5
National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate t he g reat w ork t hat NLS L ifeguards d o a t y our f acility! www.lifesaving.org

Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

National Lifeguard Appreciation Day

Celebrate the great work that

NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

www.lifesaving.org

Page 2: Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

Celebrate your NLS Lifeguards

Your staff are highly trained in preventive measures and emergency response. National

Lifeguard Appreciation Day is an opportunity to show your community what you know and can

do.

Much of what a NLS lifeguard does goes un-noticed by the public. You can share your pride in

your exemplary staff by creating your own “communication plan”. There are some simple

strategies that you can follow to bring attention to fabulous pool staff.

Try a National Lifeguard Appreciation Day where you can profile the excellent work that you

do. An Appreciation Day is a great way to recruit future lifeguard and instructor staff, giving

people an opportunity to see themselves in those roles.

The following two pages provide ideas for displays, mini events and posters that can be done at

your Appreciation Day or even use each idea out through out the year.

Page 3: Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

1. Create a display:

Key messages include:

- It takes a lot of skill to be a NLS lifeguard. Show a flow chart of the

courses people need to be certified in. Display a copy of the Canadian

Lifesaving Manual and ALERT Manual.

- Lifeguard supervision plays an important role in preventing drowning in

Alberta. Fewer than 1% of all drownings occur under lifeguard supervision.

- Use pictures of your staff in action: Talking with swimmers on deck, doing CPR, practicing

a rescue carry, working behind the scenes, doing a backwash, etc

- Add quotes from the ALERT manual

2. Capture patrons “doing the right thing”:

Each time an adult or child is seen doing something right, reward them by a simple thank

you, or put a tattoo on their arm. This will help people notice that much of what a

lifeguard does is about preventing possible problems and educating people.

3. Track what you do:

Provide a “snap shot” of what you do by reporting some statistics. Post a one page form in your

staff office that tracks what was done that day to protect patron safety. Each time staff finish a

shift, they simply mark off what they did that day to ensure safety at the pool. Categories could

include:

- count number of bathers

- “educational” reminders to behave safely

- public relations with patrons

- actions taken to ensure clean, safe

environment

- minor and/or major first aid responses

4. Strut your stuff:

Invite the community and media in for a demonstration of your rescue and first aid skills or

demonstrate how pool staff keep the water quality high. Consider implementing a “lifeguard of

the week” program or writing up a “biography” of your staff so people can get to know them.

These can become “announcements” in the local community newspaper or pool newsletter.

5. Create a “Did You Know” poster:

Create a poster that will inform people of all the jobs that lifeguards do behind the scenes to

maintain a safe environment. Highlight:

- Safety systems created

- Emergency procedures established

- Training required to stay certified

- Maintenance and safety checks scheduled

- Water quality checks completed

6. “Lifeguards in Action” collage:

Take pictures of staff “in action” and put a collage of images together

in a large picture frame that can be hung in the lobby.

7. “Be a Lifeguard” for the day event:

Plan an event at your facility and invite the community into having a “lifeguard” experience.

Try some of the suggested activities on the next page.

Page 4: Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

“Be a lifeguard for a day”

or call it

“Do you have what it takes to be a Lifeguard”

Suggested Activities:

The Swim Patrol Award Guide has “Learning Activities” (pgs 58-92) that can be used as

challenges for a Lifeguard Appreciation Day. Here’s some ideas to get you started.

1. Talk, Throw and Reach:

Purpose: Practice the bottom of the Rescue

Ladder. To have them demonstrate basic

water rescue techniques.

Supplies: Variety of reaching and throwing

assists. Targets: bleach bottled tied to a

weight or distances marked by lane ropes

Method: Have participants talk, throw or

reach the designated target(s).

2. Swim Race:

Purpose: Practice swimming while keeping

an eye on the victim.

Supplies: None or perhaps a chair on the

other side of the pool. Optional -clothing

Method: Have participants race the clock

(or each other) using either head up front

crawl or breaststroke. (Distances can vary

depending on age/ability)

3. Lifeguard Carry:

Purpose: Participants experience what it

takes to hold up a victim.

Supplies: Variety of weights: 5, 10 or 20 lbs

(can use sand inside a 2 litre pop bottle)

Method: Choose a weight appropriate to

age/ability. Have participants tread water

for a certain time. (Safety note: consider

depth of water based on their height or skill

level)

4. Lifeguard Carry:

Purpose: Experience what it takes to keep

someone’s airway above water during a tow.

Supplies: White Styrofoam cups

Method: Have participants swim across the

pool using a lifesaving kick holding a cup

just above the water. At the end of the

distance, measure out how much water is in

the cup.

5. What do you see?

Purpose: Develop observation skills.

Supplies: Place objects in the area to be

scanned (on deck, in water, lobby or in

bleachers)

Method: Have participants scan an area of

the pool for 15 seconds. Then have them

turn and draw a quick picture of what they

saw.

6. Rings and things:

Purpose: Surface dive to pick up objects off

the bottom.

Supplies: Diving rings, poker chips, or

coloured stones.

Method: Have participants retrieve varies

kinds of objects from the

bottom. Depth of water

depends on age/ability.

Page 5: Lifeguard Appreciation Day - Lifesaving Appreciation Day.pdf · National Lifeguard Appreciation Day Celebrate the great work that NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!

Lifesaving Society setting the standard and

training lifeguards in Canada since 1964

Primary Role of the NLS Lifeguard:

The primary role of the NLS lifeguard is the prevention of emergency situations and the timely

and effective resolution of emergencies. The NLS certification prepares lifeguards to fulfill this

role as professional facilitators of safe, enjoyable aquatics.

Lifesaving Society recognized as the standard setter for lifeguarding in Canada

The Lifesaving Society, which certifies all lifeguards across Canada with its National Lifeguard

(NLS) certification, is recognized nationally and internationally as the authority for aquatic

standards and safety in Canada. The NLS Award has become the ultimate standard for

lifeguarding in Canada and is recognized internationally by the Royal Life Saving Society

Commonwealth and International Life Saving Federation.

National Lifeguard training:

The Lifesaving Society’s National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Certification builds on the

fundamental skills, knowledge, and values taught in the prerequisite Society lifesaving

certifications, such as Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. The NLS program develops the basic

lifeguarding skills, principles, and decision-making process to help lifeguards evaluate and adapt

to different aquatic facilities and emergencies.

NLS award standard provides you protection

The NLS award is more than just a lifeguarding course and certification card used for

employment purposes. It develops the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards in

accordance to the Society’s position in areas of aquatic safety and industry standards. Employers

and their NLS certified lifeguards responding under the scope of their training will have the

Society’s full support.

The Society is called on to provide expert witness services to the Courts and other parties in the

areas of aquatic safety and industry standards. The Society’s testimony will reflect the

Lifesaving Society’s standards, publications and research into drowning and injury prevention,

water rescue and aquatic safety systems.

The NLS standard is backed by a full range of safety services provided by the Society that

support the design and operation of safe aquatic facilities that NLS trained lifeguards work in.

The Lifesaving Society has published a series of Safety Standards, when followed contribute

significantly to improved levels of safety in aquatic facilities. With the help of the Society,

facility operators can conduct Aquatic Safety Audits based on these Safety Standards ensuring

that the facility is following safe operating practices.