SV9 - Pool Lifeguards

Purpose

To provide guidance on the roles, responsibilities and skill requirements of a Pool Lifeguard at an aquatic facility.

Definition

A Pool Lifeguard is someone employed (voluntary or paid) by an owner or operator of an aquatic facility to prevent drowning and reduce the impact of injury.

A Pool Lifeguard may also be known as a ‘Pool Supervisor’, ‘Pool Attendant’ or ‘Swimming Pool Attendant’.

Responsibilities of a Pool Lifeguard

The primary objective of a Pool Lifeguard at an aquatic location is to supervise patrons within the aquatic environment and to assist in preventing drowning.

In order to achieve the objectives a Pool Lifeguard has a number of key responsibilities which include:

• Maintaining active supervision of aquatic users, activities and the aquatic environment for any further risks or emergencies
• Understanding the legal aspects associated with their role
• Understanding the risks of the aquatic environment and their impact to aquatic users and the owner or manager of the aquatic facility
• Maintaining currency in their health and fitness requirements
• Engaging, communicating and fostering relationships with staff and persons at the aquatic location
• Educating users of the dangers and safety measures at an aquatic facility
• Zoning or restricting activities at the aquatic location
• Enforcing rules of the aquatic location
• Undertaking search and rescue of persons in difficulty at an aquatic location
• Providing emergency care to persons with injuries sustained at an aquatic location
• Responding to unlawful acts and other emergencies at the aquatic location until further assistance is available
• Maintaining a record of their activities at the aquatic location

Training and Qualifications of a Pool Lifeguard

To perform the duties of a Pool Lifeguard at an Aquatic Facility, please refer to GSPO TQ1: Pool Lifeguards: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/subscribers/GSPO/training-and-qualifications/tq1-pool-lifeguards

Pool Lifeguard Induction

The owner or manager of an aquatic location should ensure that all lifeguards receive an in-depth induction to working at the aquatic location prior to commencing operational duties as a Pool Lifeguard.

A record of the completion of the induction should be signed by both the employee and employer and kept for the duration of their employment of within a Staff Profile (or similar).

The Pool Lifeguard Induction should include at a minimum the following steps (as detailed within appendix 2):

• Orientation to the physical layout of the aquatic facility
• An induction into the employment policies and procedures of the organisation
• An induction into the Operations Manual and any associated equipment, procedures or locations
• An induction into the Emergency Plan and any associated equipment, procedures or locations
• An induction to the team they will be working with

Pool Lifeguard In-Service Training

It is recommended that lifeguards practice their skills on a regular basis throughout the year.

Lifeguards working in a seasonal pool should participate in a facility specific in-service training session at the aquatic facility they are employed at just prior to the start of the season and one at least every three months thereafter until the close of the season.

All other lifeguards should participate in a minimum of four organised in service training sessions per year to ensure currency and ongoing development of necessary skills and competencies.

Where possible, training sessions should be held at, or relate directly to, the aquatic facility in which the lifeguard is employed.

An exception to this may be in relation to the theoretical or general practical activities e.g. oxygen equipment or resuscitation training.

Lifeguard in-service training should cover any of the knowledge and skills contained within a Lifeguard Reaccreditation but also include:

• Changes and Updates to local Operations Manuals
• Emergency Planning and Incident Management actions (i.e. Emergency Evacuation Drill)

Training Log

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should ensure that a record of all training sessions is maintained at the place of employment. Note that records must be accessible onsite at the facility.

Records should include the following details:

• date of training session
• person instructing / leading the session
• those attending
• content of the training session
• comments on employees unable to complete aspects of the training

Lifeguards should maintain a personal record of all induction and in-service training undertaken. This may include additional professional development training provided by organisations other than their employer.

Pool Lifeguard Reaccreditation

Pool Lifeguards are required to be assessed every 12 months to demonstrate currency of their knowledge and skills.

Assessments should be conducted by an Assessor who is either employed by an RTO or acting under the registration of an RTO.

An Assessor is a person who satisfies the requirements for assessors as outlined in the Standards for RTO’s 2015- Clause 1.13 to 1.16 or current equivalent standards.

Assessment of a Pool Lifeguard should ensure the Lifeguard has current competence in the following knowledge and skills:

1. Changes to current industry practices as described within, but not limited to:
   • Legislation and Regulations
   • Workplace Health and Safety Codes of Practice
   • The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations
   • The Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines
2. Supervision of patrons in aquatic facilities including but not limited to:
   • Maintaining situational awareness
   • Scanning strategies and techniques
   • Identifying potentially hazardous behaviours and situations
   • Communicating effectively in a team environment
   • Minimising risk to patrons
3. Performing two rescues in deep water which include but are not limited to the following:
   • Communicating for assistance
   • Entering the water safely
   • Performing escape techniques (conscious casualty)
   • Supporting and turning over a person face down (unconscious casualty)
   • Using rescue equipment safely
   • Retrieving the person from the water using safe manual handling techniques
4. Performing spinal immobilisation, stabilisation and removal of a suspected spinal injury casualty while working as a team
5. Performing 2 person resuscitation on both an adult and child which includes, but is not limited to:
   • Checking, recovering and restoring equipment
   • Minimising risk to self and others
   • Checking a patients level of consciousness
   • Sending for help
   • Demonstrating appropriate responses to a fully or partially blocked airway
   • Performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation for 5 minutes
   • Demonstrating the use of oxygen therapy and resuscitation equipment
   • Demonstrating the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
   • Applying appropriate first aid
   • Monitoring the person and handing over to emergency services
6. Completing documentation including but not limited to:
   • First Aid and/or Incident Reports

N.B. The Victorian Safer Public Pools Codes of Practice require a Pool Lifeguard to be reissued with SISSS00111 - Pool Lifeguard skill set or the equivalent in competencies from the SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package, provided by a registered training organisation on an annual basis.

N.B. The Practice Note 15 Water Safety in NSW require RLSSANSW Pool Lifeguard Licence (updated annually) consisting of the SISSS00111 Pool Lifeguard Skill Set (https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/SISSS00111) or;

The equivalent in competencies from the SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package, provided by a registered training organisation.

References

• Aquatic Facility Management, Fawcett P. 2005. Human Kinetics, Champaign.
• Guide to Ontario Public Pools Regulation, 2nd Edition, 2004, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Lifeguarding, 5th Edition 2018, The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, Mosby, Sydney
• Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, 3rd Edition, 2003, Sport England Publications, Wetherby.
• Pool Operations Manual, 2nd Edition, 2003, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Swimming Pool Supervision Guidelines and Recommended Standard, 1996, Hillary Commission, Wellington
• Victorian Safer Public Pools Codes of Practice, 2018
• Practice Note 15 Water Safety. NSW Office for Local Government

Previous Versions

• Guideline SU7 Description of Lifeguard Duties, Issue 2, July 1996
• Guideline RS17 Description of Lifeguard Duties, Issue 1, August 1991