Lifeguarding in the 21st Century
“The most valuable information I ever got was being able to see and compare my lifeguarding skills. ” – Brittany Martin
by Miguel Arango
Edited by Cody George
When you think of lifeguarding, you think of hard-bodied individuals ready to plunge head first into the water at a moment’s notice to save lives. What doesn’t come to mind are cameras, electronics, robots, and the internet. Yet, these unexpected factors have silently meshed themselves into the lifeguarding praxis. Whether it be newer and better lifeguarding equipment, more efficient training, or cutting edge technology for pools, people are finding ways to stay technologically relevant in the lifeguarding world.
Nothing is more important than having the newest equipment available when lifeguarding, as lives may depend on it. For example, the new Emmobilize™ Backboard System is designed with the needs of lifeguards in mind. Taking the best qualities of trusted backboards and making intuitive improvements, the Emmobilize™ Backboard System was constructed by using cutting edge materials and better construction without compromising quality or function.
The board has no metal, staples, or screws, and is partially constructed from recycled parts. Since its recycled material doesn’t absorb any bodily fluids, the Emmobilize™ backboard is much easier to clean and much more hygienic than it’s predecessors. Emmobilize™ also makes the industry’s leading head immobilizers, vinyl exam gloves, and body straps. There is no reason not to have the best board and rescue equipment when it comes to saving someone’s life!
Becoming a lifeguard is an intense and rigorous process, filled with attaining crucial life saving information. Something as simple as a waterproof digital camera, available at most stores, can help lifeguards tremendously. Brittany Martin, a lifeguard and instructor for two years, has said the accessibility to waterproof digital cameras has helped her and her students see and compare their guarding techniques. These underwater videos and pictures help instructors better instruct their young guards to perform life saving maneuvers correctly, helping them better prepare for emergency situations.
Brittany Martin says the following about using underwater cameras for training, “The most valuable information I ever got was being able to see and compare my spinals and my lifeguarding skills. Advances like those allow lifeguard & instructor candidates to see what they excel at, where they need to improve, and compare styles to other candidates. Also, who doesn’t like watching those epic Olympic swimmers from below. It’s awesome!”. This is just one way technology has embedded itself into a lifeguard’s repertoire.
Training isn’t the only area where technology has made an impact on lifeguarding. Anthony Mulligan, an entrepreneur and engineer, has developed a lifeguarding robot named the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, or EMILY for short. This four foot long robot is a remotely controlled motorized buoy capable of traveling up to 24 MPH to rescue drowning victims. However, EMILY is not the only one making a splash these days.
Poseidon Technologies, a French company, has created an underwater surveillance system for pools. A set of surveillance cameras are set up in each pool, throughout pools walls and above the pool, and are all connected to a computer. This essentially makes the surveillance system “smart”, and helps it monitor and identify any kind of potential emergency immediately, to help guards respond before an even larger emergency escalates.
While that amazing technology exists, it is relatively new and it may be a while until each pool and beach gets their own robot and underwater surveillance system to assist lifeguards. While it is easy to see how the field of lifeguarding has been affected by the technology around it, the guarding itself has remained relatively consistent. However, that does not mean you can’t stay on the cutting edge of the technology wave when it comes to lifeguarding. By updating and using the newest lifeguarding products available, you can ensure you remain technologically relevant as well as become the most efficient lifeguard you can be! You can find these cutting edge products, like the whole Emmobilize™ product line, at online stores like eLifeguard.com, a Florida based company serving the lifeguarding industry for the last 16 years. ╚
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