At Cincinnati Sports Club (CSC) in Cincinnati, Ohio, the safety of members taking advantage of its indoor and outdoor pools is a primary concern. Which is why lifeguard training is of the upmost importance.
“We need to have staff available, alert and ready to respond to any kind of swimmer issues, health-related issues, first-aid issues and to ensure our members understand and follow the rules at the pool,” said Kevin Danbury, the sports and activities manager for CSC.
Once recruited from local high schools, colleges, churches, Craigslist or referrals, new hires start an extensive training process. First, they must be certified by the American Red Cross, Ellis & Associates or YMCA, which must include AED and CPR components.
After the certification has been verified, new lifeguards attend a club orientation led by CSC’s human resources and club managers. There, they receive Ritz Carlton LEAP customer service training, which emphasizes lifeguards’ need to listen, empathize, act and produce.
In addition to participating in on-site life saving drills, new lifeguards are required to watch a real-life drowning video to emphasize the seriousness of the job. “It is essential that these techniques are trained and implemented properly for the safety of our members and their guests while at the outdoor pool,” said Danbury.
To keep lifeguards alert, on-duty lifeguards are kept on a strict rotation that requires them to be in the same chair for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. “While in chair rotation, guards are encouraged to use the chair umbrellas for protection from the sun, carry a water bottle with them and use cooling rags,” explained Danbury. “After their chair rotation, they spend a 20-minute shift resting, rehydrating and then walking the pool deck. Continued movement is critical so that the guards do not fall into a long rest period.”
Most importantly, CSC’s lifeguards are trained to be alert and constantly serving members’ best interests. “At the Cincinnati Sports Club, customer service and life safety are our primary concerns,” said Danbury. “Our interview techniques are designed to look for individuals who have a servant’s heart. We continually ask and determine if the individual enjoys serving the customer.”
