Lifeguard, Pool and Supervision Flashcards
Lifeguards should maintain a…
Positive attitude
Lifeguards should be…
Professional
Lifeguards should maintain…
Observation
Lifeguards should provide…
Good supervision
Lifeguards should…
Intervene early
Lifeguards should prevent…
Accidents
Lifeguards should be ready to…
Rescue
What does COSHH stand for?
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health
What does COSHH do?
Requires employers to control risks from substances that are hazardous to health. e.g. providing protective equipment
What does a red sign mean?
Prohibition- a sign which prohibits behaviour likely to increase danger, e.g. no running
What does a yellow sign mean?
Warning- a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger, e.g. danger electricity
What does a blue sign mean?
Mandatory- a sign prescribing specific behaviour, e.g. eye protection must be worn
What does a green sign mean?
Emergency escape or first-aid sign- a sign giving information on emergency exits, first aid or rescue facilities, e.g. emergency exit
Why is team work essential?
A well trained team is more effective than an individual lifeguard
Why are shorts and a t-shirt a suitable uniform?
They are practical and don’t hinder a rescue situation
Why are red and yellow suitable colours?
They are internationally recognised
Unprofessional lifeguard behaviour includes:
Lack of respect, talking, being distracted, eating, tired or hungover
When dealing with complaints a lifeguard should…
Listen carefully and ask questions
When dealing with complaints a lifeguard should not…
Apportion blame
What does PSOP stand for?
Pool Safety Operating Procedures
What two documents does the PSOP contain?
NOP and the EAP
What does the NOP stand for?
Normal Operating Plan
What does the EAP stand for?
Emergency Action Plan
What details of the pool may the NOP contain?
Dimensions, depths, features, equipment, pool alarms, fire alarms and emergency exits
What other things may the NOP contain?
Potential risks, How to deal with the public, Lifeguards’ duties and responsibilities and First Aid supply and training
What may the EAP cover?
Overcrowding, Disorderly behaviour, Lack of water clarity, Fire, Bomb threat, Toxic gases, Lighting or Structural failure, Injury or Discovery of a casualty
What is safeguarding?
Taking measures to protect children and vulnerable adults and to ensure their well being from potential harm
What is equality?
All individuals and groups are treated equally and fairly, not treated less favourably due to their race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age
What is diversity?
It aims to recognise, respect and value other people’s differences
What does PTSD stand for?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is PTSD?
A psychological or physical condition caused by a frightening or distressing event which is often relived through nightmares or flashbacks
What are examples of different types of pools?
Leisure pool, Diving pool, Competition pool, Olympic pool, Health pool, Outdoor pool
Features of a leisure pool:
Wave pool, play equipment, lazy river, flumes/slides, beach areas
Features of a diving pool:
Platforms, spring boards, moveable floors
Features of a traditional pool:
Varied length and width, often 33.3/25 metres, capacity for around 6-8 lanes
Features of a Olympic pool:
50 metres in length, booms
Features of a Health pool:
Small and shallow generally, sauna, steam room, spa bath
Features of a Outdoor pool:
Large, deep water, could be up to 100 metres long and 25 metres wide
What is a hazard?
Something with the potential to cause harm
What is a risk?
How likely it is that the harm will be caused
What should a risk assessment cover?
Premises and utilities, Task and activities and People
What comes under Premises and Utilities?
The pool’s design, structure and features, power and water
What comes under Task and Activities?
Cleaning, setting up inflatables
What comes under People?
Pool users, their age, numbers, way they behave
What steps should a pool operator follow when taking a risk assessment?
IDERR
What does the I in IDERR stand for?
Identify the hazards
What does the D in IDERR stand for?
Decide who might be harmed and how
What does the E in IDERR stand for?
Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
What does the first R in IDERR stand for?
Record your findings and implement them
What does the last R in IDERR stand for?
Review your assessment and update if necessary
What about water depth could be a hazard?
Deep or shallow areas, pool slopes
How can we prevent hazards from water depth?
Ensure weak swimmers remain in standing depth, signage, mark steep slopes, allow diving only when water is deep enough
What about troughs, gutters and handrails could be a hazard?
Misuse and entrapment
How can we prevent hazards from handrails?
Educate and intervene
What about floor surfaces could be a hazard?
Wet floor surfaces which represent a slip hazard
How can we prevent hazards from floor surfaces?
Educate and intervene to prevent swimmers running, signage and regular cleaning the floor surfaces
What about glare and reflection could be a hazard?
Glare impacting on a lifeguard’s ability to see swimmers and through the water
How can we prevent hazards from glare?
Standing/sitting in an appropriate position, reporting if view is impacted by glare
What about drains could be a hazard?
Entrapment, e.g. hair
How can we prevent hazards from drains?
Lifeguards supervising and educating swimmers who play with pool grilles and grates, covers which reduce risk of injury/entrapment
What about lane ropes could be a hazard?
Weak swimmers may use them to hang onto, users sometimes sit on them or pull them underwater, swimmer collisions, setting up lane ropes
How can we prevent hazards from lane ropes?
Educate and intervene to prevent swimmers using the lane ropes to pull themselves up, educate swimmers to maintain a safe direction rotation, prevent swimmers from sitting on ropes
What about starting blocks could be a hazard?
Can fail or move when used if not fitted properly, risk of injury is someone untrained uses one
How can we prevent hazards from starting blocks?
Educate and intervene of correct use, signage
What about pool steps could be a hazard?
Damaged steps, entrapment in or around steps
How can we prevent hazards from pool steps?
Educate and intervene, watch those who rely on pool steps to enter the pool (e.g. the elderly, disabled people)
What about a disabled hoist could be a hazard?
Struggling swimmers using the steps as not aware of a hoist, incorrect use, poor maintenance of equipment
How can we prevent hazards from a disabled hoist?
Offer or set up hoist if requested, inspect and check regularly
What about moveable floors could be a hazard?
Unfamiliar and variable water depths, diving or jumping into shallow water
How can we prevent hazards from moveable floors?
Make sure swimmers are out of water when floor depths are changed, signage, emergency stop button
What about booms could be a hazard?
Entrapment, blind spots, injury caused by unstable platform
How can we prevent hazards from booms?
Make sure swimmers are out of water when a boom is being moved, raised or lowered, restrict access to control panel, emergency override button
What about waves could be a hazard?
Disorientation, force knocking swimmers off balance, reduced visibility, changes in depth
How can we prevent hazards from waves?
Ensure weak swimmers remain within their ability, be aware and intervene, understand how changes in depth affect swimmers, awareness of pool capacity, audible warning, signage
What about flumes and slides could be a hazard?
Disorientated swimmers, swimmer collision, overcrowding, steps, queuing, damaged slide
How can we prevent hazards from slides/flumes?
Safe queuing, safe riding the flume, avoid collisions by beginning ride when safe, height/age limits, traffic lights/sensors, signage
What is the 10:20 scanning system?
10 seconds to scan your zone, 20 seconds to reach an incident
What can affect visibility?
Glare, reflection, blind spots, water clarity, turbulence
Types of communication
Whistle, verbal, hand signals, alarms, communication equipment
