Life gaurding question?

Question

Ok. so i'm a life gaurd and a day during the drills we had one of the senior guards slipped up on backboarding which is a major no-no. We have to now know backboarding and show it to our head guard. I know the steps pretty well but i want to know if theres an easy way to remember it. Please only answer if you have the right sources. and/or a certified lifgaurd . Please and thank you

Answer 1

i come from a pool where we did backboard drills rain or shine once a week. practice is the only way to be sure you'll know it in an emergency situation.

1. "activate the emergency action plan" what that means is that you should shout or blow your whistle, or whatever you've been taught to signal to your other lifeguards that you'll be doing a backboard.

2. approach the victim and do the appropriate head immobilization technique. (do arm splint because its easier.. the one where your arms are parallel to their spine, and your hands are on their chin and the back of their head, stabilizing)

3. swim the victim to the backboard (thats if you're in deep water. if its shallow, stand so the victim's spine is at or slightly below the surface of the water.)

4. [your partner will submerge the backboard and position it so the head is over the padded part of the backboard.] after the board has floated up, carefully slide your hand out from under the patient and put it in the same spot, but beneath the board.

5. guide the board to the wall of the pool.

6. [your partner will place the board on her collarbones and assume in-line stabilization]

7. (i'm assuming you use 3 straps, like i did) so the strap placement goes nipples, nuts, knees. the chest strap goes UNDER the arms and OVER the chest. the hip strap goes over the crotch. the leg strap actually goes right above the knees. buckle and tighten the straps.

8. re-tighten the straps.

9. place the first head-block on the shoulder, and then *on your partner's count*(!!) you will slide the head block so its right up next to the victim's head. [your partner will place her hand on the outside of the block]

10. walk around the board and repeat step 9.

11. place the head strap over the forehead, tighten.

12. remove the board from the pool by sliding it on an extremely slight angle.

in summation, really quickly:

backboard under the victim, straps at nipples, nuts, and knees, head blocks on your partner's count of 3, just make sure stabilization is maintained at all times

you're good to go! now go save some lives, haha :)

Answer 2

It's not too bad.  Get them stabilized get them on the back board, strap them on.  I would say the biggest thing to remember because the steps aren't that hard, is to communicate with your secondary.  It's not like you're totally alone, you get another person with you use them.  Good luck :)