1. Nicole Van Winkle
Cheryl Salazar
Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District

2.  58% of Parents do not consider drowning a threat to
their children. -National Safe Kids Campaign
 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in
public pools with certified lifeguards present.
–Drowning Prevention Foundation
 Drowning is the leading cause of death for infants and
young children between the ages of 1-4.
-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007

3.  “Inattentional Blindness occurs when people
fail to notice stimuli appearing in front of
their eyes while they are preoccupied with
another visual task.”
– US Lifeguard Standards released in Jan 2011

4.  Why do people drown
in lifeguarded pools?
◦ The things we can
control:
 Lifeguards lack vigilance
 Lifeguards lack proper
training
 Lifeguards lack proper
supervision
 Lack of rules or
enforcement of rules
 Ineffective hiring practices

5. Preventative Lifeguarding
 Updated certification programs
 Focus on training
 Holding staff accountable for vigilance
 Psychic Ownership

6. What are we working with?
 Technologically-savvy generation
 “It’s not my fault, you didn’t remind me.”
 Strong-willed
◦ Positive and Negative effects
 Overstimulated environment
 Job vs. School confusion
SO… how do we reach them?

7. Evaluation-
Evaluation- Where do we begin?
 Hiring Practices
◦ How effective are your hiring practices?
 Where do you recruit potential lifeguards?
 Is the application process clear?
 Do they require teamwork?
 Do they require skill?
 Do they require endurance?
 Do they involve interaction with a superior?
 Do they demand leadership skills?
 Do they require social skills?

8. Recruiting 1-2-3
 Lifeguard Shortage? Are you sure?
 Contact:
◦ HS Swim Teams
◦ Swim Clubs
◦ HS Lunches
◦ College Swim/Polo Teams
◦ College Career Fairs and Career Websites

9. Application Process
 Submit Resume or application
◦ Aquatics specific?
◦ Include certification information
 Schedule physical assessment
◦ Wufoo!
 Attend Physical Assessment
 Interview
 Rookie School
 Physical/Background

10. Summer Hiring Practices- Day 1
Practices-
 Endurance
◦ 500 yard swim
 Skill
◦ Standard Brick Tow
◦ Treading Water

11. Summer Hiring Practices- Day 1
Practices-
 Interview
◦ Do the questions give you insight?
◦ Do they provide scenarios?
◦ Do they evaluate character?
◦ For lead staff, do the questions give you insight
into their leadership potential?
◦ Do they allow the experienced lifeguard to
demonstrate their knowledge and experience?

12. Summer Hiring Practices- Day 2
Practices-
 Rookie Schools
 What is it?
 Why is it important?
 What information will I gain?
 Is it too basic for evaluating lead staff?
 How is this different than information I gain at an
interview?

13. Rookie School Format
 Lifeguard Olympics Theme
◦ 3 teams
◦ As many events as you desire
◦ Medals given out for each
event
 Skill
 Professionalism/Teamwork
◦ Teams led by current lead staff
 Form bonds with future
colleagues and superiors

14. Rookie School Format cont’d.
 Potential Events:
◦ CPR
◦ Rescue Skills
◦ Spirit Competition
◦ Team-Building Activities
◦ EAP Drills
◦ Real-Life First Aid
◦ Relays

15. Rookie School Format cont’d.
 Event Formats:
◦ Stations (our favorite)
 By team
 By pairs
◦ Group Events
 Relays
 Spirit Competition
 Team-Building
Activities

16. Rookie School Evaluation
 Evaluation Tools:
◦ Skill level- assessed at each station
◦ Interaction with team
 Do they step up as a leader? (lead staff)
 Are they confident in their knowledge?
◦ Interaction with their supervisors
 Do they accept constructive criticism?
 Can they correctly adjust their actions?

17. Rookie School Fun!

18. Questions?
Nicole Van Winkle
nvanwinkle@rivcoparks.org
Cheryl Salazar
cherylsalazar@rivcoparks.org
(951)360-1974