As the summer season approaches and more pools open up across the country, staffing these aquatic facilities will be top of mind for managers. One question that tends to arise is whether lifeguard certification is truly necessary for the pool attendants whose primary duties don't involve direct water supervision. While some argue certification is an unnecessary cost, the American Lifeguard Association believes lifeguard training provides crucial benefits for any employee working around water. Let's take a deeper look at this issue.
What does lifeguard certification involve?
Most lifeguard certificate courses involve training in water safety, swim rescue techniques, first aid, and CPR. Proper certification requires candidates pass written and in-water skills tests administered by accredited training agencies. The most common certifying bodies are the American Lifeguard Association.
Courses typically take 30-40 hours to complete and are renewed every 1-3 years depending on the agency. [This includes instruction in skills like] entering the water fully clothed, safely managing submerged victims, and providing first responder care like administering rescue breaths and chest compressions.
Is watching from dry land really supervision?
Some pool managers argue that attendants who primarily sit in chairstands or walk around pool decks don't truly need to be lifeguard certified since they aren't actively scanning the water. However, the American Lifeguard Association believes even attendants who aren't expected to respond to emergencies directly still bear some responsibility for patron safety as representatives of the facility.
Accidents and injuries can occur in an instant, and certified training helps attendants recognize signs of distress and know when and how to call for backup from an on-duty guard. Simply being on site at all times may not qualify as adequate aquatic "supervision" without training in what to look for and do in case of emergency.
Emergency can happen at any time even if lifeguards are on duty. And if an emergency occurs when a lifeguard is changing shifts or taking a break, uncertified attendants may have only seconds to recognize and respond to distress before a situation turns critical. Reaction time is crucial in aquatic rescues, and certification instills an elevated sense of responsibility overall towards water safety.
The American Lifeguard Association also notes that in some liability lawsuits, uncertified attendansts present argued they bore no official responsibility as they lacked proper training for their poolside roles. Possessing certification helps clarify an attendant's intended function, even if not as a primary lifeguard.
Does certification increase safety and prevent lawsuits?
Keeping all employees at aquatic facilities certified in water safety and first aid protocols has clear benefits for incident prevention and mitigation of lawsuits. While certifying every attendant increases operating costs, the American Lifeguard Association argues it pays off in reducing risks. Research has shown drowning to be a leading cause of accidental death for children.
Proper lifeguarding through certified staff is key to protecting lives. Attendants trained in surveillance techniques help spot issues before they escalate, and their certification demonstrates the facility's due diligence in ensuring safety for all patrons. Should incidents still occur with certified staff present, their training lends credibility that appropriate response procedures were followed. This can help facilities avoid legal troubles and costly settlement payments down the line.
Accidents will unfortunately happen sometimes despite best precautions. But the American Lifeguard Association believes certification for all staff helps minimize chances and show clear concern for safety as an organization's top priority. It signals to patrons that their well-being is the focus each time they visit, not just cost-cutting.
While not mandatory by law in most areas, requiring certification for pool attendants as well as guards could provide peace of mind for facilities and reassure the public that their water experiences will be as safe as can reasonably be ensured. In the long run, this makes financial sense even beyond potential litigation impacts.
In Summary
While not legally mandatory in many jurisdictions, the American Lifeguard Association recommends lifeguard certification for all staff working in and around aquatic facilities. Even those whose primary duties don't involve active guarding still interface with patrons and could find themselves responding to emergencies. Certification instills critical safety skills that can save lives in crucial moments and demonstrate an establishment's commitment to risk-management and liability mitigation.
The relatively minor cost of training all employees pays off in substantially reducing danger for swimmers of all ages. When it comes to water safety, an ounce of prevention through certification is worth far more than potential pounds of lawsuit penalty down the line. Lives are simply too valuable not to take every reasonable precaution.
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