I want to be a lifeguard, but I'm afraid?

Question

I'm afraid of a 500 lb. man drowning....how's my 130 lb. behind gonna get a guy like that out of the water? I can swim, and I can swim very well. However, all I can do is picture myself going in to save the guy, and then getting caught under his weight....I am probably going to get trained late April....but, what's keeping me concerned is a large man..or woman..drowning....?

Answer 1

you shouldnt be afraid of things like this because its just something in your mind that is telling you not to do this its basically trying to take you away from your hopes and dreams and even something that could even be your acheivments and if something like this was to accure thats why you suppose to go to training so they would be able to tell you how to save someone the right way and even tell you the wrong ways and why they are wrong its basically some instrutions on how things should be done the right way and why doing the wrong things dont work

Answer 2

The answer is that you get help, particularly if he's struggling.  I don't think anyone can pop that much meat out of the pool alone.  It's tough enough to rescue a 150 pound person out of the pool or lake.

Answer 3

its all in your mind dnt be afraid. jus get past that. remember feAr only keep u behind

Answer 4

Well a couple things help you:

1. Buoyancy - a 500 lb. man weighs much less than 500 lb. in the water.

2. YOUR AID - all lifeguard live and die by their aids. A rescue can will hold a 500 lb. man comfortably.

3. You most likely won't have to do a removal by yourself, and you most likely will be doing it in the shallow end. If a 500 lb. man goes unconscious in the deep end, you most likely will do a control-carry to the shallow end, at which point you can recruit bystanders and other lifeguards to help you with removal.

I (weighing in at 180 pounds) have rescued a 290 lb. man by myself before (drowning non-swimmer), and it wasn't at all difficult, I even managed a d**n good pia carry. I didn't use my aid.

And remember, in a real situation, you are under a LOT of adrenaline.