PHOTOS: Winter Garden lifeguards partner with fire department for training

Every summer, the city of Winter Garden’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department team up for an in-service training session with the city’s lifeguards. 

The lifeguards were put to the test during an in-service, emergency training scenario where the fire department was called around 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 19, to Farnsworth Pool in Winter Garden.

The lifeguards worked with the firefighters to perform the necessary measures to complete the scenario rescue.

“It’s really important that they really see what it’s like to have EMS arrive on-scene, take over and what all of it entails,” Recreation Supervisor Chris McClure said. “We go through scenarios all the time where we have someone pretend to call 911, but actually doing it shows more so the little details, like what you need Rto tell EMS on the phone. It makes the lifeguards think a little differently than if they were to run through the same scenario over and over again. These collaborations really allow them to be prepared if an emergency situation does take place in real life so that it’s not the first time they’re seeing any of these procedures.”

LIFE-SAVING SKILLS

All the city’s lifeguards are certified through the American Red Cross. 

Throughout the certification course, participants learn and are evaluated on knowledge and skills related to lifeguarding, water rescues, extrications, CPR, AED and first aid.

The certifications are valid for two years, and to maintain a valid certification lifeguards also must complete at least four hours per month of ongoing training and skill refinement. 

The city of Winter Garden lifeguards work to exceed those minimum requirements and train at least eight to 10 hours per month.

McClure also likes to have separate meetings and training sessions for his managers and leadership team.

Every Friday during the summer, the city of Winter Garden lifeguards come together for an all-staff in-service training to satisfy the training hours.

During these sessions, they work on skills, team-building activities, physical fitness and scenarios. 

The scenario with the WGFRD included a victim having a seizure in the water and calling EMS.

“If a patron or guest is experiencing a seizure, one should first look to activate any type of emergency action plan that is in place,” McClure said. “As a seizure occurs, you should be sure to move any nearby objects that would cause any additional harm or injury to their head, neck or body. As an example, if a seizure occurs in the water, EMS should be called immediately.

“As the seizure passes, a responsiveness check should be performed by lifeguards,” he said. “ If the patron or guest is responsive, important information should then be gathered while awaiting EMS personnel using the SAMPLE method — signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, past pertinent medical history, last oral intake, events leading up to situation — as well as performing a secondary assessment with a head-to-toe check to ensure no further injuries have occurred. You should place them in a recovery position, their side, once you are able to do so. 

“If unresponsive after a seizure occurs, lifeguards should call EMS immediately if (they have) not already done so and then perform a rapid assessment to determine if the guest or patron has a pulse or is breathing,” he said. “Depending on the situation, either rescue breathing or CPR may be required. If no pulse is found, then an AED should be immediately called for and used if available, in addition to high-quality CPR until EMS arrives.”

Lifeguard Tessa Brady, 18, is in her second summer of working for the city.

“I enjoy doing the scenarios, because it puts it in perspective for how we would react if something like this were to actually happen,” she said. “It gives us a rundown and prepares us. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen, but it’s so helpful in our training. It helps pinpoint what we’re good at and how we can improve. It’s a life-saving situation.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

McClure said the scenario training partnership with the WGFRD started with Jackie Mathis, now the division manager for the Parks and Recreation Department, when she was with the aquatics program.

He started with the aquatics program about eight years ago and brought the partnership back about five years ago.

This is the first year the lifeguards have done the training scenario with the WGFRD twice in one year.

“Our WGFRD is incredible, and their reputation is held at such a high level,” he said. “The partnership and the collaboration that we’ve been able to foster; I just can’t say enough good things about them. It started with Jackie, and now I’ve been able to keep up with those relationships. Anything I need, they’re always willing to help. They just want to be there for us.”

The partnership goes both ways, as McClure often also sets aside time at the pool for the WGFRD to do in-water rescue training.

Bill Rosenfeld, assistant chief at the WGFRD, helped to coordinate the training with McClure.

“When something like this happens, we’re going to be involved,” he said. “The fire department is exposed to this on a regular basis; this is what we do. The lifeguards aren’t exposed to the rescue situations as much. Not doing real-life scenarios doesn’t give them the full picture of what’s going to happen. They get that exposure from start to finish with these scenarios. The lifeguards and the fire personnel have to stay communicating throughout the entire incident until we are able to completely take over. We have to collaborate and work together to be able to make these rescues and save lives.”