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Fight Lifeguard Burnout!
By Susan J. Grosse
Susan Grosse is President of Aquatic Consulting & Education Resource Services in  Milwaukee, WI. She has over 45 years' experience training lifeguards. She recently received the John K. Williams Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She can be reached at sjgrosse@execpc.com or http://my.execpc.com/~sjgrosse.
It's the mid-point in the season. Start-up excitement has worn off and boredom is setting in. Maybe re-certification is coming up soon. Guards are wondering whether to renew certifications or seek employment elsewhere. Possibly, it's been a long year, including a very serious near drowning. Staff depression seems unending. No matter how good any employment situation is, burnout can occur. Given the shortages in qualified lifeguards, facility managers need to do everything they can to keep lifeguards from succumbing to depression and job burnout. How? Maintain a continuous infusion of interesting, challenging, and personally rewarding activities into the lifeguard program.
Traditionally, the job of the lifeguard is thought to include time on the guard stand with periodic pre-service and in-service sessions. But, keeping staff morale high requires more. Creative thinking, and structured planning can keep lifeguards engaged in improving personal fitness and rescue skills while maintaining a positive attitude. Here are just a few samples.
 Establish lifeguard group records for specific conditioning activities. For example, who can perform the most Brick-Ups in one minute? What is a Brick-Up? While treading water, a 10 lb. brick is held at the surface in both hands. The guard lifts the brick over-head until the arms are straight and then returns the brick to the water surface. That is one Brick-Up.* Which of your lifeguards can perform the most Brick-Ups in one minute? What is your pool Brick-Up record?
Initiate group challenges. Lap swim can be boring. Working in groups of three or four guards in a group, how long will it take the group to swim a specific distance, related to a particular destination. For example, if it is 125 miles from your pool to the closest large city, which group of guards can swim enough miles to reach that destination first? Or, how far can a group swim in a month, season, or year? Keep track on a map and encourage competition among guard groups.
Perform skills in a challenging manner. Repeated skill practice can lead to lack of mental focus as guards rely on rote learning and familiar motor responses, rather than mental processing. For example, ask guards to practice CPR while wearing a blindfold. Now each will have to think carefully to maintain speed and accuracy of response.
Use equipment in new and creative ways. Bring a parachute into the pool. While treading water, can a group of guards bounce balls into the air off the chute? How many balls can they loft at one time? It takes everyone using two hands on the chute to get it up into the air. To loft balls, the chute must loft with a snap. Can your guards do it?
A training activity or performance challenge can be a part of regularly scheduled pre-service or in-service. However, that activity can also be something guards are encouraged to include in their personal swim workouts and/or rescue practice. Perhaps a short in-water session before the pool opens or after it closes, rotating a guard on deck with guards in the water. Even a lifeguard water party can be an appropriate place for a training activity. Forming a circle or 10 to 15 guards, having each guard grasp hands with two other non-adjacent guards in the circle - which will result in a human knot - and then, without letting go of hands, move to untangle the knot until a single circle with each guard holding hands with the people on either immediate side of himself or herself results. Making and untangling a knot is a fine social mixer!
Fight burnout on your lifeguard team. Stimulate them with fresh, new, fun activities and you'll keep your guards coming back for more, even in the most difficult of times.
*The activities and challenges described here are from Lifeguard Training Activities and Games (Grosse, 2009), Human Kinetics, Champaign IL publishers. To order your copy of this book, please visit the Human Kinetics Aquatic Education Center Store (www.aquaticeducationcenter.com) or contact Sara Poe at sarap@hkusa.com.
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Getting to Know Our SAI Providers
In each issue, SAI will feature one of its providers. This month, we interviewed Nancy Apperson, Senior Supervisor of Aquatics for Lee County Parks and Recreation in Florida.
Lee County Parks and Recreation on the west coast of Florida was created in the 1970s. Shortly after it was formed, Nancy Apperson joined the staff as a counselor. As Lee County has grown, so has the organization - Lee County grew 63% in the last decade alone! Today, Nancy is the Senior Supervisor of Aquatics for Lee County  Parks and Recreation, and is responsible for nine facilities.
 "We have nine pools: five are seasonal (four on high school properties) and five are year round," Nancy explains. "It's quite a juggling act to accommodate the high school activities, competitive swim programs and the public. Our pools are used to the max!"
Despite the heavy use, Lee County Parks and Recreation emphasizes safety and participates in SAI's StarReview program. During July, they had two five star reviews and always strive for excellence, according to Nancy. One was conducted by Carol Fick, Vice President for Quality Assurance at SAI. (You can see SAI's Five Star Award winners on Facebook at www.facebook.com where you can become a friend of the Starfish Aquatics Institute.)
"Carol is one of the best reviewers SAI has!" Nancy claims. "She's great: direct, to the point, but very kind. I have a tremendous amount of respect for her."
Nancy served as the victim in one of the scenarios on which pool personnel were evaluated.
"It was a great learning experience for me," she says. "I experienced first-hand what it was like to participate in a StarReview, and understand better what the reviewers are looking for."
 According to Carol, Lee County does a great job of training its guards and following the safety recommendations of SAI.
"The management and staff are always eager for our input after our StarReview process and are anxious to incorporate changes for the safety of their patrons," Carol acknowledges.
Lee County Parks and Recreation has been with SAI since 2004. Nancy, who has experience in field maintenance for baseball and softball, recreation center programming, senior programming, and management, joined aquatics six years ago. Although she had been a certified lifeguard for 15 years, she had a lot to learn in her first year on the job.
"I had to learn everything about water chemistry and aquatic management that first year," Nancy confides. "I evaluated our training agency when I took this position, and didn't feel that we were getting customer service despite the high prices we were paying."
Nancy and Alise Flanjack, Manager at Lee County Parks and Recreation, chose to work with SAI and according to Nancy, have been extremely happy.
"We sat down with Jill [White] and discussed our goals and our needs," Nancy says. "We like [the StarGuard program] a lot."
Customer service at SAI is one of its strong points, according to Nancy.
"Sara [Poe} is amazing," she says. Sara is the voice at the end of the phone when clients call the headquarters office.
According to Nancy, Sara always makes her feel as though Lee County is the most important client in the world and is ready to answer any question or solve any issue.
As Lee County has grown, SAI has grown as well to offer additional services and programs to help its clients meet their needs.
"It has been a great partnership," Nancy observes. "We're looking forward to our next StarReview!"
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Human Kinetics' Aquatic Incident Database (AID): Why Is It So Important?
Thank you for submitting your monthly and individual incident reports on the Aquatic Incident Database (AID)! A lot of valuable data is being collected from these reports, and your hard work and dedication is evident. For those of you who may be new to the SAI family and not yet had an opportunity to visit the AID, and for all of you who may not be aware of the background and significance of the AID, please read on.
The Aquatic Incident Database (AID) is an international database of aquatic rescues and pre-hospital resuscitation events housed online at www.AquaticEducationCenter.com. Initiated in 2008 and sponsored by the Human Kinetics Aquatic Education Center, the AID is the only registry of its kind and is available for use by any aquatic facility or organization, regardless of training agency affiliation.
The mission of the AID is to reduce disability and death from drowning or spinal injury by providing a means to collect data to use for evidence-based protocols, patron safety, aquatic rescue team response, effective resuscitation, and pre-hospital care.
The data collected in the AID will drive change in both local aquatic facilities and in the industry at large. Participating facilities have easy, secure access to a menu of site-specific reports to track and trend rescues and make better operating decisions. This in turn allows facilities to constantly evaluate themselves, ensuring adherence to industry best practices and established standards of care. Facilities using the AID have access to standardized incident report templates, facilitating both entry of the incident into the database and legal compliance for keeping records of these incidents.
Researchers have access to key data points not collected anywhere else about submersion incident resuscitation, suspected spinal injury rescues and pre-hospital care in the aquatic setting. All of this data is available to researchers while still protecting the privacy and identity of both the victim and aquatic facility involved. This industry-wide data creates evidence for research regarding best practices that will improve outcomes and ultimately save lives.
Both aquatic facility managers and researchers find that the AID is an easy-to-use tool. It is web-based, and does not require any software installation. It also has a menu of available reports to provide trend analysis and is designed to accept international data.
The AID is managed by nationally recognized researchers, epidemiologists, and clinicians who  form the AID Scientific Advisory Board. Data collected in the AID will be used to publish annual comparative reports in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education (IJARE).
As the aquatic industry embraces the use of data and information to replace anecdotes and impressions about pre-hospital care for drowning victims and those with suspected spinal injury, the Aquatic Incident Database stands alone as the only tool of its kind for use by all aquatic facilities, organizations, and researchers.
Aquatic facilities or organizations who are interested in recording data in the AID or researchers who are interested in using data from the AID should contact Sara Poe at 800-747-4457 x2349, or email sarap@hkusa.com
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New Online Course for Swim Instructors Teaching Students with Special Needs
Human Kinetics recently released the online course Introduction to Adapted Aquatics Instruction. This course acquaints the participant with the field of adapted aquatics by providing background knowledge and practical strategies for working with people who have disabilities. This course meets the mandatory certification requirements for swimming  instructors specializing in training persons with developmental disabilities per Section 514.072, Florida Statutes; it also qualifies for CEUs under Pennsylvania Act 48 for teachers and through other organizations. The online delivery of this course offers the convenience of meeting these training and CEU requirements at the time and place of the participant's choosing.
During this three-hour course the participant will:
explore the physical properties of water and how disability attributes may affect a person's body position and propulsion in water;
learn about the role of the adapted aquatics instructor and scope of adapted aquatics;
understand federal law as it relates to people with disabilities and their participation in aquatics programs;
discover how to create a safe environment, including learning about techniques for pool entry and exit and physical support for swimmers with disabilities;
discuss strategies for effective communication with swimmers who have disabilities and their family members and significant others; and
investigate strategies for inclusion in aquatics that will enhance the learning environment and meet the unique needs of people with disabilities.
This course also provides the participant with a basic understanding of six major disabilities of childhood: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, blindness and low vision, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, and spina bifida. Not only will the participant understand the definition, characteristics, and secondary conditions associated with each disability, but he or she will also learn the implications for participation, learning, safety, swim skill development, and contraindications.
Effective January 1, 2010, all Starfish Swim Instructors teaching students with special needs will be required to complete the online course in addition to maintaining their Starfish Swim Instructor certification requirements. Providers may order the online course through SAI at a discounted rate of $35, which is almost half off of the retail price. Starfish Swimming Providers will be able to order the course from SAI beginning September 1, 2009. Please contact Jennifer White at Jennifer.white@starfishaquatics.org for more information.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR SAI STAFF
In each issue, SAI will feature a national staff member. This month, we are proud to feature our Vice President of Quality Assurance, Carol Lee Fick.
Meet Carol Lee Fick
I have an extensive aquatic background beginning with my first experiences as a 13-year-old  ARC Junior Lifeguard at a camp on the west coast of France. From there, I expanded my experience by earning more certifications and eventually becoming an Instructor Trainer in ARC Lifeguarding, First Aid, and Swimming. As my three children were growing, I also worked as a swim coach and earned Bachelor and Master degrees in Education.
I first met Jill White when we were working for Ellis and Associates, where I was Vice President and directed the auditing process. All three of my children, Mike, Hans and Tiffany, worked with me as auditors for many of those years. During that time, I also received my Bachelor's degree in nursing, and worked as a hospital obstetrical nurse for several years before thinking it was time to retire with my husband.
We traveled for some time but it was just not enough for me, so I decided to go back to work. About this time, Jill White was developing the Starfish Aquatics Institute program and asked me if I would be interested in working in aquatics again. So, I joined SAI on our Board of Advisors and as our Vice President. Two of my children, Mike and Tiffany, continue to work with me here at Starfish Aquatics Institute.
When I am not doing StarReviews, my husband and I travel extensively with a heavy emphasis on cruising. Two of my children have provided me with two grandchildren whom I enjoy visiting when time permits. I also like to read, take long walks and eat at outdoor restaurants.
And, of course, I always face the water even when on vacation! All of those years as a lifeguard just become a natural part of you over the course of a lifetime. For those of you who have not met me yet, just look around the corner because I may be your next StarReviewer.
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Excuses, Excuses!
Being part of an industry which draws a majority of its staffing resources from the teenage demographic presents a unique set of challenges, not  the least of which is ensuring that all shifts and positions are always adequately staffed. It is just a fact that teenagers are notorious for using their creativity and ingenuity to miss work at times. We asked you to send in your favorite "excuses," which we've compiled below. Thanks to DRD Pool Management, Tomahawk Lake and Pool Management Group for submitting some of the best!
From You :
* There is a hostage situation and the police have blocked my way (investigated by manager and found to be fictitious).
* Psychological - I need more time off on weekends to be with my friends.
* Kidney stone surgery needed.
* I've contracted salmonella from the pool. (When told the odds of this occurring, lifeguard later changed alleged condition to "pneumonia.")
* I have ill. My hair is broken. (From an international lifeguard)
* I have developed an allergy to sunblock.
* I am not safe after being profiled by hand movements.
* I received a concussion after scrubbing pool tiles.
From call-in-sick.com (yes, it actually exists):
* My horoscope says something bad will happen today (how about getting fired?).
* My dog is having puppies.
* I have food poisoning.
* I don't have any clean clothes.
* I need to be here when the cable guy comes.
Finally, our favorite, from our CEO, Leslie Donavan:
* I won't be in the office for three weeks. Due to a last minute cancellation by someone else, I must take his place and embark on a fantastic cruise in the Arctic. (We excused this. After all, she is the CEO. But, we are watching her).
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Starfish Swimming Provider Update
Make sure to check out NEW Program Facilitator documents on the Starfish Swimming Intranet:
Sunscreen Log (new)
Program Facilitator Daily Checklist (revised)
StarBabies Core Skills Checklist (new)
WWA Reminder
Planning on attending the World Waterpark Association Conference in Orlando this October? Don't forget that SAI will be offering trainings for StarGuard, Starfish Swimming and AquaTech! Sign up on the WWA website: World Waterpark Association.
CMS and Aquatic Incident Database
Thank you for entering your lifeguard and swim instructor data into the CMS and for entering your monthly reports on the Aquatic Incident Database (AID). Please remember to also send your Rate Your Program forms to the national office.
News from Accounting
Please make sure you have the correct address for remittances so that your payments are not delayed in being credited to your account.
All checks should be mailed to:
SAI Finance Office
P.O. Box 525
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Also, if you would rather pay by credit card, please call me at 847-607-0274.
It is not considered safe to email or fax your credit card information.
Jeanmarie Hagedorn,
SAI Finance Director
P. 847 607 0274
F. 847 607 0314
jmh904@comcast.net
Press Releases On The Intranet
Did you just join the SAI family? Was your facility awarded five stars for its recent StarReview or SwimReview? Let everybody know about it!
Press releases are available for your use on the intranet. They can be found under Documents/StarReview Forms and sent to your local media outlets. Forward any articles that are printed electronically and we'll feature them in a newsletter! If they appear in print, scan a copy and send to sarap@hkusa.com.
News from Starfish Swimming
All SSI's must possess their own copy of the NEW Starfish Swim Instructor Workbook, available for purchase through the SAI Headquarters Office for $7.00. The previous PDF file is no longer available and should not be used.
Please submit 2008 Starfish Swimming Surveys & 2009 Starfish Swimming Merchandise Purchase Agreements immediately to Sara Poe at the SAI Headquarters Office.
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