Lifeguards demonstrate rescue steps, urge “touch supervision” at El Prado Park
Loading...
Summary
At El Prado Park in Phoenix, pool staff and lifeguards demonstrated emergency response procedures, emphasized that "seconds matter," and encouraged parents to use "touch supervision" and consider lifeguarding as a youth job.
At El Prado Park in Phoenix, pool staff and lifeguards staged a demonstration of rescue and resuscitation procedures and urged parents to stay within arm's reach of children who cannot swim.
Becky Kirk, staff member, said, "Our number 1 goal is to make sure that our community understands what it means to be water safe or safe around water." She told parents that learning to swim is important but not the only layer of protection and described "touch supervision" as constant, hands-on oversight for children who cannot swim.
The demonstration showed how a lifeguard's whistle triggers the facility's emergency action plan. Pool staff described removing a person from the water on a backboard and providing CPR and assisted breathing until paramedics arrive. A trainer instructed rescuers to use a bag-valve mask for assisted breaths and said they would continue care until emergency medical personnel assumed responsibility.
Kirk warned of how quickly an incident can escalate. "Seconds matter," she said, adding that a short window can turn a pool visit from "fun to fatal." She repeated that being present at the pool is critical: "Just reiterate the need to actually be present, with our kids at the pool. Right. Seconds matter."
The segment also highlighted lifeguarding as a job for teens and young adults. Keisha Hodge Washington, a lifeguard, said she began lifeguarding in college and remained in the role. "All the skills they learn as a lifeguard transition into whatever career they choose to be because they learn leadership skills. They learn how to communicate. They learn how to...they obviously have the skills to save lives," she said.
A trainer walked trainees through scanning and CPR technique. "During our scanning process, we need to be able to scan our entire zone within 20 seconds," the trainer said, adding that lifeguards must sweep walls, corners and the area directly beneath them. The trainer coached compressions and counting cadence during practice.
The demonstration closed with Keisha Hodge Washington identifying herself: "I'm Keisha Hodge Washington, and this is Keisha on the job. You never know. You might see me in your neighborhood." The presentation combined safety messaging for parents and a recruitment-style overview for potential lifeguards.
No formal actions, policy changes or funding decisions were discussed during the segment.
