Funworld February 2010

Watchful Eye

Waterpark lifeguards dive in to protect their guests
by Mike Bederka

The lifeblood of a waterpark flows through its lifeguards. “Without them, you can’t operate,” says Nekeisha Kozer, general manager of Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril, Jamaica. “There are no two ways about it.”

With guest safety a number-one priority, facilities must carefully vet their job candidates. Those who pass the initial screening get whipped into shape during training. Management then fine-tunes the guards’ life-saving skills throughout the season and implements programs to inspire quality.

Tips for Interviewing Potential Lifeguards
Ralph Vilardo, director of safety at The Beach Waterpark in Mason, Ohio, generally can tell from the interview’s opening minutes if the candidate will be a right fit at his venue. “I don’t think young people realize the importance of first appearances,” he explains. “I take great stock in that.” Vilardo wants eye contact and a firm handshake. Without a doubt, the job requires confidence as well as teamwork, he says, so he prefers people who already have participated in a team environment, be it sports, theater, or band.

One-word answers automatically turn off Mike Fijas, general manager of Raging Waves in Yorkville, Illinois. Quick responses during an interview often indicate how well a person will react poolside. “You want your lifeguard to be able to engage with the guest and take an authoritative stand,” Fijas advises.

Managers should look for signs of immaturity as well. Mentions of “I want this job to get a good tan or meet chicks” even said in a joking manner need to be scrutinized, says Eric Bertch, aquatics manager for Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo, Iowa. “This isn’t ‘Baywatch.’”

Also, don’t forget to ask about their swimming ability right at the start. Surprisingly enough, a decent number of people show up to interview at Kool Runnings can’t even swim. That being said, Kozer doesn’t expect applicants to have years of lifeguarding experience. Her waterpark turns out to be the first job for many; however, she does require a willingness to learn.

Top Training
Kool Runnings’ candidates undergo a “very rigorous” training course, Kozer says. The Royal Life Saving Society of Jamaica, which works with the Jamaican army, trains them for three hours a day for a week straight. “They’re not messing around,” she notes. “They’re the only ones in Jamaica who do it. There’s no going around them and doing it an easier way.”

On the final day of training, the country’s National Environment and Planning Agency comes in. The organization proctors a swimming and written test and upon successful completion issues the lifeguarding license to the battle-tested individual. “They will be ready to save a life if need be,” Kozer says.

Strict standards are also commonplace elsewhere. At Lost Island, new lifeguards are pushed mentally and physically, Bertch says; some quit before finishing the three eight-hour days of training. Lifeguards undergo a battery of exercises: swimming, running, treading water, CPR, and retrieving a brick at the bottom of the pool. To learn team-building, they’re paired with different people throughout the training weekend. “They have to be able to rely on anyone at the waterpark to help out in the event they’re involved in a rescue,” he explains. “You can’t pick your rescue teammates in a real-life situation.”

To further strengthen the importance of proper lifeguarding, Bertch has everyone watch a video supplied by their trainer, Jeff Ellis and Associates. The intentionally graphic footage shows a real-life drowning victim convulsing and foaming at the mouth. It also includes comments from the family’s attorney and interviews with the negligent lifeguards, who were sued for damages. “A lot of people are speechless,” he says of the soon-to-be lifeguards’ reactions.

Vilardo adapts materials from the Red Cross for his training sessions. A dry run right before the start of the year brings the initial instruction to a fitting finish. “We operate the park like any other day except there are no patrons,” he says. “We go through every scenario that they would encounter on the job.”

On Duty
To stay sharp over a long season, lifeguards at Raging Waves will undergo regular audits and in-service training, says Fijas, owner of Waterpark Solutions, a waterpark consulting company. In addition, guards attend an opening and closing meeting every day on duty. Here, Fijas includes safety tips and goes over what went right or wrong during a shift. “We’re throwing a lot at them for just a ‘summer job,’” he says.

Lifeguards at Lost Island also should be prepared for monthly surprise audits by Ellis and in-services. Bertch will change the continuing education topic based on what needs to be addressed most. Topics vary from rescues to scanning drills to first aid. “I don’t know how people can take lifeguarding seriously and not require them to go through inservice training,” he says.

The responsibility to continually monitor staff falls to management, as well, Vilardo says. Supervisors ensure lifeguards stay hydrated and use sunscreen, and that rotations run smoothly. Most waterparks will move guards to different stations after 20 to 30 minutes and give them a short break after two and a half hours.

“No matter where you’re working, it’s difficult to stare at the same body of water for eight to 10 hours a day,” Bertch says.

Rewards and Punishments
Incentives play an important role in maintaining staff morale, Vilardo says. “The better work experience we can make for them, the better employee they are, and the better it is for us.” Staff can use the waterpark at their leisure on off days after they work 15 hours, he says. Through drawings, they have the opportunity to win iPods, gift cards to local restaurants, movie tickets, and cash.

In addition to prizes, lifeguards at Raging Waves, an Australian- themed waterpark, earn golden boomerangs for their name tags. Kool Runnings also acknowledges staff members with a “lifeguard of the week” honor. Their photos are posted in the lobby, and the winners receive recognition at the weekly meeting and a nice prize—sometimes a weekend trip for two to a nearby attraction. “They’re kind of like a celebrity for the week,” Kozer says.

On the flip side, staff must be admonished if they slack off on the job, she says. At her facility, depending on the mistake, they may be forced to take a two-week break to get their act together or yanked off active duty and moved over to stacking chairs and pulling tubes. Luckily, no serious offenses have occurred that warranted outright termination.

For Fijas, too, the penalty depends on the infraction. More minor lapses result in a verbal warning or a short suspension. “With a mistake that involved compromising the safety of a guest, they don’t get three strikes,” he says. “It’s one strike, and you’re out.”

Kozer firmly endorses that opinion: “You can’t give second chances when it comes to life.”
Contact Contributing Editor Mike Bederka at mbederka@IAAPA.org.