MISSION:
DOING OUR BEST TO PROTECT LIVES WHILE PROVIDING
A GREAT POOL EXPERIENCE
|
 |
The core principle of Century Pool Management - the underling meaning of the company's existence - is to provide a safe pool environment for it's clients. There is nothing more compelling or valuable than protecting lives. Remaining alert and motivated on the job is one way to ensure your success as a lifeguard.
|
| |
|
|
As part of the Century Pool Management Team, one of our goals is to create great pool experiences for our clients. A great pool experience will always include the following:
- A SAFE and clean pool,
- An attentive guard staff is always in the correct positions,
- A professional Century Pool Management staff member who communicates with our clients on a daily basis,
- The pool being open on time, and
- The staff on duty always being in uniform.
These five expectations, known as Century Pool Management’s Big Five, are the foundation of our superior customer service. Our challenge is to work together throughout the season to find many more ways to ensure that the patrons and all Century employees have great pool experiences.
|
| |
|
|
Employee Expectations
The SAFETY of everyone who uses a Century-managed pool is the most important responsibility of a lifeguard. This expectation to protect and serve the clients of the pool applies to every person at every level of the company, including gate guards, substitute lifeguards, lifeguards, head lifeguards, assistant managers, managers, supervisors, risk manager specialists, branch managers, staffing directors and the management team.
|
| |
|
|
SAFETY STANDARDS
|
|
Scanning the Pool
Scanning is the attentive visual observation and searching of the pool and the facility in the effort to either spot a potential problem before it occurs or to locate a person in distress. Learning to scan is learning to survey the pool. In surveying the pool you must use a methodical approach and exercise due care at all times.
Lifeguards are required to scan the entire pool area. Lifeguards should scan back and forth over the water slowly enough to be able to clearly observe each area of the pool. Lifeguards need to carefully observe and be attentive to the water area directly in front of and below the lifeguard stand because they are potential blind spots.
If the pool is a multi-guard facility, guards may choose to use zone coverage to protect swimmers. Adjacent zones should have some overlap. Overlapping zone coverage allows a lifeguard to concentrate on a limited area and provide double coverage in the overlapping in zone areas.
|
| |
|
|
Pool Area Safety
To assist facility staff in performing lifeguarding duties, as well as implement the most effective aquatics emergency response plan, Century has developed the following basic guidelines for pool area safety:
- Always have spinal immobilization devices readily available for emergency handling of suspected spinal injuries. Straps should be neatly arranged on the backboard to allow for easy access. Head immobilization equipment should also be kept with the backboard.
- Rescue mask and gloves have to be with a lifeguard.
- Every pool must have first aid supplies to handle trauma injuries as well as non-traumatic medical emergencies.
- Every pool should be equipped with reaching and extension poles, ring buoys and rescue tubes readily available for emergency use.
- Every pool should have an emergency action plan. When activated, the plan alerts other staff of an emergency situation. All lifeguards should be educated in this procedure and understand the roles and responsibilities of each person involved in the plan. In order to act in a cohesive, effective and efficient manner, staffs should practice the emergency action plan on a regular basis. Additionally, each pool should have its own individualized emergency action plan posted in a prominent place in the lifeguard office.
- All pools should have a working phone to allow calls to activate EMS, if necessary. If the phone is temporarily out of order, a functional cell phone that is fully charged is an acceptable substitute. However, cell phones may not serve as the permanent phone for a facility.
- Check that all doors and gates to the pool are securely locked when the pool is closed. Note any areas in the fence that require repairs and immediately submit a maintenance request.
- Examine deck furniture daily and remove any broken or damaged chairs that may be a hazard. Supply your supervisor with a regular tally of chairs that have been removed.
- Notify your supervisor of uneven spots on the pool deck that may cause patrons to injure themselves and/or fall. Take note of areas on the deck and in the bathhouse where water causes slippery spots due to puddles. Remove rubber mats if they become slippery when wet and alert your supervisor of the problem.
- Check the fulcrum pad on the diving board to make sure it is properly secured. If you do not see a secured fulcrum pad underneath the diving board, immediately close the diving board and notify your supervisor to have the problem fixed.
- Examine skimmer tops for cracks or breaks. Place a chair or other prominent piece of equipment to deter patrons from walking over the broken skimmer top. Request a new skimmer top from your supervisor.
- Remain constantly alert to anything that could pose a potential safety hazard in and around the pool facility.
|
| |
|
|
Rescue Drills
Throughout the summer, all staff will be required to participate in simulated rescue drills conducted by trainers, supervisors, and pool managers. Backboard rescues, swimming rescues, emergency action plans, and CPR techniques are just a few examples of the essential skills emphasized in these drills. In addition Risk Manager Specialists staff will conduct audits of professional knowledge and implementation of proper life guarding operations and adequate safety techniques.
|
| |
|
|
In-Service Training
Along with safety drills, Century's bi-weekly in-service training seminars are an essential part of improving and maintaining one's lifeguarding skills throughout the season. The in-service training sessions cover all aspects of pool safety and help sharpen one's knowledge of aquatic safety techniques.
|
| |
|
|
Quality Assurance
To ensure that Century is meeting its core principle as well as the client's expectations, unannounced quality assurance personnel observe pools during the season. Observers visit as plain clothed patrons to examine safety practices, courtesy standards, pool cleanliness and the overall professional manner in which the lifeguard attends to the pool and its patrons. Observers submit reports on each pool to the Century office. The results of the visit are discussed with the pool manager and staff. The most important reason for these visits is to ensure that Century staff continually monitors the safety of pool visitors during pool hours.
|
| |
|
|
Pool Signage
Large Safety awareness signs will be posted at each Century pool. These are to inform the patrons that Century is the company responsible for the safety and maintenance of the facility. They also list the ten most important duties of the Century pool staff. Additionally, most pools will have the community's approved rules and regulations posted for all members and visitors to read. Lifeguards can refer to the pool rules and use them to help with enforcement.
|
| |
|
|
Preventive Lifeguarding
This refers to the ability to think ahead of what might or could cause an incident and the ability to prevent from occurring. If you don't consider how people can get hurt at your facility, you will only be capable of reacting once they are already hurt. It is far better to stop the incident before it occurs. Consider every guest a potential victim.
5 ROLES OF THE LIFEGUARD :
- Recognition
- Prevention
- Rescue
- Initiation
- Support
Notice: Rescue is the third one... Focus on 1 and 2 so that you won't have to make a rescue!
The guards must believe it can happen to them !
If you don't expect it, you won't see it !
|
| |
|
