Managing Risk Through Staff: Creating
A Culture of Safety By Changing
Lifeguard Behavior
Don’t let new, bored or unsure staff jeopardize
safety at your pool. Challenge you lifeguards
through high expectations following proactive
recruitment, training and orientation.
Rick Greenwood
Metro Risk Management and Aquatic Director
Greater Wichita YMCA
Introduction
Safety is our # 1 goal always
Allowing our patrons to enjoy, exercise and learn in
the aquatic environment is our intention
The risk that this environment presents is inherent
but can be managed
Difficulty of the Job
As managers and experienced
aquatic professionals, we all
know what to look for when
scanning our zone of
responsibility
Difficulty of the Job
We know:
•It is not like seen of TV
•Victim is not splashing , waving or calling for help
•Victims are hard to see
•Drowning s are quick and silent
Difficulty of the Job
New Guards Need To Understand:
•How important vigilance is to their performance
•How to scan effectively
•What to look for . . . . See what they need to see
•What are their priorities
Our Job as Manager
•Recruit the best applicants for the lifeguard position
•Train these candidates thoroughly and responsibly
•Check the basic skills of any applicant that comes our way
•Orientate every new guard to our facility with specific on site
procedures and practices
Our Job as Managers
•Establish clear and definite performance guidelines for guards
•Conduct ongoing training with periodic staff meetings and inservices
•Communicate consistent assessment of guards behavior and
performance
•Ensure guards know specifics concerning any Special Events,
Features and Groups
•Develop these guards by continually coaching them towards peak
performance
Lifeguard Recruitment
• Attract and recruit the best lifeguard candidates
•Candidates that are: Reliable, Mature, Courteous,
Alert, Well Groomed, Positive and Professional
•Guards of good character with leadership skills
Lifeguard Recruitment
•We are looking for guards who are ready to
respond and assist when needed
•Going out and looking for these candidates is an
effective, proactive endeavor
•Current staff recommendations and recruitment
of quality candidates is a positive option
Lifeguard Training
Training . . . . .
the next step in developing excellent guards
Lifeguard Training
•Lifeguard training course should be challenging and engaging
•Course work and instructor should be demanding of the student
•Candidates should be interested and inquisitive about the material
•Set stage for a knowledgeable, dynamic and engaged guard
•The guard will understand their role and responsibilities
Pre-employment
Skills Check
At the beginning of the hiring process, candidate
skills should be assessed
Let candidates know that these skills are important
and will be assessed throughout their employment
Pre-employment
Skills Check
Skills to be assessed are:
•200/500 yard swim
•Passive and active surface rescues
•Submerged victim rescue
•Water entries and victim removal
•Backboarding
Employment Orientation
Employee orientation always involves HR issues such as:
•Emergency procedures and contact numbers
•Workman's compensation procedures
•Equipment and supplies
•Facility organization and floor plan
•Employee harassment policy
•Payroll and compensation
•Dress code
Employee Orientation
Orientation is an important step in the staff training
process
This should include:
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Policy and enforcement
Customer service
Schedule familiarization
Special groups and events guidelines
Professionalism and conduct
Employee Orientation
Staff have a lot of information thrown at them all
at one time!
Don’t let Expectations take a back seat to
Processes and Procedures
Have a form to document the pre-skills and any
immediate coaching for each candidate
Lifeguarding Guidelines
Who sets your staff expectations?
• American Red Cross
• YMCA
• Ellis and Assoc.
…….or another entity such as:
• Insurance company
• City offices
• Your own personal expertise –
Expectations need to be clearly set, communicated
and accounted for
Lifeguarding Guidelines
Procedure: Guard will be identifiable with staff
shirt, whistle, and rescue tube in hand.
Practice: Usually has staff shirt on, but is really hot
or shirt got wet today.
Practice: Guards have been holding tube vertically
between their knees because….
Lifeguarding Guidelines
Procedure: Guard will scan their entire zone of
responsibility every 10 seconds.
Practice: Guard is looking out from their stand
across the water but not moving
their head.
Lifeguarding Guidelines
• Procedure: Guard will change position every 5
minutes – sitting to standing to
roaming
• Practice: Guard finds a comfortable position
sitting or leaning for duration of shift
On Going Staff Training
In-service training:
– Essential for guards skills, retention, and documentation there of
– Regularly scheduled and attendance required
– Opportunity for coaching staff skills
– Practice team work and team building
– Opportunity for staff recognition and improving staff morale
– Tool for staff buy in of program and facility procedures
Performance Assessment
Between regular in-services, lifeguard
assessments should be conducted
– On-going and frequent
– Post results
– Follow-up coaching
Performance Assessment
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Common assessment tools:
Red cap drill
Red ball drill
Lifeguard quick check
Silhouette drill
Manikin drop drill
Live audits etc…..
Performance Assessment
What are you looking for as a supervisor?
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General Scanning of Population
Identification of Individual or Situation
Scanning a Specific Location
Response of EAP, Rescue or CPR skills
Communication or Teamwork
Performance Assessment
On what do your guards need the most work?
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Scanning
Communication
Response
Rescue Skills
CPR Skills
Teamwork
Performance Assessment
What is going to minimize the most risk for your facility?
• Consider a combination of drills
– Do not confuse priorities
– Every drill has a specific purpose
– Support your overall goals
• Set clear expectations of successful drill performance
Performance Assessment
All drills and assessments have beneficial applications
• Lifeguard Quick Check – Readiness and Professionalism
• Manikin Drop Drill – Recognition, Response, Rescue & CPR skills
• Silhouette Drill – Scanning and Response
• Live Audits – Recognition, Response, Rescue, Teamwork &
Communication
Guarding Special Features
As important as the orientation and on site training
is for each of your facilities
Every feature has unique and specialized
requirements for supervision, response, rescue
and communication
Guarding Special Features
Give as much attention to these differences as
you do on your facility as a whole
Guarding Special Features
Practice and check off these skills with your staff
as you would do the skills that you include in
your in services for your whole pool
In Review
Safety is our # 1 goal always
Allowing our patrons to enjoy, exercise and learn in
the aquatic environment is our intention
The risk that this environment presents is inherent
but can be managed
In Review
Our guards can benefit from a challenging,
motivating, and character building experience
with our help
Our guards can be and integral part of our
managing the risk if we give them the tools,
support and the expectations to do so.
THANK YOU!