Class 1

4/30/12

Today I took my first lifeguard class. I'll admit it didn't get off to a great start; during the first class I realized that the I wouldn't be able to attend the next class because of an upcoming band concert. I immediately freaked out because Red Cross has a general rule that to obtain certification you must attend ALL classes, but I had a long chat with the managers and instructors and they decided that I would be allowed to remain in the class as long as I am responsible for the materials I miss. I'm a little nervous about when I'll have time to look over those missed skills, but a couple of my friends from class said they'd go over it with me.

Anyways, on to first impressions of the class. When I first walked in the little tiny classroom at the back of the pool, two things surprised me. First of all, that there were actually quite a few people taking the class, and secondly that most of the people in the room were around my age. I don't know if I was expecting, like, really old people or something or at least more college students but all the 15 year olds caught me off guard. That isn't to say they aren't all totally nice. Quite the opposite actually, I'm already pretty good friends with three of them (having gone in the class knowing one person). I even met one girl that plays oboe just like me! I could tell we were all kind of nervous at first, but as soon as we launched into the actual material we were fine.

We all received our own CD textbook to read along with during the class. Most of the class time is made up of  watching videos and listening to lectures. It got a little boring at times but the instructors worked really hard to change it up and make little jokes in between. I also tried to concentrate really hard the whole time and take excellent notes because I REALLY don't want to have to take this class again.

Pretty much all we learned the first class was simple commonsense knowledge like characteristics and responsibilities of a lifeguard. Chapter One in the textbook is titled "The Professional Lifeguard". We went over decision making in emergency situations and legal considerations you should take before treating a patron of the pool (ask for consent first!)  and how you should participate in In-Service Training at least once every three months and how team-work with your other guards is super important.

Then we watched a video on the proper surveillance techniques for a lifeguard. Also shown in the video were the three different types of entries. An entry is the method the lifeguard uses to enter the pool to reach their victim. The three types of entries are slide-in (used in shallow pools and when you suspect the victim to have a head/neck/or back injury, stride (used to keep your eyes on the victim at all times and when you have to jump off the pool deck, and the compact jump (used when you have to jump off low lifeguard stands in shallow water).

After taking notes and watching the video we suited up to get a feel for actually performing these skills. We learned out to properly put on the lifeguard buoy (strap over your shoulder, buoy held firmly across your chest and squeezed under your armpits with the excess rope in your hand) and tried out all types of the entries. The slide-in was a breeze, and the compact jump was pretty easy, but the stride entry was downright difficult. I tried four times and while I improved each time I didn't perfect it at all. It involves walking off of the pool deck like you're taking a big step (like walking off a cliff) and then right as you hit the water you scissor kick your legs to keep your head from going under. I tried and tried but my head went under every time!

We only had a few minutes left in the class at this point, so we decided to try rescuing an actively drowning victim. We got in partners and the "drownee" faced away from us, flailing their arms. To save the victim we had to use a stride entry to get in the pool and swim over to them, and then link our arms under their armpits and tow them with their heads on our shoulder back to the deck while we swam on our backs. We also learned to talk to them calmly and kindly and to tell them our names and that we were lifeguards.

All in all, I had a really good time at this class and I can't wait to go back!