ARC Rescue Skills
What type of rescue is used for a responsive victim who is struggling in deep water?
Active victim rescue.
Compression-to-ventilation ratio for one rescuer?
30:2
How long should it take to scan your entire zone?
Active Victim(s) Water Rescue:
Examples include, but are not limited to, active drowning victims, distressed swimmers, exhausted swimmers, panicked swimmers, or other patrons requiring immediate assistance in the water while still able to support themselves.
Primary lifeguard(s) activate the EAP by sounding 2 short whistles.
Primary lifeguard(s) initiate and perform rescue(s) according to American Red Cross standards.
OC1, OC2, DG1, and DG2 respond. FA responds with a first aid bag. Pool Supervisor(s) also respond and assume scene management.
O1 and O2 remain in the office and provide extra assistance if necessary.
All other lifeguards will point to the location.
All remaining lifeguards assigned to that same pool will stand and provide additional surveillance coverage until normal staffing is restored.
Responding staff evaluate the patron, provide care as necessary according to American Red Cross standards (including, but not limited to, advising follow-up professional medical care), and complete all required documentation, including a Water Rescue Report (and an Accident Report if needed).
The scene manager(s) may direct additional actions as necessary, including facility closure, staff reassignment, incident debriefing, or other operational measures.
A patron walks up and says, "I think I just saw lightning."
Notify a Pool Supervisor immediately. If lightning is confirmed or thunder is heard, activate the EAP with 2 short whistles while pointing to the sky and begin clearing the affected pool(s) upon direction with 1 long whistle.
Name two situations that require spinal motion restriction.
When should an AED be applied?
As soon as it is available. Do not delay! Work around the rescuers.
What are the RID factors (define the term and what it stands for)?
Recognition (failure to recognize)
Intrusion (intrusion into duties)
Distraction (distraction from duties)
The term is used to explain why drownings occur.
Passive/Spinal Victim Water Rescue:
Examples include, but are not limited to, passive drowning victims, unconscious victims, submerged victims, suspected head, neck, or spinal injuries, or other patrons requiring immediate rescue and advanced care.
Primary lifeguard(s) activate the EAP by sounding 1 long whistle. Other lifeguards respond with 1 long whistle in the same pool.
Primary lifeguard(s) initiate and perform rescue(s) according to American Red Cross standards.
OC1 and OC2 respond with both a backboard and an AED. FA responds with a first aid bag. DG1 and DG2 also respond. Pool Supervisor(s) also respond and assume scene management.
O1 and O2 remain in the office and provide extra assistance if necessary.
All remaining lifeguards assigned to that same pool will stand and provide additional surveillance coverage until the pool is cleared.
Other lifeguards will immediately work to clear the pool from which the 1 long whistle was sounded. If in the main pool, TS will shut off the pumps to both slides.
Responding staff evaluate the patron, provide care as necessary according to American Red Cross standards (including, but not limited to, advising follow-up professional medical care), and complete all required documentation, including a Water Rescue Report and an Accident Report.
The scene manager(s) may direct additional actions as necessary, including facility closure, staff reassignment, incident debriefing, or other operational measures.
A parent reports their 5-year-old child is missing. What is your immediate response?
Notify the Pool Supervisor immediately, make an announcement for the child, clear both pools, and begin the missing child procedure.
A passive victim is face down in deep water. What is your first priority?
Get the victim to the surface quickly while maintaining an open airway.
A conscious patron has signs of heat exhaustion. Name two signs and two treatments.
Signs (any two):
Treatments (any two):
A parent asks you a question while you're guarding. What should you do?
Keep scanning while answering briefly or redirect them.
Medical Emergency:
Examples include, but are not limited to, cardiac emergencies, seizures, allergic reactions, diabetic emergencies, severe bleeding, fractures, heat-related illnesses, illnesses or injuries occurring on facility grounds, or other medical conditions requiring staff assistance.
Primary lifeguard(s) activate the EAP by sounding 2 short whistles or 1 long whistle (depending on the severity, respectively). If 1 long whistle is blown, other lifeguards will clear the pool closest to the incident.
Primary lifeguard(s) evaluate the patron and provide care as necessary according to American Red Cross standards.
For 2 short whistles:
OC1, OC2, DG1, and DG2 respond. FA responds with a first aid bag. Pool Supervisor(s) also respond and assume scene management.
O1 and O2 remain in the office and provide extra assistance if necessary.
For 1 long whistle:
OC1 and OC2 respond with both a backboard and an AED. FA responds with a first aid bag. DG1 and DG2 also respond. Pool Supervisor(s) also respond and assume scene management.
O1 and O2 remain in the office and provide extra assistance if necessary.
All other lifeguards point to the location of the incident.
If a lifeguard leaves their assigned stand to respond, remaining lifeguards assigned to that pool shall stand and provide additional surveillance coverage until normal staffing is restored.
Responding staff evaluate the patron, provide care as necessary according to American Red Cross standards (including, but not limited to, advising follow-up professional medical care), and complete all required documentation, including an Accident Report.
The scene manager(s) may direct additional actions as necessary, including facility closure, staff reassignment, incident debriefing, or other operational measures.
A patron vomits into the main pool; you see it and know for sure that it is vomit. What whistle signal should you use once the contamination is confirmed?
One long whistle to clear the affected pool and begin the contamination response.
During an active rescue the victim suddenly becomes unconscious and extrication isn't immediately available. What changes?
Transition immediately to a passive victim rescue and provide in-water ventilations until extrication is available.
A child suddenly becomes unresponsive. What are your first three actions?
Why is staring at one area dangerous even if no one is drowning?
Tunnel vision.
Facility Evacuation:
Examples include, but are not limited to, lightning, severe weather, tornado warnings, fire, gas leaks, chemical releases, power outages, structural hazards, or other conditions requiring the closure or evacuation of all or part of the facility.
Facility Evacuation:
Examples include, but are not limited to, lightning, severe weather, tornado warnings, fire, gas leaks, chemical releases, power outages, structural hazards, or other conditions requiring the closure or evacuation of all or part of the facility. See Weather Policy for specific weather notes.
Notify Pool Supervisor(s) immediately. If lightning is spotted or thunder is heard, a lifeguard may activate the EAP by sounding 2 short whistles and pointing to the sky.
Pool Supervisor(s) assume scene management and determine the appropriate response.
Staff shall immediately clear affected pool(s), attractions, and facility areas as directed.
If necessary, staff shall direct patrons to designated shelter locations or evacuation areas.
Common shelter/evacuation areas: under the concessions awning (away from umbrellas), locker rooms, and the Ice Arena.
Facility gates around the facility are meant to be used as emergency exits only.
TS shall shut down slide operations when directed.
O1 and O2 remain available to assist with communications and contacting emergency services as directed.
Staff shall monitor exits, assist patrons, and help maintain an orderly evacuation.
Emergency services shall be contacted when appropriate.
The facility shall remain closed until conditions are deemed safe and authorization to reopen has been granted by supervisory personnel.
Complete all required documentation, including a General Incident Report.
The scene manager(s) may direct additional actions as necessary, including full facility closure, staff reassignment, or incident debriefing.
While guarding, you smell smoke and discover a fire in the wading pool pump room. What should happen first?
You notice a motionless patron on the bottom of the deep end. You did not see what happened and don't know if a spinal injury occurred. What type of rescue should you perform?
A passive submerged victim rescue while activating the EAP. Do not delay the rescue trying to determine if it's a spinal injury; rapid rescue of an unresponsive submerged victim takes priority. If information later suggests a spinal injury, provide spinal management as appropriate after the victim is brought to the surface.
The AED says "No Shock Advised." What do you do?
Resume CPR immediately.
What areas of the water in front of you should you be scanning?
All of it!
Top, middle, bottom, and around obstacle points.
Missing Person:
Examples include, but are not limited to, missing children, missing vulnerable adults, lost patrons, separated family members, or situations where a patron's whereabouts are unknown, and their safety may be at risk.
Notify Pool Supervisor(s) immediately. Attempt to walk the reporting person around the facility to find the missing person if it is an adult. If a child is missing, complete step 2, make an announcement calling for the child, clear both pools, and skip to step 5.
Step 2: If not found, Pool Supervisor(s) assume scene management and gather relevant information, including a description of the individual, last known location, and time last seen, and document this information via a General Incident Report.
Pool Supervisor(s) or designee(s) shall make 3 total announcements, spaced out by around 1 minute each, calling for the patron (with relevant information) to make contact at the pool office or front desk.
If 3 announcements pass without resolution, the Pool Supervisor(s) or designee(s) shall direct that both pools be cleared. Cashier/Concessions leads shall direct the front desk to stop patrons from entering or leaving.
Step 5: OC1, OC2, DG1, and DG2 shall immediately monitor and control facility exits as directed by the Pool Supervisor(s), including asking patrons to stay in the facility until the situation is resolved.
O1 and O2 remain in the office and provide extra assistance if necessary.
All other lifeguards shall immediately work towards scanning the entire facility.
Law enforcement and emergency services shall be contacted when appropriate.
Once the patron is located, staff shall ensure their safety and provide any necessary assistance according to American Red Cross standards.
Complete all required documentation, including a General Incident Report.
The scene manager(s) may direct additional actions as necessary, including facility closure, staff reassignment, or incident debriefing.
During open swim, the power suddenly goes out. The pools are crowded, the slides stop, and the music shuts off. What should your team do?