RES CPR 10 Create Centralized Resource for Aquatic Rescue Professionals
Develop and implement a centralized resource to house and provide access to national policies, minimum standards, guidelines, and water rescue training for professionals responding in aquatic environments.
Spectrum level: Changing Organizational Practices Educating Providers
Evidence level: Low
Rationale:
Currently there is not a single clearinghouse agency that oversees lifeguards or water rescue for other professionals. Providing consistent terminology that can be understood by all, position titles, and requirements for professionals, will elevate the professionalism of lifeguarding and aquatic lifesaving as well as promote vital cross-agency collaboration.
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcomes.
- Develop and implement a centralized resource leads to consistent terminology, position titles, and requirements for professionals.
- Develop and implement a centralized resource leads to elevation in the professionalism of lifeguarding and aquatic lifesaving.
Evidence:
Currently there is not a single clearinghouse agency that oversees lifeguards or water rescue for other professionals. There is the United States Lifesaving Association, with regional representation around the country, as well as the American Red Cross and a few other agencies, but not a single training source. Many lifeguard agencies do their own training and therefore training is inconsistant across the country.
Evidence Sources:
Los Angeles County EMS Agency Drowning Treatment Protocol https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhs/1040405_1225Submersion2018-04-24.pdf
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SWIFTWATER RESCUE MANUAL https://ratsar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Swiftwater-Rescue-Manual.pdf
LA County Lifeguard Training https://app.targetsolutions.com/tsapp/courses/scorm/parserFrameset.htm?courseId=261638615&studentId=1092554&studentName=Clayton%20Kazan&courseDirectory=courses/processed/1269737
Observations on the drowning of non-swimmers, Frank Pia https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/8d32f796bd03754627587baaf49bc983bcd0372ae0c590e705d9e7791987c3ff/ObservationsOnDrowningOfNonswimmers_Pia.pdf Water Rescue Awareness Level Student Manual, NY State Fire Training Program http://qa.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/manuals/documents/01040052.pdf
North Carolina EMS protocol https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/c1ceefbbebbad3f8de41751cc5f548ff89e039119aa15c46dbddce0a00d4a06a/2017NCEMSDrowningProtocol.pdf","https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/c1ceefbbebbad3f8de41751cc5f548ff89e039119aa15c46dbddce0a00d4a06a/2017NCEMSDrowningProtocol.pdf
American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual (2012)
California State Parks Drowning Protocol https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/0d8afcbecc5f03b08e7018575f5cc31d10b09dfca2eef33020120d9e2f09686f/CSPEMTDrowningProtocol2017.pdf","https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/0d8afcbecc5f03b08e7018575f5cc31d10b09dfca2eef33020120d9e2f09686f/CSPEMTDrowningProtocol2017.pdf
StarGuard 5th Edition Textbook https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/47fe502f96b4d53983c432774d910369edfe2989d8a239f72597513f3c6133a0/StarGuard5EcompressedCh11.pdf","https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/47fe502f96b4d53983c432774d910369edfe2989d8a239f72597513f3c6133a0/StarGuard5EcompressedCh11.pdf
YMCA Lifeguard Manual (edition not specified)
Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Manual (edition not specified)
Army Corps of Engineers - National water safety program https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/National-Water-SafetyProgram/NewsReleases/
EMS Essentials- A Resident’s Guide to Prehospital Care: Chapter 14: Water Rescue https://www.emra.org/globalassets/emra/publications/books/emra-ems-essentials.pdf#page=111 Aquatic Rescue and Safety https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yBFhaQQ23ckC&oi=fnd&pg=PP5&dq=related:mMKgejMdqBIJ:scholar.google.com/&ots=C5trHXUh-O&sig=Lr3X8iHGfnBE2WjXC4rWh-XTous#v=onepage&q&f=false
San Francisco Bay Water Rescue Plan and Procedures for Aircraft Emergencies and Other Large Scale Maritime Incidents Adjacent to Alameda County Fire Department Jurisdictions https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/7571c73858a4c843ee3e02d3d57592f59d040a534e3295e5ee519f3b80dff695/32004SanFranciscoBayWaterRescue_08.15.20.pdf
OAG 23.007 Attachment C: Water Rescue Program Training and Education, Alameda County https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/a26dbf4eea70145fa82710192d83c300e0ec09e3e5ea8a20bbdd4681427cc024/23007AttachmentCtoSpecialOperationsTrainingandEducation10.01.20.pdf
Cal Fire Water Rescue Awareness Presentation https://www.btutraining.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Surf-Rescue-Awareness.pdf
San Francisco Fire Department- Water Rescue Operations http://ufsw.org/pdfs/waterrescueoperations.pdf
Huntington Beach Fire Department Policy on Ocean/Open Water Safety https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/65de471c5e847d38733d9a7c770e5d4bc2f6032378291f0d5d3616383aed6a30/HBFDPolicyF14OceanOpenWaterSafety.pdf
Standards for Open Water Lifeguards - Certification for Agencies https://www.usla.org/page/certification#The%20United%20States%20Lifesaving%20Association
U.S. Lifeguarding Standards Coalition https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/3d6f10657e8074366410548eb4b829a89f4d04d05972dbe185df02e77e7d69f9/USLSCFINALAPPROVAL13111.pdf","https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/3d6f10657e8074366410548eb4b829a89f4d04d05972dbe185df02e77e7d69f9/USLSCFINALAPPROVAL13111.pdf
Drowning and aquatic injuries dictionary https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520420300734?via%3Dihub
Water Rescue Awareness, CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/19623a36274521d521d6ef3a66eadca76d731098ff8003c123bc663b5cee7cdd/WaterRescueAwarenessOverviewCaliDeptF.pdf","https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/19623a36274521d521d6ef3a66eadca76d731098ff8003c123bc663b5cee7cdd/WaterRescueAwarenessOverviewCaliDeptF.pdf
AQUATIC PROCEDURE MANUALAQUATIC SAFETY & SUPERVISION PLAN MODULE https://www.lifesaving.org/public/download/documents/54358
E304, E306, E303, E305, E307, E243, E257, E258, E261, E264, E266, E185, E329, E332, E361, E362, E363, E364, E365, E187, E292, E294, E293, E318, E350, E322,
High Risk Populations Addressed:
The population whose risk of drowning decreases the most with the implementation of this recommendation may have one or more of the following characteristics:
- wFirst Responders, specifically those who work in or around, and respond to aquatic emergencies
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Consistency across many aspects of lifeguarding
- Consistent terminology among lifeguard agencies
- Consistent data gathering
- Increased professionalism of lifeguarding
- Consistency in standards for training among lifeguards and lifesavers
Indicators of intermediate impact:
- Policy change is consistent across states nationwide
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Develop buy-in among agencies for the development and implementation of a centralized resource.
- Shift perceptions among organizations that believe they are already providing consistent training, to the reality that across the country there is a lack of consistency.
- Collaborate to ensure leadership for the development of the centralized resource is representative of states across the country.
Challenges to Implementation:
When implementing this recommendation, you might encounter challenges related to the following factors.
- Due to differing opinions on training among agencies there may be potential controversy.
- Existing infrastructure may be limited.
- Political will may be lacking.
- There may be liability concerns.
- The variety of current trainings may present challenges in developing consistency.
Potential Facilitators:
The following factors might facilitate the implementation of this recommendation.
- Advocacy groups may be interested in consistency across the nation.
- Drowning prevention organizations may desire organizational consensus.
GAP Recommendation:
NOT A RESEARCH GAP