Watermen Brand supports upcoming Lifeguards in Nicaragua.
Watermen Brand is happy to contribute to an honorable mission to provide Lifeguards in Nicaragua. Nica Heartbeat, a non-profit organization founded by Megan Lachi, was created in order to support local projects, ocean safety programs, and a first aid response center in Tola, Rivas, Nicaragua. Through community donations, Nica Heartbeat provides a growing ‘Beach Patrol’ unit that consists of a dozen volunteers. Rivas, Nicaragua has miles of beautiful coastline with world-class surf and stunning wildlife. These conditions attract large numbers of annual tourists, especially in the summer months of high surf. Even though Nicaragua is an established surf and wildlife destination for international travelers, many of the beaches remain widely un-staffed by any form of life-saving professional or lifeguard. This is slowly changing with the help of organizations like Nica Heartbeat.
Lifeguards in Nicaragua provide an encouraging environment for increased tourism and comfort for the locals to enjoy their beaches under the watchful eye of a Nica Heartbeat volunteer. Watermen Brand recognizes this opportunity and has teamed with Nica Heartbeat to provide essentials for the commendable volunteers. Through the help of volunteers and generous donations, Nica Heartbeat is poised to expand to more beaches as they slowly build up long desired resources in the region. If you would like to help, please visit www.nicaheartbeat.com and make a contribution.
To Volunteer as a Lifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor, or Contribute to Nica Heartbeat, please contact nicaheartbeat2020@gmail.com
Watermen Brand. The Real Lifeguard Company. Shop Online or View Catalog. Made for Lifeguards, By Lifeguards. San Diego, CA.
Junior Lifeguard programs have been around for decades. Almost every beach town has one from the East Coast to the West Coast. Today, we have a guest blog by Nicolette Contella of Belmar Junior Lifeguards.
About our Program
Belmar Junior Lifeguards, located in Belmar, New Jersey, has humble beginnings. It started with a few local kids who wanted something to do while they were off from school. They were already beach bums, so it was just a matter of teaching them skills about lifeguarding, while having fun. Belmar Junior Lifeguards has grown since the 90s, but our mission and values have remained the same.
We aim to create the next generation of Jersey Shore Lifeguards. If we start teaching children about the ocean and beach when they are six years old, they will be highly desirable lifeguards by the time they turn 17.
Our program runs during July. We compete in five local tournaments around Monmouth County, NJ, and we always wear our Watermen gear! We also will participate in USLA Mid-Atlantic Regionals and USLA Nationals.
Some original Belmar Junior Lifeguard photos:
Creating All Around Watermen and Waterwomen
Many of our Junior Lifeguards have grown up in towns where the beach was a short bike ride or walked away. We are grateful for our little slice of heaven.
A key pillar of our program is prevention and education. We want every child who comes through our program to recognize a rip current in the ocean, understand what they should do if someone is in distress, etc., and be able to tell a friend about it. Our curriculum includes personal safety, surf conditions, and hazards, sun safety (thanks Block the Blaze!), beach safety education and prevention, first aid, and lifeguarding tournament activities.
The Magic of Junior Lifeguards
I can tell you that the junior lifeguard that arrives on day one is not the same junior lifeguard that arrives on the last day. Our junior lifeguards have become more confident in themselves, have learned critical thinking skills, learned to work with others, and have become outstanding citizens of our community.
Our program is so magical that people never want to leave. Once our junior lifeguards become 17, they will join our Beach Patrol and/or become coaches to give back to the program. Our alums are working in practically every field: serving our country in the armed forces, working on Wall Street, working in healthcare, working in education, crafting their trade, protecting our communities, and so much more. The skills that are taught in Belmar Junior Lifeguards are never forgotten.
We would love to connect with you! Follow us on Instagram @belmarjrguards
To Shop Watermen Brand Junior Lifeguard products, click here
Millions of visitors and locals hit the beaches, lakes, rivers and pools each year. But sometimes we need a little help, and there are lifeguards in place to do just that. No matter what kind of lifeguard you are, your one number task is not rescuing people, instead your main duty is to prevent and protect the public from getting into a dangerous situation in the first place. As a lifeguard, you are constantly looking for potential danger, and your job is to warn people before that danger becomes an issue.
Surveillance, Emergency Care, Maintenance Duties
Lifeguards are responsible for keeping swimmers’ safe, and must be able to intervene in dangerous situations. During lifeguard training, lifeguards learn to identify emergency situations quickly.
Lifeguards caution people against using unsafe areas, or using illegal conduct, such as drinking or fighting. That means as a lifeguard you must be able to remain calm in all situations, if you panic or show fear the victim or the trouble maker will know it.
Beach Lifeguards
Beach lifeguards will warn people about rip currents, remind parents that waves will knock their children down, and to keep your loved ones within view. Beach lifeguards must be proficient in using two-way radios for contact, and coordinate activities between the different emergency rescue units. Beach lifeguards also have to maintain daily information on weather and beach conditions.
Beach lifeguards are constantly scanning the water in a similar pattern as a pool lifeguard, but they have a much larger surface to cover, and can rarely see below the water, so it is important to keep the beach lifeguard vigilant. Most facilities frequently rotate beach lifeguards from station to station to help them stay fresh and alert, and to offer breaks from surveillance responsibilities. Beach lifeguards, as well as pool lifeguards must be distraction-free, that means no cell phones and other items that take their eyes off the water.
Pool Lifeguards
Pool lifeguards keep patrons’ safe around and in the pool, from reminding people to walk, so they avoid slip and fall injuries, to stopping rough housing. They also teach swim lessons, and encourage things like the buddy system to keep you safe. Beach lifeguards supervise the use of water slides, and diving boards (if applicable), as well as pool maintenance, such as checking the swimming pools chlorine and pH levels.
Pool lifeguards scan the water, just like beach lifeguards do, looking for swimmers in trouble. They are trained to make a scanning pattern, by sweeping their eyes side to side or up and down looking at sections of the zone they are responsible for. This scanning method will happen every 10 seconds. It is suggested that they change their posture, position, and pattern every five minutes to keep them aware.
Both Beach and Pool Lifeguards
Provide emergency care and treatment such as CPR, and or use equipment like using spine boards and rescue tubes, as required until the arrival of EMTs. This year in particular beach lifeguards have had to administer first aid for stingray stings, using portable stingray kits.
Both lifeguard types perform various maintenance duties, as directed, to maintain a clean and safe facility.
Both lifeguard types will prepare daily activity reports.
Now that you understand some of the day to day duties of a lifeguard, our next posts will cover what it takes to get through lifeguard training, followed by lifeguard certification and testing, and ending with what to expect at lifeguard tryouts. Once this series is complete, you will have all the information you need to make an advised decision on whether or not becoming a lifeguard is right for you.
Millions of visitors and locals hit the beaches, lakes, rivers and pools each year. But sometimes we need a little help, and there are lifeguards in place to do just that. No matter what kind of lifeguard you are, your one number task is not rescuing people, instead your main duty is to prevent and protect the public from getting into a dangerous situation in the first place. As a lifeguard, you are constantly looking for potential danger, and your job is to warn people before that danger becomes an issue.