The American Red Cross has made revisions to its lifeguarding suite of programs. Highlights include the latest emergency cardiovascular care science, officials said, as well as faster, more efficient extrication techniques to remove passive victims from the water.Rescue techniques have been modified. Before, lifeguards were assigned as primary or secondary rescuers during drills, each with a specific set of responsibilities. The Red Cross now uses six different multiple-rescue response scenarios where instructors do not assign roles. “It gives lifeguarding participants the opportunity to feel like they’re in a real-world scenario,” said Nicole Steffens, national aquatic product manager for the American Red Cross. “It helps with their critical thinking, ability to communicate within a team, and to prioritize care when making a rescue.”The qualifications for maintaining certification as a Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor also have changed. Before, this required teaching at least one full lifeguarding course during the certification period, as well as completing an online recertification assessment and needed updates. Instructor Trainers had to teach at least one Lifeguarding Instructor class in addition to completing all course updates. Now Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers also must complete an in-person review course every two years to maintain their certification.Some new classroom drills were added. Lifeguard Station Response Time Testing helps managers evaluate lifeguard stations to ensure guards can respond to a water emergency, remove the victim and begin ventilations within 1½ – 2 minutes within any part of any zone. Ask Drills allow lifeguards and facility managers to evaluate stations and understand zone challenges. Live Recognition Drills are designed to evaluate lifeguard surveillance and ability to recognize a drowning victim within 30 seconds. Updates to the Red Cross lifeguarding program are made every five years, and the revisions are derived from a number of sources, including the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and volunteer Red Cross instructors and instructor trainers. Read more….
The American Red Cross has made revisions to its lifeguarding suite of programs. Highlights include the latest emergency cardiovascular care science, officials said, as well as faster, more efficient extrication techniques to remove passive victims from the water.Rescue techniques have been modified. Before, lifeguards were assigned as primary or secondary rescuers during drills, each with a specific set of responsibilities. The Red Cross now uses six different multiple-rescue response scenarios where instructors do not assign roles. “It gives lifeguarding participants the opportunity to feel like they’re in a real-world scenario,” said Nicole Steffens, national aquatic product manager for the American Red Cross. “It helps with their critical thinking, ability to communicate within a team, and to prioritize care when making a rescue.”The qualifications for maintaining certification as a Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor also have changed. Before, this required teaching at least one full lifeguarding course during the certification period, as well as completing an online recertification assessment and needed updates. Instructor Trainers had to teach at least one Lifeguarding Instructor class in addition to completing all course updates. Now Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers also must complete an in-person review course every two years to maintain their certification.Some new classroom drills were added. Lifeguard Station Response Time Testing helps managers evaluate lifeguard stations to ensure guards can respond to a water emergency, remove the victim and begin ventilations within 1½ – 2 minutes within any part of any zone. Ask Drills allow lifeguards and facility managers to evaluate stations and understand zone challenges. Live Recognition Drills are designed to evaluate lifeguard surveillance and ability to recognize a drowning victim within 30 seconds. Updates to the Red Cross lifeguarding program are made every five years, and the revisions are derived from a number of sources, including the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and volunteer Red Cross instructors and instructor trainers. Read more….
