Industry practices for facility lifeguards require the venue, such as a council camp, confirm and document lifeguard competency specific to that location. Simply checking that a lifeguard has a valid certification is not sufficient to meet current standards of care.  Those expectations are reflected in NCAP standard SQ-406:

C.    Aquatics area staff. The following requirements apply to aquatics area staff:

1. All aquatics lifeguarding staff are tested for competency by the aquatics director before assuming lifeguarding or instructional duties. The aquatics director shall keep written documentation of staff and the areas and activities for which they are qualified. Staff in training may not work unsupervised until approved in written documentation by the aquatic’s director. The required skill competencies for lifeguarding include:
   1. All lifeguards can reach the bottom at the deepest part of the swimming area.
   2. All lifeguards can reach the furthest extent of their assigned zones within 20 seconds.
   3. All lifeguards can currently perform water rescue skills (possession of a lifeguard training certificate is not enough; each aquatics director must check that they can still perform to standards).
   4. All lifeguards can currently perform BLS and first-aid skills (possession of a card is not enough; each aquatics director must check that they can still perform to standards).
   5. All lifeguards must be trained to execute written emergency action plans specific to local camp swimming areas and activities.
   6. All lifeguards respond to bloodborne pathogen incidents according to the OSHA-mandated exposure control plan.

To meet those requirements, lifeguard assessment and preservice training, at a minimum, should include:

• Rescue of an active victim, at or near the surface in deep water. This rescue to include victim recognition, emergency action plan (EAP) activation, entry, approach, rescue, and assisting the victim from the water. Each skill must be performed consecutively, not individually.
• Rescue of a passive victim, at or below the surface in deep water. This rescue to include victim recognition, EAP activation, entry, approach, rescue, victim extraction, and after care, including CPR, following camp procedures. Although not specifically required by SQ-406 C, it is appropriate to record the time from EAP activation to beginning of CPR and repeat the exercise if that time exceeds 90 seconds, as specified in BSA Lifeguard requirements 16 and17. Each lifeguard must be evaluated on both the rescue and the ability to perform CPR. However, the same person need not do both in the same scenario. A team response is preferred. Anyone demonstrating CPR must use proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Scenario based rescues are encouraged, with each lifeguard having to react to the situation rather than everyone doing the same rescue one after the other. If victims are placed at the furthest extent of the largest zones, and submerged at the area’s maximum depth, then SQ-406 standards a. and b. may be assessed at the same time as rescue skills. Otherwise those should be tested individually.
• Spinal injury management, including in-line stabilization in both shallow and deep water and spinal backboard extraction, is also a critical lifeguard exercise. Since a team approach is needed, it should be part of pre-service training for the entire safety team following procedures in a written EAP.
• For camps where swimming is conducted in murky water, the safety team must also receive pre-service training in the camp’s written EAP for a lost bather. Ideally, the safety team should recover a submerged dummy, or item of similar size and weight to that of an actual person, placed in an unknown position.
• The safety team should review the camp’s exposure control plan for blood borne pathogens and practice using both PPE and clean-up materials as specified in that plan.

Lifeguard assessment and preservice training exercises are similar to those conducted as part of a lifeguard training course. The skill sheets in the current American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual, which is the text for BSA Lifeguard, provide the performance standards. The BSA Lifeguard Instructor Manual, supplemented by the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor’s Manual, provides evaluation guidance. Therefore, lifeguard assessments and preservice training should be conducted by a current BSA Aquatics Instructor, BSA Lifeguard Instructor or American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor.

The facility lifeguard skill assessment and preservice training differs from a lifeguard training course in that the exercises are conducted at the facility where the lifeguard serves. The exercises involve the facility safety team, facility rescue equipment and follow that venue’s written EAPs.  Therefore, camp lifeguard assessments and preservice training should be conducted at Camp.

Note that SQ-401 C also requires documentation. The camp aquatics director should have a copy of each lifeguard’s training certificate.  Assessments and preservice training exercises should be recorded on a check-off form noting the skill, each

Did you know that the largest percentage of fatal drownings in the United States in kids 19 and younger occur in open water, such as lakes, oceans, and rivers? To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children ages 15 and under, just behind vehicle accidents.

Some drownings occur because people do not recognize the signs it is happening. No yelling, no waving. Just a silent gasping for air and 20 to 60 seconds later, submersion. And someone has drowned, maybe in plain sight.

Since the inception of Scouting, learning to swim and engaging in aquatics activities have been core to the program. More than 1.5 million aquatics-related merit badges have been earned by Scouts BSA since 2009. The BSA has also been a leader in promoting and providing training in aquatics safety. For at least 80 years, checklists have been in place to make sure those aquatic experiences are positive ones.

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat govern BSA swimming and boating activities. These programs help provide leaders, Scouts and parents with the tools they need to be prepared to participate in aquatics activities. These programs are the BSA way to conduct a safe and fun aquatics program.

Be prepared for your aquatics adventures this summer!

As Scouts we strive to remain active outdoors year round and for many of us that means be out in cool to very cold air and potentially cold water temperatures.  Whether you are hiking along a creek or lake or paddling on the water if accidently fall in cold water your chances for survival are good if you understand how your body responses to cold water and how you can best support yourself until help arrives.

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht of the University of Manitoba has performed extensive research on cold water exposure and has the following recommendations. 

First, let’s consider water temperatures.  Water temperatures for swimming can be  simply classified as “Pleasant” (68F – 77F); “Ok, once used to it” (59F – 68F); “Brisk, nippy” (50F-59F); “Darn cold” (41F – 50F); and “FREEZING” (32F – 41F, remember).  In “Pleasant” conditions it is fun and easy to with swim without any additional cold protection (like a wet suit).  With “Ok” conditions you will feel a bit cool at first but get used to it. When the water is “Brisk” it will feel very cool when you first get in but with experience you can swim for a while before hypothermia is a serious risk.  At “Darn cold” water temperature it is painful to get in and only short swims of a few minutes can be tolerated before significant risks occur.  And, as you might expect, at “Freezing” it is extremely painful to be in the water and the time in the water should be limited to only a minute or two.  Also, remember, in general, water temperatures do not change as quickly as air temperature during the course of the day and once water gets cold, say due to cold nights, the water is unlikely to warm up much in the day.  So, it could be that if you fall into water during cold seasons, it is possible for the water to be cooler than the air temperature during the day.  Another thing to keep in mind is that fresh water freezes at 32F and salt water at a colder temperature.  So, although salt water may not be frozen the water temperature could actually colder than “freezing” (32F).

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht of the University of Manitoba has performed extensive research on cold water exposure in humans and has the following recommendation for what to do if you find yourself in cold water.

The 1 Minute; 10 Minute; 1 Hour Principle.

So, let’s explore more about what happens when you accidently immerse yourself in cold water. First, the good news, you can survive a fairly long time in cold water if you DON’T PANIC, stay calm and follow these steps to help yourself. 

Cold Shock Response. In cold water the immediate response of your body is to uncontrollably gasp for air and hyperventilate (think about the time when your big brother doused you with a bucket of ice water).  So, first, DON’T PANIC and keep your head above the water.  This this is critical because you can easily inhale (aspirate) water into your lungs which is extremely dangerous.  Keep reminding yourself to stay calm, keep your head above water and control your breathing. Adjust your breathing so that it is steady and evenly paced.  Once you have steadied your breathing and you have relaxed as best you can you can then consider what actions to take next.

After 1 minute in very cold water Cold Incapacitation begins to impact your body functions.  This is due to the effect of cold water on your nerves and muscles.   It becomes painful to move your muscles and your ability to control your muscles becomes increasing worse. This hampers your body’s ability to move or hold on to things.  Over the next 10 to 20 minutes under these conditions the symptoms will continue to a point where the use of your limbs is basically useless.  Therefore, you must quickly plan on what to do and then carry out your plan prior to complete loss of useful muscle function.  The primary goal now is to quickly (within 10 minutes or so) get as much of your body out of the water as possible.  If you were in a boat, Don’t Panic, control your breathing and get to the boat and try to get in or crawl on top of an overturned boat.  If you fell into a lake or river from the bank or a bridge, the same applies, Don’t Panic, control your breathing and find something to climb on or find a spot to get out of water within 10 minutes.

 The longer you are in the water the greater risk of developing hypothermia.  If you cannot self-rescue by getting your body out of the water you then must begin to prepare for the possibility of hypothermia. Hypothermia, is the decrease of your body’s core temperature.  Many factors contribute to hypothermia and how fast it can happen.  This includes the water temperature, how much of the body in immersed in the water and your own body’s size and condition.  In cold water (water below 68F), most people will become hypothermic in 1 – 2 hours. So, if you haven’t been able to get yourself out of the water you need to think back to your Scout aquatics training (Swimming merit badge) to the H.E.L.P. position in cold water (Heat, Escape, Lessening, Position).  That can make a big difference in slowing down the onset of hypothermia.  This can only be effectively done if you have your lifejacket on so that’s another great reason to always wear your lifejacket when in a boat!  If you are with one or more buddies the best thing to do is to get into a HUDDLE position where you crowd together to conserve body heat.   This action also slows the onset of hypothermia. 

Once you become hypothermic you will eventually lose consciousness.  At that point you have around another hour or so until you may experience cardiac arrest.  In all cases, when out on a hike or on the water you should always be certain your leaders must know where you are and when you are expected back.  If you are late returning, they should begin to search for you to provide help.

So, remember, if you find yourself accidently immersed in cold water remember the 1 minute, 10 minute and 1 hour principle and: 1) Don’t Panic; 2) Keep you head above the water and try to control your breathing; 3) Make a plan for getting as much of your body as of the water as quickly as possible; 4) If you cannot get out of the water within 10 or so minutes assume the HELP position or if with buddies, then Huddle-UP to delay the onset of hypothermia.  Always wear your lifejacket when in a boat and also always be sure your leaders know your plans when going on a hike or boating so if you are late returning, they can find you and give your help.