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Lifeguarding mass swim starts

[Deleted User][Deleted User]
in Community Forum 🏠

 So you're sitting in a paddleboat, watching 2000 swimmers swim towards you. Arms and splash flying everywhere, and one person in the pack starts to panic and starts going down. How is a lifeguard supposed to take note of that in the midst of so much chaos? 

Is this part of standard lifeguard training, or is there more to it? I've always been curious, because it seems like such an overwhelming task to watch over so many people!

 

 

Comments

  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco
    My friend is a lifeguard at Jones Beach (as well as an EMT) and when he's not competing at Lake Placid he's lifeguarding the event.

    This year he's the lifeguard captain at the NY/NJ IM - there are various gigs, and things you can do on race day as a lifeguard, the thing they're looking for is being current with your lifeguard cert and CPR etc.

    Since most people doing on IM are in the "skilled swimmer" category, they mostly deal with panic attacks and the rare heart or lung issues.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Don't know but they did it at IMLP. There's a thread on ST about all the guys holding up a dude who had passed out (heart attack?) just after the start. The kayaker saw it and came right to them. Folks saw what was going on and got out of the way and/or helped point him to the guy in trouble. One guy posted that the kayaker flat ran him over to get to the dude, and he was about to yell at the lifeguard but then saw the commotion and realized he was on a rescue. Anyway, no one died thanks to the participants themselves and the alert lifeguard.
  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    @cary, did your friend compete or lifeguard at IMLP this year? there was apparently a heart issue in the swim and trying to find out more details on it.
  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco
    He Lifeguarded.

    While we were racing we had heard that someone died, not true. There were two swimmers that needed to be pulled. That's all the info I have.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]

    From the LA City Lifeguards Association:


    In order to respond effectively to the rigorous demands and inherent dangers of open water lifeguarding, the Aquatics Division, Open Water Section, operates as a paramilitary organization and follows a strict standard of conduct that, in some cases, exceeds that of the Department as a whole...

    Candidates must also "Successfully complete a competitive 1,000 meter ocean swim at Cabrillo Beach under 20 minutes. " Based on that, it looks like I won't be lifeguarding anytime soon.

    Still sounds like a crazily serious game of "Where's Waldo" though . I'd really like to swim up to each of the lifeguards and thank them for their service, but I'm sure that distracting them from their job probably isn't the best idea...

     

     

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