Do Lifeguards Save Lives?

Tomas Lopez, a lifeguard stationed at Hallandale Beach, Florida was fired after he saved a drowning man. Though it seems drastic, Lopez was fired because he broke a company rule and left his section of the beach to save a man struggling in the water south of his post. By the time Lopez could reach the man, witnesses had already pulled him out of the water. Lopez treated the victim with the help of an off-duty nurse until paramedics arrived. The victim survived and was hospitalized, and shortly after the lifeguard was fired. Two other lifeguards stationed at the same beach quit in protest.

Although the position of a lifeguard is a rewarding one, it is equally challenging. One little mistake could cost someone their lives-- and lifeguards, their jobs. The above case in point is an excellent example of how lifeguards are caught in a moral dilemmawhile they are on the job. The lifeguard left his post to attempt a rescue while also potentially putting swimmers in his section in danger. Acting quickly is essential in situations like this, and lifeguards have to promptly assess risks before responding to an emergency, and in this case save someone from drowning.

Drowning is the third leading cause of death worldwide and accounts for seven percent of all injury related deaths. About 1.2 million people drown every year throughout the world. Statistics also reveal thatwith drowning victims, the majority of drowning occurs with small children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 300 children under the age of 5 years drown in swimming pools each year in the U.S. The commission also reveals in its report for 2012 that 90 children below 15 years of age have drowned in swimming pools since Memorial Day.

The primary reason behind drowning among children is the lack of supervision. Parents often leave their children unsupervised and one little slip in precautionary measures leads to kids struggling with water. Other events such as slipping and falling near the pool, diving board injuries, getting caught or injured in unsafe pool parts (e.g. drains) etc puts kids’ lives at risk.

Other factors that influence drowning risk among all swimmers are lack of swimming ability, location (personal swimming pools, lakes, rivers oceans etc), failure to wear life saving jackets, lack of barriers to prevent access to deep ends of water bodies, alcohol consumption, and seizure disorders. This is where lifeguards step in. Lifeguards assume a huge responsibility of keeping swimmers safe. According to the International Lifesaving Federation reports, certified lifesavers and lifeguards rescue over 1,000,000 lives each year.

What It Takes To Be A Lifeguard

It’s not an easy job when a thousand lives depend on you every day. Lifeguards are trained for advanced first aid, CPR and the use of AED (automated external defibrillator), open water life saving techniques; and aquatic and rescue procedures. Excellent swimming skills and physical endurance are some of the obvious skills one requires as a lifeguard. For those who make lifeguarding their careers and become professional rescuers, the above qualities along with certification from Red Cross, YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), or the ILS (International Life Saving Federation) etc are required.

Can Lifeguards Make a Difference?

Institutions such as the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC)answer to queries regarding the usefulness of lifeguards and whether their station prevents drowning and other mishaps. The report published by CDC on lifeguard effectiveness agrees that trained, professional lifeguards have contributed to drowning prevention in the US. The efficacy of lifeguards can be drawn from instances in history where lifeguards have proved to be life saviors. In the 1800s, swimming, which was then called “bathing,” became a widely popular recreational activity in the US. Increased swimming also increased incidences of drowning.

The 1900s witnessed nearly 9000 people drowning each year in the US. Initially lifelines were installed for people to hold on to but struggling swimmers could not always hold the lifeline.Later, police officers were assigned by some municipalities to perform rescue operations but this resulted in resources diverting from law enforcement activities. Consequently, municipalities began hiring trained help for water rescue and called them lifeguards.

Even today, lifeguards are undeniably an important resource to have around beaches, pools, lakes and other water bodies. Lifeguard services offer public safety and emphasize preventative measures than simply rescue practices. Activities such as patrolling the area, keeping a watchful eye, and supervising swimmers has significantly reduced not only drowning incidences but aquatic injuries also.