Lifeguards need specific equipment to save lives, including flotation devices like the lifeguard tube and ring buoy, carrying devices like the spine board and head immobilizer, and basic medical supplies. They also use whistles or megaphones to get swimmers’ attention and have a high chair and umbrella for better visibility.
Lifeguards are individuals who patrol pools and beaches, helping swimmers in need of rescue. To do his job, the lifeguard must have certain lifeguard equipment on hand to help save lives. This equipment may include flotation devices, transportation devices, and medical equipment. Also, he must have a comfortable bathing suit.
The lifeguard uses flotation devices to support individuals who are unable to get out of the water on their own. A common piece of lifeguard equipment is the lifeguard tube, which is a thin, straight piece of foam covered in vinyl with a long strap attached to it. The lifeguard wraps the tube around the individual and secures the strap at the opposite end so that it forms a loop around the person’s waist. The lifeguard can then tow a person safely by holding the device while swimming.
Another flotation device is the ring buoy, because it’s typically a foam circle with a length of rope attached to it. This type of buoy is also known as a toss, as the lifeguard often tosses it to a person in distress. The person in need can be instructed to grab it or it can be placed around the body, so the lifeguard can pull the rope and help the person out of the water.
Lifeguard gear also includes carrying devices to help lifeguards move injured people once they are out of the water. Many tool kits include a spine board, which is a plastic board the same length and width as the body of an average adult. Lifeguards lift injured people and strap them onto these boards so they can move them from the beach or pool area without aggravating their injuries. Two or more lifeguards are needed to lift the board, using the handles located on both sides of it.
Another common carrying tool in lifeguard gear is the head immobilizer, which is important in cases where spinal cord injury is suspected. This piece of equipment allows the lifeguard to carefully place the injured person’s neck and head between two foam blocks. Straps attached to the blocks are then strapped around the top and bottom of the head, usually around the forehead and chin. This prevents movement of the head so that an injury is not aggravated by movement, such as during transport.
Because lifeguards often have to tend to injured people until emergency medical personnel arrive, they usually have basic medical supplies on hand. These supplies are likely to include a first aid kit, with basic bandages and wound ointments. Some lifeguards also have defibrillators, CPR face shields, and oxygen equipment.
Most lifeguards have a whistle or megaphone. It needs these tools to get swimmers’ attention quickly, especially when making important safety announcements. A high chair and umbrella are also often part of a lifeguard’s equipment, to allow for a better view of the patrol area.
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