Lifeguards
Swimming Skills
In order to save injured or drowning swimmers, lifeguards must be strong swimmers and well trained in swimming skills necessary to rescue. All lifeguards must have the following skills in order to safely conduct an in-water rescue:
- Must be able to swim 500 yards consecutively.
- Must know the breaststroke, backstroke, front-crawl and freestyle swim.
- Must be able to surface dive between 10 and 12 feet.
- Must be able to do a feet-first surface dive.
- Must know how to make a slide-in entry.
- Must be able to make stride and compact jumps.
- Must master all kinds of assists: simple assist, extension assist from deck, reach assist with equipment and throw assist.
- Must master all kinds of rescues, including swimming extension rescue and active and passive drowning victim rear rescue.
- Must be able to complete a two-person removal using a backboard.
- Must know how to use a backboard in shallow or deep water.
- Must be able to carry out a multiple victim rescue.
- Must be able to rescue a victim from both deep and shallow water.
- Must be able to perform a front and read head-hold escape.
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