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Lifeguard Training: Beating the Brick
Thursday, April 11th, 2013Making the decision to become a lifeguard may pose several challenges. One of these challenges is passing the required lifeguard training. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to start the training process by registering, researching the types of training required and practicing your swimming skills.
Signing Up:
In order to start the certification process, you have to signup. Many lifeguard companies offer online registration, but you can also reserve a spot over the phone. This part is easy and not stressful at all! Just provide your information, make sure you understand the costs and you will be ready to begin training. Some companies offer discounted training to employees. When choosing a class, be sure you feel confident in your swimming abilities before signing up for your physical training.
Training:
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what training you actually need in order to sit atop the lifeguard chair. There are many different types of courses available, so the choices can be daunting. Take some time to review the training classes available at your company. Don’t be afraid to contact someone at to ask training-related questions – remember that training requirements may differ based on your location and job requirements.
Training offerings that you might see:
- Lifeguard Training Prerequisite
- Lifeguard Training Course
- Lifeguard Blended Learning Course
- Lifeguard Review
- CPR/AED for Lifeguards Review
- CPR/AED for Lifeguards
- Waterfront Skills Module
- Lifeguard Instructor Course
- Pool Operator Course
A new lifeguard usually needs the following:
- Lifeguard Training Prerequisite (if required)
- Lifeguard Training Course
- CPR/AED for Lifeguards
- OSHA Training (only if you’re handling chemicals)
- Blood Bourne Pathogens training
The Brick Test:
In addition to your classroom training, which covers everything from CPR to respecting your patrons, a lifeguard training course may have a required prerequisite test. During this test, you will be required to continuously swim 300 yards, either front crawl or breast stroke. You are also required to tread water for two minutes without the use of your hands. Don’t worry; this isn’t as terrifying as it sounds. Just practice!
Once you’ve demonstrated you can swim, you will be required to complete the Brick Test. This can be tricky.
Here’s what you have to do:
You have 1 minute and 40 seconds to complete the following:
- Swim 20 yards (without goggles) and locate the brick submerged 7-10 feet deep in the pool.
- Surface dive (from the water) either feet or head first and retrieve the brick.
- Swim with the brick back to your starting location holding it throughout the swim. The brick cannot be submerged, and two hands must be holding the brick throughout the swim.
- Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
Now here is how I beat the brick:
- When you locate the brick, keep it a bit in front of you so that when you dive down, you will land right on it.
- Dive down headfirst. It will get you there faster.
- Once you pick up the brick, push hard with your feet to propel yourself upward. Then, flutter kick until you reach the surface.
- Next, rest the brick on the upper part of your chest right under your chin and get into the back float position.
- With both hands holding the brick, begin to kick.
- Many people decide to frog kick (the kick used in breaststroke) because it is more powerful, but whichever kick you are more comfortable with will work.
- Now, just kick until you reach the wall. Once you are there, place one hand on the wall and use the other to set the brick down.
- Push yourself up onto the side of the pool, and you are done!
These steps are key to beating the brick test. Just remember to practice, and your start to a lifeguarding career will be a definite success!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Friedlander is a junior at McDonogh High School in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been a lifeguard for American Pool Enterprises and Guard for Life since she was fifteen, and has loved every minute of it. Between sitting in the sun, helping to keep swimmers safe, saving money for her college fund and fine tuning her work-place skills, she could not think of a better summer job.
Aside from being a lifeguard, she is also a varsity cross country and indoor track runner as well as a year-round lacrosse player. Even with the busy life of a high school student, she finds that lifeguarding fits easily into her schedule and is a rewarding life experience.
In this series, Nicole will share her insight and advice about having a job as a lifeguard. Follow her series here on guardforlife.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Meet The 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Team
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012by Ryan Hudson
After eight days in Omaha, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Swimming reached its conclusion, and with it came the official roster announcement from USA Swimming.
The men’s side is led, obviously, by Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Phelps, a 16-time medalist, will compete in four individual events in London (200m IM, 400m IM, 100m fly and 200m fly), the same number as Lochte (200m back, 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m free). The rivals could face each other in two finals, while also competing together on the relay teams.
On the women’s side, 17-year-old Missy Franklin qualified in four individual events, and Allison Schmitt will swim three competitions in London.
In addition to the 49 swimmers named to the team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, USA Swimming also tabbed the coaches for London: The men’s staff consists of head coach Gregg Troy and assistant coaches Bob Bowman, David Marsh and Eddie Reese; The women’s head coach is Teri McKeever, and the assistant coaches are Dave Salo, Todd Schmitz and Steve Bultman. Tim Murphy is the head open water coach.
The full team will head to Knoxville, Tenn., on July 7, for training camp in advance of traveling to London. The Olympic swimming competition takes place between July 28 and August 4 at the London Aquatic Centre, with the women’s and men’s open water 10K set for Aug. 9 and 10, respectively, at the Serpentine at Hyde Park.
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team:
Men:
Alex Meyer – 10K Open Water
Ryan Lochte – 200 Back, 200 IM, 400m IM, 200 Free, 800 Free Relay
Peter Vanderkaay – 400 Free
Brendan Hansen – 100 Breast
Michael Phelps – 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 800 Free Relay
Women:
Haley Anderson – 10K Open Water
Elizabeth Beisel – 200 Backstroke, 400 IM
Dana Vollmer – 100 Fly, 800 Free Relay
Allison Schmitt – 400 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
Missy Franklin – 100 Free, 100m Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 Free, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
…For the full list visit SB Nation
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Lifeguards Train for Olympic Trials
Tuesday, June 19th, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. -For one week this summer, Omaha will be at the center of the competitive swimming universe.
More than 1,000 Olympic hopefuls will be in town trying for a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in the summer games in Great Britain.
Although these are some of the top athletes in the world, someone has to be charged with keeping them safe.
“An accident can happen at any time,” said Dayle Nervig, Prairie Life Fitness water supervisor.
The chance to watch over greats such as Michael Phelps is what made lifeguard Jake Kruger volunteer to work at Omaha’s Olympic Trials.
“Last time, when the trials were here, I had a really good time watching, and I wanted to see what it was like behind the scenes,” he said.
Kruger is one of about 40 certified lifeguards who plan to work at the week-long event. Guarding part of two pools inside Omaha’s CenturyLink Center should be a far cry from the practice pool at Brownell Talbot where the lifeguards are training.
“It’s intense,” said lifeguard Amanda Kettle. “I never really thought you’d need to jump in at all, but during practice, when they’re in the practice pools, they collide a lot.”
Coordinators said the practice time is invaluable for the lifeguards.
Cruise on the world’s largest and most expensive ship
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
The Oasis of the Seas cost a staggering $1.24 billion and took six years to complete
By: Dhwani Shah
After six years of efforts and cost over $1.24 billion to build, Oasis of the Seas is the world’s most expensive and largest ship. Oasis of the Seas is the most expensive ship in history and it is wider, taller, and longer than the largest ocean liner ever built.
Over the years, there have been efforts to create wonders of the seas and the first vessel, built with the sole purpose of cruising, was Prinzessin Victoria Luise in 1900’s. It’s not just the competition that is driving the builders of ocean liners to build massive vessels, but the tourism industry itself. Cruising has now become a major part of the tourism industry worldwide and people have been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for crafting an experience.
A giant step into the future
Imagine an ocean liner carrying nearly 6,400 passengers. Grand, isn’t it? That is how many passengers can the Oasis of the Seas carry. Oasis of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean, is 1,180 feet long, much longer than the prior largest passenger ship and holds the capacity of carrying over 6,400 passengers. The construction of Oasis of the Seas involved a network of nearly 600 subcontractors and provided years of labor to 5,800 man-work. Royal Caribbean’s ships are typically more upscale than those of the bargain Carnival Cruise Lines’ vessels, but they aren’t as traditional as those of luxury carriers such as Cunard.
Make no blunder: Oasis of the Seas will be no clumsy giant. It has three main propellers that will swivel 360 degrees on independent bearings. Everything will be driven by electric motors powered by the ship’s central bank of six diesel generators. The amazing thing is that it will be steered by an integrated navigation and control system, which will make it possible for the captain to move the ship in any direction — forward, backward, sideways — with the flick of a joystick. No tugboats will be required.
Now the wow thing is that, the cruising tourism has accounted for U.S. $29.4 billion and carried over 19 million passengers worldwide in 2011. The swift growth has made it possible for the industry to see nine and more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele, which has kept adding every year since 2001 and others servicing European clientele. Older ships generally service smaller markets, such as the Asia-Pacific region, while the new ships are a trend of the areas with higher growth in the tourism industry.
That means more entertainment options and better amenities
Cruise ships are a comparatively new phenomenon, born from reinventing many of the passenger liners made redundant by affordable air travel. Cruise ships quickly evolved into purpose-built five star hotels, commencing with refitted ocean liners, and then being the biggest vessels having the most on-board amenities.
With its goal of bringing the best of the land to sea, Oasis of the Seas presents its passengers with features such as luxury suites and two-story loft suites measuring 1,600 sq ft with balconies overlooking the sea or walkways. The ship has a casino, a zip-line, a mini-golf course, multiple nightclubs, a karaoke club, several bars and lounges, volleyball and basketball courts, comedy club, five swimming pools, theme parks and nurseries for children.
Continue reading at http://www.industryleadersmagazine.com/oasis-of-the-seas-indeed-a-larger-than-life-experience/
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Innovative game ‘Skwim’ coming to a pool near you
Innovative game ‘Skwim’ coming to a pool near you
Thursday, December 8th, 2011From Marco Polo to Sharks and Minnows, poolgoers have enjoyed playing innovative water games for generations. Even games like basketball and volleyball have been adapted to the pool by enterprising citizens.
One such citizen recently developed a water polo-type game called “Skwim” in which opposing teams attempt to score a frisbee-like disc into a goal at either end of the pool. The game’s creator, Kevin McCarthy of Sammamish, WA, is betting on the widespread adoption of his new game and judging by early returns, Skwim is a huge hit with the kids.
To master the art of Skwim, one must become proficient at advancing toward the goal by skipping the specially-designed disc across the surface of the pool like a stone. Players also wear unique oval-toed fins – also designed by McCarthy – to help them effectively dart around the pool while trying to score a goal or prevent the other team from doing the same.
In Washington State, the game has become such an instant hit that inter-school Skwim competitions are now being held. McCarthy hopes that his creation is accepted as warmly all across the country, and it certainly seems like he has a fighting chance.
An invention happens when an entrepreneurial mind has an idea and sticks with it until fruition. Skwim is such a creation, and it is beneficial for its players in several ways. “It’s a great sport for kids to be safe, and it’s a great fitness sport for all ages,” McCarthy said. “My goal for Skwim is to have it played everywhere in the world.”
Whether this happens or not, it seems that Skwim isn’t going away any time soon. Give it a try at your local pool; who knows, it just might help get your creative juices flowing.
Originally posted on http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-1127-apodaca-20111126,0,7206457.story
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Healthier vending machines coming to a breakroom near you
Champion swimmer Lochte wins, almost drops trophy
Fourteen of the coolest resumes ever
Healthier vending machines coming to a breakroom near you
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
These machines let you see the nutrition information before you buy (photo courtesy of h.u.m.a.n. Healthy Vending)
Ten years ago, when you stepped up to a vending machine, your options may have included chips, candy bars, soda and gum. But snack dispensers have evolved (and nutrition initiatives have been put in place) so your diet may not be in as much danger the next time you walk into a breakroom with a crisp dollar bill to ease your mid-afternoon growling stomach.
Health professionals lie on both the “pro” and “con” side of the more nutritious vending debate – supporters say it never hurts to have better options, while those who oppose claim vending machines are only one brick in a mile-long wall of nutrition problems.
Besides populating break rooms, vending machines are also mainstays in school cafeterias. Currently, 27 states have rules about what can be sold in elementary school vending machines, the New York Times reports. So it’s no surpise that new companies are popping up to fill the space left behind by the machines that don’t fit the new food rules.
Continue reading at http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/blogs/fitstop/tag/healthy-vending-machines/
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Champion swimmer Lochte wins, almost drops trophy
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Dance your way into shape UNDERWATER with Aqua Zumba
Champion swimmer Lochte wins, almost drops trophy
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Ryan Lochte wins big at the 2011 USA Swimming Golden Goggles
As Ryan Lochte accepted his award for the Male Race of the Year at USA Swimming’s Golden Goggles Sunday night, he pulled a typical Ryan Lochte move: he nearly dropped the trophy.
One estimate says the hardware is worth in the range of $1500, so it was a good thing Lochte caught it before it fell to the floor.
“I got it, don’t worry,” Lochte told the crowd after knocking the trophy off the podium.
Lochte’s laid-back and carefree attitude has been well documented, as the Floridian likes to enjoy life and not take anything too seriously. That included dancing on the red carpet and pointing and posing for the cameras, and later showing Missy Franklin some dance moves after the pair took home the Men’s and Women’s Athlete of the Year honors.
“I told everyone I will stop swimming once I stop having fun. And honestly, I don’t see that ever happening,” Lochte said. “I’m having so much fun with swimming, it’s a blast.”
Having a blast with the sport is exactly why Lochte is the best swimmer in the world. He’s won the last three Male Athlete of the Year awards at the Golden Goggles, and this summer he broke the first long-course world record since high-tech swimsuits were banned at the start of 2010.
Continue reading at http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/blogs/blog=splashed/postid=567863.html
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Dance your way into shape UNDERWATER with Aqua Zumba
Friday, November 11th, 2011
An Aqua Zumba class burns calories the fun way
We all know that regular exercise is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, working out just isn’t that much fun.
Enter Aqua Zumba, an hour-long underwater dance workout that provides results with an enjoyable, upbeat and expressive style.
For those not familiar, traditional Zumba is an upbeat group aerobics exercise where participants dance to Latin, hip-hop and pop music until they feel the burn. The intensity level is variable for folks with any fitness status, guaranteeing a fun and effective workout that anyone can do.
Aqua Zumba simply moves this workout to the shallow end of the pool. This relocation presents several benefits, including extra resistance from the water, less stress on the joints and less overheating and sweating. And you don’t even have to be a swimmer; you’ll never go more than chest-deep.
Aqua Zumba is also more heart-healthy as the average person’s heart rate decreases 13 percent when submerged chest-deep in water. The water resistance causes extra calorie burn while simultaneously helping your joints and heart. Who says you can’t have it all?
If you’re looking for a new, fun way to stay in shape, give Aqua Zumba a try. Dance, whoop and holler your way to the best shape of your life, and make new friends while you’re at it!
Originally posted on http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_19088146.
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USA Swimming launches mobile application Deck Pass
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Deck Pass lets swimmers share their achievements through their smartphones.
COLORADO SPRINGS – Success in swimming can be measured by a variety of achievements, from faster lap times to longer distance milestones. And like all competitive sports, one of the most satisfying parts is bragging about your exploits to likeminded members of the swimming community.
With Deck Pass, the new mobile application from USA Swimming, organizing and sharing these achievements with fellow swimmers and coaches is easier than ever. Deck Pass harnesses the power of social media such as Facebook to help keep track of and share your lap times with family and friends.
You don’t have to be a serious competitor to benefit from the app; swimmers of all skill levels can connect with other swimmers, track personal times in the app’s virtual logbook and set goals for the season with Deck Pass.
“USA Swimming has long had the ability to track our members’ swimming times and rankings,” said Jim Fox, USA Swimming Marketing Manager. “Deck Pass now gives us the opportunity to use that data in a way that is exciting, fun and beneficial for swimmers. We’ve created an easy way for swimmers to connect digitally while also tapping into the importance of what goal-setting and achievement means to swimmers.”
Deck Pass provides encouragement in the form of digital patches for each accomplishment you make in the pool, from a new record time to entering a new event. Additionally, coaches can create custom patches for their swimmers to recognize individual achievements.
Deck Pass truly offers something for everyone.
Deck Pass is currently available only for the iPhone, but an Android version will hit markets later this year.
Originally posted on www.swimmingworldmagazine.com.
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Avoid swimmer’s ear this Summer 2011
Monday, June 13th, 2011By Molly Beck
At the evening Aquasize class at Springfield (Ill.) Racquet and Fitness Center, students drip out of the pool shaking their heads like dogs, attempting to wring out.
Swim team coach Ocie Glover said this act isn’t just to get dry — it’s a preventative measure from summer’s most painful affliction: swimmer’s ear.
“It’s just water that’s left in the ear — it can happen any time, but people associate it with summer because kids are swimming,” said Glover, 20.
Glover’s team is asked to wear swimming caps to prevent this painful ear infection.
“Some kids get annoyed with them being over the ears,” she said.
The infection isn’t too common on her team because of those caps. However, the ailment is a bit more common across the country.
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal that results in an estimated 2.4 million health care visits every year and nearly half a billion dollars in health care costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Tracy Milbrandt, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, said doctors at the university hospital start seeing a string of children with the painful earache about two or three weeks into summer break.
“It’s pretty common. It’s an infection or irritation of the skin in the ear canal. It’s typically caused when water repeatedly gets trapped … kids who are doing a lot of swimming (experience it) also because of having a wax plug, and water gets trapped behind the wax plug,” Milbrandt said.
Don’t ignore symptoms
While anyone can contract the infection, children are treated for it most often, Milbrandt said, simply because they’re swimming in water more often during the summer.
Symptoms include an itchy or painful ear canal, different from a regulation middle ear infection because the ear will be painful to push or tug. Yellow or green, sometimes foul-smelling, drainage may be present, too, Milbrandt said.
Swimmer’s ear cannot be spread from one person to another.
Antibiotic ear drops are the usual treatment, frequently clearing up the infection within a week.
“It can get more serious, if (kids) kind of ignore (the symptoms). You can get a deeper infection of the tissue, causing (kids) to be pretty ill,” Milbrandt said.
If that occurs, fever or more severe ear pain may develop.
“We usually say to try to avoid swimming (while using the ear drops),” she said.
Swimming in open water increases the risk of developing the infection because lakes and ponds have higher bacterial densities.
To prevent the infection, Milbrandt suggests avoiding using Q-Tips or similar cotton swabs because the swabs simply push earwax deeper into the ear. That increases the chance of forming a wax plug to trap water.
Shaking water out of your ear after swimming will help.
If a child is prone to swimmer’s ear, Milbrandt suggests creating a 1-to-1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and vinegar to drop into the child’s ear if water is trapped.
Originally posted on Carthagepress.com.
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