#savethosekids

[cookseyswim]

Spinal Injuries

“No diving in the shallow end!", "No running!" These rules you have probably heard multiple times while hanging out at a pool with a lifeguard for hire on duty, but you probably don't know the reasoning behind this over-enforced rule. It is over-enforced because of spinals; head, neck, or back injuries.

Our lifeguards are trained “When in doubt, shoot out.” This means that they should always expect the worst. It is better for a lifeguard to go and help than to think that the person is okay. 

Pools are one of the slipperiest surfaces out there. And actually the most common pool related injury is slips and falls. This is why the two rules listed above are heard multiple times an hour, if a proactive lifeguard for hire is on duty that is. So why do you so often see parents not enforcing this rule to children? No one thinks their child will slip. And if they do, they are young, they will catch themselves. Adults run, even when a lifeguard for hire is telling them not to politely. They think, "Why should I listen to this kid. I've been running my whole life and nothing has happened to me." But the problem is when the child or adult do not catch themselves, which is actually more common than one would expect. And because adults are a lot heavier, they will fall harder, too.

Also, people that dive in the shallow end, or towards the corners of the pool are in great danger of getting a spinal. This is because a lot of times it is hard to decipher where the ground is in a pool. Since the water is clear (or even worse when its not) it is so hard to really know where exactly it is. When you dive into a pool, if you just dive a few inches too deep you will hit your head on the bottom of the pool. Or if you do not dive straight out you are facing the risk of hitting your head on the side.

If a person does not catch themselves, or they hit their head instead of their butt, they are in danger of getting a head, neck, or back injury. If a person hits any side of the pool with their head, they are in danger of the same. Best case scenario, you have a bump on your head and probably a concussion. Worst case scenario leads to fatality. If you do get a spinal, but it is not fatal, you can end up with back problems, headaches, and physical therapy, even lifetime paralysis.

If you did not see the event that caused this person's neck, head, or back pain, or if someone is unconscious in a situation where they could have hit their head, you always expect a spinal injury. This is because you can never be too careful when you are treating a person. Like I said before, “When in doubt shoot out.” You want to make sure that their head and body is stabilized and that they are not moving at all. Call 911 right away. Make sure you are talking to the person, making sure they stay calm and conscious. Talk to them even when unconscious, because you never know if they are listening.

You always want to be careful around a pool. You always want to enforce these rules, and listen when your lifeguard for hire enforces them, because they were trained to keep you safe. Our lifeguards have gone through vigorous so that they can help people, if you don’t listen you are taking them for granted, and wasting whoever is hiring the lifeguards money! A good lifeguard for hire should be happy to give you the information to keep you safe. Lifeguards for hire know the reasons for all rules, so if you are unsure why one is enforced, ask them to clarify.

[cookseyslifeguardcompany-blog]

Duncan Waters hates doing end of the summer paper work! His been yelling why me all morning. It's ok Duncan just two more filing cabinets left! #cookseyswim #cookseyslifeguardcompany #summertime #savethosekids #lifeguardforlife #lifeguard

[cookseyswim]

Don't Take Your Lifeguard For Hire Granted

      A lot of people see a lifeguard sitting in their chair or walking along their pool deck, and they stop talk about how easy the job is. "Pretty easy job you got there huh?", "Want me to jump in so you could get some action?", "Wish this was my job, all I do is get tan and swim." Whether to the lifeguard personally or to their friend at the party (trust me, we hear it all either way), people are always looking down on lifeguards for hire.

     I say trust me, we can hear it, because what a lot of people do not realize or even think about is our heightened senses. While we are on tower we are constantly hearing EVERYTHING around us. We are listening for someone choking in the kitchen, a child screaming in the lawn, an argument that breaks out, even a car that slams on its breaks outside of the facility. We are constantly opening our ears and letting all of these noises in. Many people think that we are not paying attention, we are staring off into the distance, but the truth is we probably know more about what is going on at that party than the host does.

    Our ears are not the only sense that is hyperactive while lifeguarding your private pool. We see everything. We see a group of kids playing ninja on the side of the house, we see the dog jumping on a baby in the yard, and we see the kid that no one is watching standing on a stool that is not quite sturdy enough.

    In order to be a good lifeguard, we have to be aware of literally everything that is happening, in and out of the pool. 

     Once we are at your home lifeguarding we are guarding LIVES. No matter where they are what they are doing, we are looking out for you, and protecting the home owner. We do not just see and hear everything, we are constantly thinking of every scenario that may come about and what we would do if the emergency played out. We see that the child eating huge mouthfuls of a hot dog looks like he just got his teeth in, and there is a good chance he will choke, and if he does, what are my plans? I will blow my whistle and run over, ask for his parents permission (the dad is over by the bouncy house watching his girl slide down the slide), then treat the child.

    There are so many more things that come along with being a lifeguard. Each of our lifeguards is aware of the amount of responsibility this job takes, and they are very serious about keeping the people in your pool safe. We know how to keep the people at your party safe because we did very vigorous training to receive this job. This is not just a bus boy job, learning how to clear the table quickly, signing some papers, then getting a paycheck the next week. This is a lifeguard job with multiple certifications I have to keep up to date through red cross. I get audited by my managers constantly to make sure that I know CPR and can act quickly under pressure. I have weekly meeting where we go over saves and scenarios both in and out of the water.

     So no, to answer your question, this is not an easy job. It is a job with a lot of responsibility for a teen to take in, but I love it. I love being able to see potential problems and fix them before they occur. I love the feeling of grabbing your child and pulling her to the stairs after seeing her in distress, while you are over enjoying your party.  

      Because that is what I, the lifeguard, am here to do. Guard lives and keep your party safe. So next time you see your lifeguard instead of saying "Wow, easy job huh?" Why don't you say, "Thank you for being so attentive and stern with the rules, you are really keeping my loved ones safe."

http://www.cookseyslifeguardcompany.com/#!Dont-Take-Your-Lifeguard-For-Granted/c1766/195137E9-014D-4E9F-B5BE-1D2B62F9665F

[cookseyswim]

TREASURE

          Treasure is an amazing game to play with your kids in the pool during their swim lessons, no matter the level of swimming they are. The game includes dive sticks (or anything that sinks in the pool). A free alternative is an old spoon that you do not mind in the chlorine. Treasure should usually be played in the middle of a swim lesson when the child's excitement is low and they are getting tires.

           Treasure always starts with a magical story. I put all of the dive sticks on something that floats and tell a story as so, although you can make up anyone you like for your child's swim lesson:

           Once upon a time there was a captain named (child’s name here). He/she sailed the mighty seas collecting different treasures from the depths of the ocean. Once night there was a horrible storm. Waves bigger than the tallest building you have ever seen ripped through captain (child’s name)’s boat. The captain could not keep the boat under control. One final wave crashed down and with the wave the boat fell apart, and all of the treasure fell to the bottom of the ocean. Captain (child’s name) made it to land. Destined to find his/her treasure he/she rented scuba gear and swam all the way to the crash site, diving down to collect all of the fallen treasure.

           While you are telling this story (or any story you make up) you want to make sure that you are being very enthusiastic and getting the child pumped up for this game. This should make them incredibly excited for their swim lessons. They should want to play a few times every lesson, although you have to make sure you limit the game and know your child is getting enough practice with their other pool skills. When he/she first starts diving you can help by pushing down on the back, head first. Make sure you do not push them so hard as to smack their head on the bottom. Every time they retrieve a treasure make sure you cheer them on.

           As your child's swim lessons progress your pressure on them should be less and less, until they can dive by themselves. You want to make sure just not to push them, but to actually guide them the way that their body should be when diving. This means telling them to put their feet up to the sky, kicking at the surface and pulling the water with their hands down toward the bottom. It is also important that you make sure they can turn around and push off of the bottom once they run out of breath. This is so important because it teaches the children to always be aware up from down, and how to reach the surface in the pool by themselves.

    Games are such an important part of swim lessons. Sometimes swim lessons can be very challenging for children, so there has to be a few points during where they are allowed to play and have fun. Treasure is a great game for swim lessons because it will never get old. You can eventually tweak the game so that they dive deeper. You can also dump out a whole bunch throughout the pool and then race to see who can get them faster; you or the child. You can also put out about ten and time them. Do this every swim lesson so that they can track how much faster they are getting in the pool.

[cookseyslifeguardcompany-blog]

Here at CLC Inc we are very excited to have our new pool in Long Beach! We now have 10 pools in total. Way to go lifeguards! #cookseyswim #cookseyslifeguardcompany #savethosekids #lifeguard #lifeguardforlife

[cookseyslifeguardcompany-blog]

Setting up for a reality TV show about parting in LA. Probably a horrible show but we are the lifeguard making sure no one gets hurt. We won't be in any shots but we are always in the background. #cookseyswim #cookseyslifeguardcompany #savethosekids #lifeguard #summertime #realityTV

[cookseyslifeguardcompany-blog]

One of our many under water pics of the summer. Now that summers pretty much over I have more time to put some of this pics up. #cookseyswim #savethosekids #lifeguard #lifeguarding #cookseyslifeguardcompany

[cookseyslifeguardcompany-blog]

One of our lifeguards wants this to be our new shirt. #cookseyswim #lifeguard #savethosekids