THE LIFEGUARD STORE STAFF WRITER At pools, beaches, waterparks and lakes, lifeguards take vigilant watch over swimmers and patrons and are ready spring into action to provide lifesaving care at a moment’s notice. In 2017 alone, lifeguards in the United States Lifesaving Association performed 75,951 rescues at beaches around the country and administered medical attention and first aid in 546,707 instances. To perform challenging water rescues and deliver effective medical care, lifeguards rely on the right water rescue and safety equipment. In this piece, we will cover all of the essential safety and rescue equipment lifeguards need for success in any situation. Types of Safety Equipment Lifeguards Need Lifeguards use various safety equipment to perform rescues, provide medical care and assist patrons. The rescue and safety equipment that lifeguards need also varies based on the water environment and the conditions of the rescue. Safety equipment for pool lifeguards can be very different than water rescue safety equipment for surf environments and rough waters. To ensure lifeguards have everything they need to provide the best care, swimming facilities should be equipped with a wide variety of lifeguard safety equipment to address any situation. Here are some of the most important pieces of lifeguard rescue equipment and essential medical supplies that lifeguards need to keep swimmers and patrons
safe in every type of water environment: 1. Rescue Tubes This iconic piece of lifeguard safety equipment is essential for basic water rescues in pools, waterparks, lakes, ponds and other non-surf environments. Rescue tubes measure about 40 to 50 inches in length with tapered ends and a heavy-duty towline that allows lifeguards to pull them easily through the water. Made of dense foam with a durable vinyl exterior, rescue tubes are waterproof and designed to resist tears and punctures. Each lifeguard should have their own rescue tube that can be placed across their lap while sitting or held across their stomach while standing with the towline strap around their shoulders. When swimming to a victim, a rescue tube can be held under the lifeguard’s arms or torso to perform a modified breaststroke or front crawl. For longer distance rescues, the lifeguard can swim with the tube trailing behind them to reach the distressed person more quickly. The buoyant rescue tube can then be used as a flotation device to help the victim to shore. With the victim resting on the rescue tube or with the tube wrapped around the victim’s body, the lifeguard can pull the person out of the water safely. Rescue tubes can also be used as a reach assist if a distressed person is close to the edge of a pool. 2. Rescue Cans Perfect for beaches, bays and other surf environments, rescue cans are designed for rough starting block magazine | p. 23
