LG SUP 4 Establish National Minimum Educational Standards for Lifeguard Supervision Courses
Convene a panel to develop and implement national minimum educational standards for lifeguard supervision courses, including pre-service and in-service lifeguard training, applicable for various man- made and open water venues, similar to the format in the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) for public pools and spas.
Spectrum level: Changing Organizational Practices Educating Providers
Evidence level: Low
Implementation levels: National
Rationale:
Presently, lifeguard training varies across aquatic facilities, types of bodies water involved, and within and between regions. Consistent, standardized curriculum on preventative lifeguarding during lifeguard supervisor training may help ensure that lifeguards gain and retain a better understanding of those concepts specific to the venue they serve. Current lifeguard management training programs cover the material, including management responsibilities, to varying degrees and depths. Uniformity in presentation and content will help foster additional research to address the efficacy of program components.
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcomes.
- Development and implementation of national minimum educational standards for lifeguard supervision courses lead to Lifeguards with a better understanding of preventative lifeguarding concepts. This would include:
- Recognizing that internal noise and in-attentional blindness occur and interfere with effective scanning
- Recognition of common hazards in aquatic environments as well as those unique to their facility
- Professional lifeguards behavior
- Customers, parents, and families expectation of professional lifeguards
Evidence:
According to MAHC Annex 6.3.3.1.4: Supervision Protocols When QUALIFIED LIFEGUARDS are used, the staffing plan shall include lifeguard supervision protocols to achieve the requirements of MAHC 6.3.3.
Evidence Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) (2023). Code 6.3.3. Model Aquatic Health Code. 4th Edition, February 2023.
High Risk Populations Addressed:
All populations can benefit from implementation of this recommendation.
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Agencies teaching Lifeguard Management courses include information on in-service training,
- Courses incorporate preventative Lifeguarding topics including scanning strategies, internal noise, and in-attentional blindness, recognizing hazards, professionalism, customers, parents, and families' expectation of Lifeguards, etc. -Agencies employing lifeguards can demonstrate and compare lifeguards’ core knowledge and competencies
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Gain support from, and acceptance of, this recommendation from Lifeguard Training agencies
- Reinforced concepts from lifeguard managers.
- Consider that this recommendation could be implemented very quickly through the use of an addendum.
Challenges to Implementation:
When implementing this recommendation, you might encounter challenges related to the following factors.
- Timely implementation of this recommendation may be a challenge. For example, most updates to lifeguard management training programs generally occur every 3-5 years. Some agencies may not move as quickly as others to implement.
Potential Facilitators:
The following factors might facilitate the implementation of this recommendation.
- Lifeguard management training agencies
- Organizations involved with drowning prevention.
- Lifeguard insurance companies
GAP Recommendation:
None