Blog 4: Working EQ

Although I really wanted to do therapy dogs as my senior project, I have found a topic that would better help me in the future. That's why I decided to switch my topic to life guarding. I have always had a passion for swimming and helping others, so this fits the bill perfectly. The only down fall is that now I have to find new research and a new mentorship, but I have already been able to put in a considerable amount of hours for a life guarding that I took a couple weekends ago. 

The life guarding certification class that I took has really helped me to acquire a sense of accomplishment and security. I now feel that if I were to be put into a situation where someones life was at risk, I would be able to help that person and possibly save their life. The part of the training that really opened up my eyes to how tough life guarding can be was the practical training. In practical training we had to go in the water and actually preform various rescues on each other. The deep water spinal rescues are by far the hardest and most nerve racking. For that kind of rescue, you have to stabilize that victims neck and spine so as to not cause any further damage all why treading water and securing them to a spinal board. It's a lot of work, but it gave me more respect for life guards. 

I can't give an honest answer as to what has worked for me so far because I have just barely switched my topic, but hopefully I'll be able to get a position as a life guard at a local pool. That would definitely work for me. What hasn't worked is of course the fact that I have decided to change topics, but I think it will work out for the better in the long run. 

Questions:

• How do you give out warnings to patrons without being rude or unkind?
• What other ways are there of preforming spinal rescues?
• Is it possible to give CPR and other life saving actions for a spinal victim in deep water?
• What is the best way to maintain a professional demeanor at work while still maintaining a team like atmosphere?

My end goal would definitely be to secure a job as a life guard and also to obtain an instructors certification so that I can teach swim lessons. 

I think it would be really interesting to talk to someone who has actually been helped by a life guard. Maybe someone who suffered a spinal injury in the pool, but with the help of the lifeguards, sustained no further injuries and is perfectly okay now. That would be a really difficult interview to set up because of confidentiality rules, but none the less, i think that would be a really good interview.