American Red Cross LG Certification Course

As a LG, you will: Take responsibility to protect lives. Maintain a high level of skills and knowledge. Have legal responsibility to act in an emergency. Develop skills to interact with the public. Be a leader and a team member. Demonstrate maturity, professionalism and competence. Video: The professional LG (3:37)

What characteristics of a professional LG were discussed or illustrated? Knowledgeable Able to perform skills Reliable Mature Courteous and Consistent Positive Professional Healthy and Fit

What behaviors demonstrate a lack of professionalism? Leaving the LG station Using phones/electronics Slouching Talking while on duty Eating while performing surveillance

YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILTY AS A LIFEGUARD IS TO HELP ENSURE SAFETY AND PROTECT LIVES!

What tasks should be considered your primary responsibilities? Monitoring patrons In, Near, and Under the water Preventing injuries my minimizing and eliminating hazardous and dangerous situations Enforcing rules and educating patrons of those rules Recognizing and responding quickly to emergencies Administering First Aid, CPR and using the AED in an emergency. Working as a team with other lifeguards and staff.

What are some examples of secondary tasks? Testing the pool chemistry Assisting patrons (safety orientations, swim tests, fitting life jackets, etc.) Cleaning and maintenance Completing records and reports Performing opening and closing duties

Where can you get a job??? Pools - Munster, Palos, CPD, YMCAs Multi-Attraction Aquatic Facilities (Splash Pads) Waterfronts Waterparks (Deep River)

Shallow Water, Waterfronts and Water Parks Need additional training. Most of these facilities will train you on the job.

Decision Making In an emergency, such as a situation requiring a water rescue or CPR, your facility should have established Emergency Action Plans (EAP). In non-emergencies, such as working with your manager or deciding how to address certain inappropriate behaviors, you can take more time. FIND Model Figure out the Problem, Identify Sol’n, Name Pros/Cons, Decide

Legal Considerations You need to understand the legal principals of being a LG. DUTY TO ACT: On the job, it is your responsibility to act in an emergency. STANDARD OF CARE: You must meet your minimum standard of care established by your training. Do not exceed your training levels.

Legal Considerations Con’t. NEGLIGENCE: If a LG fails to follow the standard of care or fails to act, and the failure results in someone being injured, the LG is considered negligent. Providing care beyond your scope. Failing to stop dangerous behavior prior to an accident occurring.

Legal Considerations Con’t. Good Samaritin Laws: Laws that protect people who try to help without accepting anything in return. Very from state to state, but generally protect people who work within their scope and are not negligent. Some don’t protect LGs bc you have the Duty to Act.

Legal Considerations Con’t. CONSENT: You must get permission before you begin to provide first aid or emergency care. To obtain consent – State your name, tell the victim you are trained and the level of training, ASK IF YOU CAN HELP, explain you would like to perform an assessment, talk thru what you plan to do. Someone who is unconscious, confused or seriously ill or injured may not be able to grant consent. In these cases, the law assumes if the person is in the right state of mind they would grant consent. If a minor needs assistance and a parent is not present. Implied Consent.

Legal Considerations Con’t. REFUSAL OF CARE: People can refuse care or refuse care for their children. Wishes must be honored. They can request higher training such as emergency medical services (EMS). Make it clear they are not being denied care and the victim is not being abandoned. Get another LG or staff member to witness the refusal and document the refusal.

Legal Considerations Con’t. Abandonment: Once you start care it must be continued until EMS or someone with higher training arrives. You will be held responsible if you leave the scene or stop providing care.

Legal Considerations Con’t. Confidentiality: While rescuing or caring for a victim, a LG might learn something about that victim (medical conditions, medications, physical problems, etc.) The victims right to privacy is protected. Do not share this info unless it is directly to EMS and is associated with the victim’s care.

Legal Considerations Con’t. Documentation: If a victim takes legal action, a record of what was seen, heard and done at the scene is the document that can legally protect you. Complete forms ASAP. Facts only, no opinions. Sign, date and keep a copy of it. Have a second person sign, too.

Legal Scenarios: What’s the legal issue? Explain What should you do?

Scenario: You see a kid running on the deck. ________________ What if you do nothing? ______________________ He does it again a half hour later but falls. His knee is bleeding and he says it hurts real badly. His mother arrives on the scene. ____________ What info do you give? ___________________ The child is scared so the mom takes the child in her arms and refuses the LG’s care. ___________________ What do you do? ___________________________ The mother decides to let you care after all. What if you start caring for him and leave to care for something else? ___________________________

Group work FIND Model A mom inflates floaties for her kid. You tell her they aren't allowed. She throws a fit and says other LGs always let her wear them. You’re guarding a family swim and a dad is throwing his kids over his head out of the water. The LG you follow in rotation is terrible and when you relieve her she doesn’t provide surveillance as you get in your chair. She also didn’t follow the rules so on your duty, rules are broken all over the place. You are guarding a learn to swim class and the new instructor is teaching kids to dive where the water is shallow.

Groupwork Laws A man is in cardiac arrest in the locker room and you are called to help. The man’s friend said he wasn’t feeling well, had arm pain and then collapsed. You send the friend to call 911, start providing care then stop to go see where the friend went. 1. Legal Principal and Explanation 2. What should you have done differently.

Group Work A female patron slips and falls on the deck. She hits her head and is bleeding. She refuses care, gets dressed and goes home. 3. What should you do? After refusal, another patron comes out telling you she is now unconscious in the locker room. 4. Should you help? Why? Why not?