Ridge Heights Rd. Zone K Points of egress large residential dock – approx.. 130 feet from road vehicle access: residential driveways off of Owls Cove Ln. off of Ridge Heights Rd. Zone L Points of egress large Residential dock with paved footpath – approx.. 140 feet from road vehicle access: Lake Chapel Ln. off of Owls Cove Ln. off of Ridge Heights Rd. Zone M Points of egress


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large Residential dock with paved footpath– approx.. 140 feet from road vehicle access: Lake Chapel Ln. off of Owls Cove Ln. off of Ridge Heights Rd. Zone N Points of egress large Residential dock with paved footpath– approx.. 140 feet from road vehicle access: Boathouse Ct. off Ridge Heights Rd.

combined lake swim 2015 safety plan

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