Effective supervision, both by carers and lifeguards, saves countless lives every year by stepping in when things start to go wrong, rather than providing first aid after the fact.
To help lifeguards build on their existing supervision and scanning skills to take them to the next level, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia has developed a new online module ‘Lifeguard Advanced Supervision Skills’.
The module, which is designed specifically for pool lifeguards, makes use of the growing body of research around the visual, cognitive and physical challenges lifeguards face when supervising an aquatic environment, often in difficult circumstances.
Royal Life Saving’s National Manager – Training and Workforce Development Shaun Jackson said honing supervision skills is critical for lifeguards, especially given that on average four people drown at public pools each year.
“We all know effective, vigilant supervision and scanning are critical components in ensuring patron safety,” Mr Jackson said.
“Yet the complexity of these tasks and the challenges lifeguards face are sometimes overlooked.
“Scanning a pool requires a range of visual cognitive processes involving focal and peripheral vision and cue discrimination, rapid information processing, use of short-term and long-term memory, analysis, judgement, and decision-making.
“Often lifeguards are trying to execute these complex skills in less-than-ideal environments over extended periods.
“This module takes learners through a close analysis of all the components that make up effective supervision. It will particularly help lifeguards to better understand the limitations of human visual cognitive resources and processes, how these connect to supervision and scanning, and what strategies and techniques they can deploy to overcome these challenges.”
The online module takes around 40 minutes to complete.
Successful completion of the module should contribute to meeting the requirements for annual in-service training for Lifeguards as set out in the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO) – Aquatic Supervision.
These modules add to the suite of Professional Development products for the aquatic industry workforce designed by Royal Life Saving. Other recently developed online learning modules include Swim Teaching for Participants on the Autism Spectrum, Teacher of Lifesaving, Conflict Management, Cultural Competence, Communication Skills, Child Safety for Frontline Staff, and Child Safety for Management Staff.
To find out more information about the Lifeguard Advanced Supervision Skills module, or other professional development offerings, contact your local Royal Life Saving office.
