Basic Water Rescue Course

BASIC COURSE
RESCUE
WATER
REFERENCE MATERIAL

TRAINING PROCESS FOR RESCUERS

BASIC AQUATIC RESCUE COURSE
Search and Rescue Program
First Aid – Colombian Red Cross
Quindío Sectional
Colombian Red Cross
SAR Search and Rescue Program
Departmental Directorate of First Aid
Armenia quindio

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 Basic Water Rescue Course

The basic aquatic rescue course has the primary objective of providing the volunteer with
specific knowledge and techniques in the aquatic environment and achieving progress in
fundamental skills, abilities and attitudes, allowing them to safely and effectively carry out
their work as a lifeguard in the aquatic environment. aquatic world.

Within the training and instruction plan for rescuers of the Quindío section, the Search
and Rescue program looks at the imperative need to learn to master and survive in an
inhospitable environment, equipped with the necessary tools for the management and
control of emergencies in In the region, water rescue constitutes, without a doubt, one of
the greatest resources for control, planning and preparation to generate security and
prevention for society through specific techniques and knowledge.

The Search and Rescue program of the Colombian Red Cross Quindío Section has well-
trained and prepared personnel to attend to events of this type and creates the need for
adequate institutional work necessary in the implementation of training courses and
reinforcement of skills. for Aquatic Rescue care, as well as updating care protocols for
this type of emergency.

Strengthening program for rescuers

Presented by GUSTAVO ADOLFO TABORDA OSORIO
Helicopter Rescuer / Phase III Instructor
Aquatic Lifeguard Instructor
Armenia Quindío 2013

CONTENT
The course will be carried out in 3 phases:
First phase: theoretical and evaluative
• Introduction to lifesaving in water ……………………………… 5
• History of world water rescue……………………………………. 6
• Evolution of water rescue tools…………………….11
• Responsibilities and legal aspects of lifeguards…………………….. 12
• Some important aspects…………………………………………………………13
• Labor competency standard ……………………………………………......14 •
Performance criteria ……………………………………………… …………………14 •
Essential knowledge and understanding …………………………….……15 LAW •
1209 OF 2008 (July 14)……………………………………
……………………………….16 • LAW DECREE JUNE 17,
2009…………………………………………................................................................16
• LAW No. 19 June 5, 2007……………………………………………………17 •
Drowning due to asphyxiation or immersion………………………………………………
…18 •Rescue and lifesaving equipment ……………………….…20 •
Personal
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equipment…………………………………………………………………… ……20 •
Rescue team…………………………………………………………......21 Search and •
rescue team ……………………… …………………………..…22 •
Communication
systems using signals …….………………………….23 •
Signals with equipment
…………………………… …………………..………...25 •
Water rescue and special
situations ………………………………26 •
Assistance by throwing objects
……………………… ………………………………..27 •
Rescue techniques
……………………………………………………………….28 •
Entry into the water …
……………………………………………………………………….28 Jump •
stride……………………………………………… ……………………….29
• Standing from a height………………………………………………………….29
• Recognitions of possible victims ……………………………………………..30
• Swimming techniques and approach to victims ………………………………….31
• Swimming techniques and transport of
victims………………………………………………31
• Towing and transportation of victims……………………..…………………………..34
• Rescue with equipment in the water…………………………………… …………36 •
Defenses, blocks and releases ……………………………..…………………..37 •
Evasions…………………………………… ………… ………………………………..37 •
Against the lifeguard's hold to separate two bathers ……….………40 System for •
lifting injured people out of the water …… ……………………..41 Cervical or back •
injury in an aquatic environment ………..…………………….42 Self- •
survival……………………………… ……………………………………….. 44 •
Psychology and aquatic rescue…………………………………………………..45 •
•
Psychological analysis, action sequence in aquatic rescue….46 Psychological
•
training of the aquatic lifeguard……… ………………….47 Description of the
•
techniques that may be useful ……………………..48 Application of the different
techniques ……………………………………… ……..fifty
Second stage: Previous training
Prior physical, physiological and psychological preparation training will be carried out at
the TACURRUMBI training center. This training is part of the basic processes to achieve
the aquatic skills and abilities of the volunteer staff.
TRAINING TOPICS
• Physical tests with obstacles
• Basic swimming techniques (freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke)
• Floatation and immersion techniques
• Depth Object Recovery
• Movement in water
• Breaking water entry techniques
• Crawl, over, back and chest techniques
• Approach and leveling
• Wading and surface support techniques
• Simple drag techniques
• Management of patients with cervical injury in water
• Zafes and grips techniques
• Self-rescue techniques: how to float, how to undress, how to survive floating

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Third phase: Practice in the field

Practical work will be carried out on the ground with all the personnel attending the
previous activities, in order to achieve the objective of the course which is to provide the
Volunteer with specific knowledge and techniques with an advance in the skills and
abilities of water rescue.
TOPICS OF PRACTICAL WORK
• Basic swimming techniques: crawl, over and breaststroke
• Recovery of victim at the center point of the lake with entry into the water with
breaking, approach, leveling and recovery of victim.
• Simple melee drag with over shift
• Rescue of victim with two rescuers
• Management of patients with cervical injury in water, use of stretcher
• Zafes and grips in the water
• Techniques to remove the victim from the water
• Extension rescue techniques
• Techniques of throwing a floating object to help a victim
• Use of rescue equipment
• Use of life jackets
• Use of ropes or horizontal lines
• Self-rescue techniques, personal flotation devices, Procedures for undressing in
water, Using clothing to float
• Procedure to survive floating.
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SAVING IN WATER

The human being is currently not designed for water. So much so, that its design has
achieved a total adaptation to the world it inhabits until it becomes completely terrestrial
and aerobic, but it finds great fascination in the aquatic environment to the point of
understanding this environment and developing the necessary bodily skills to be in it.
without feeling totally threatened or vulnerable.
Aquatic rescue is nothing more than man's struggle for control of natural elements, the
desire to continually improve ourselves has allowed for generations a tireless creativity to
equip ourselves with the necessary elements until achieving almost total control when
saving lives in a natural environment such as water.

To make a more in-depth description of man's methods and initiatives to survive in the
aquatic world, as well as the development of swimming techniques, one must cover
those prehistoric, pharaonic, biblical, ancient, medieval, Napoleonic periods up to the
contemporary era, where the first attempts to develop, regulate, publish and massively
disseminate safety techniques take place in the world, but above all water rescue
techniques to be used by any swimmer.

Fishing and navigation were activities of trade and exchange between ancient peoples,
parallel to this, aquatic recreation also began to be popular, swimming emerged as a
primary activity, and very important in ancient times, with military purposes, later derived
from what recreational to competitive.

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Over time, as the territories near the beaches were populated and communities
established, small groups of experienced or civic-minded people began to organize
themselves into “rescue corps” to help both boats and people in need. be rescued from
this unfamiliar and very dangerous environment.

Later these rescue groups become more organized, training begins to involve equipping
those with common knowledge and skills. With the growing popularity of recreational
swimming, governments are beginning to recognize the need to provide safety and
preventive processes for people who recreate in aquatic areas, such as: lakes, rivers,
beaches and artificial swimming facilities.

Recreational aquatic tourism has become very common and popular in our country,
especially in the dry season, where beaches and rivers become very frequented places
by both local and foreign visitors.

HISTORY OF WORLD AQUATIC RESCUE

The history of aquatic rescue dates back to the origins of human beings and their
interaction with this environment. Without a doubt three important reasons, typical of
human nature, prompted our ancestors to take that first crucial step that has led us to
this day. The search for food, the search for sumptuary elements (pearls, coral, shells,
etc.) and finally, the most human of all, curiosity. The bas-relief found in the ruins of the
palace of the Persian king Ashurbanipal II (880 BC) indicates that man already carried
out activities that required submersion and reveals the military use that was given to
education in the aquatic environment.

The first records date back to 168 BC, when the last king of Macedonia, Perseus, during
the wars between the Greeks and Romans, threw the treasures of his palace into the sea
after his defeat at Pydna at the hands of the Roman consul Paulus Aemilius. whose
recovery was thanks to a team of organized rescuers who participated in the dive.
Emperor Augustus, in 63 BC He also created a body of saviors in Rome. In the physical
preparation and education of young Romans, swimming had enormous importance. Its
practice was oriented towards a war purpose, (having a special section for those young
people who stood out in this art, to be able to participate in the competitions that were
already held in those times). In the military preparation of the Romans, the participation
of the so-called "Urinatores" stands out, which formed the body of divers specialized in
aquatic operations. These young people were prepared seriously and in a different way
from the others since they practiced holding their breath for as long as possible.

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Photo 1: Cleopatra had a body of young urinators at her service.

The Phoenicians, great sailors and merchants, already formed teams of swimmers for
their trips in the event of shipwrecks in order to rescue goods and passengers. These
equipment also had the function of keeping port access free of obstacles to allow ships
to enter the ports.
There are references to the Babylonian people where the importance of swimming is
shown in two reliefs. The first of them shows us how two swimmers flee from enemy
archers and in the second, a soldier helped by a Mussuk (an air float made from inflated
skins used among special army detachments), crossing the river. Without a doubt a
precedent for rescue.

In Egyptian culture, swimming was already part of the physical education plans for young
people. The beginners were educated in the aquatic environment, they also knew diving
and applied it in the search for pearls and sponges. The first known swimming engraving
is dated to the Neolithic, s. XXX a. C. In the Far Eastern countries, aquatic physical
education was primarily intended for the upper classes. Children as young as 10
dominated the medium. Su-Tunt-To stated in his chronicles: "In the 10th century, 10-year-
old children mastered swimming and sports immersion at the age of 15."

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Photo 2: AUSTRALIA, 1934, RESCUE DEMONSTRATION .

With the aids of modern navigation and today's highly powered ships, shipwrecks are
relatively uncommon, but before these advances, sailing ships navigated by compass,
sextant, and educated guesswork. They were always at the mercy of nature. Storms and
inclement weather, particularly in winter, brought tragedy all the time to ships along the
coastlines. When this occurred, few people knew how to swim and the sometimes icy
waters were unforgiving for even the most experienced swimmer.

The first history of organized rescue in the world refers to the Chinese Chinkiang Life
Saving Association, which was established in 1708 to rescue sailors in trouble. This
eventually involved purpose-built rescue stations staffed with rescue boats. Other similar
organizations were established in the early or late 1700s.

It had another of its first steps in 1767 when the Society for Rescuing Drowned People
(Maatschappij tot Redding van Drenkelingen) was founded in Amsterdam, Holland,
whose purpose was to try to recover the victims by applying first aid, however this was
done by methods empirical.

Almost a century before the birth of the International Red Cross in the early 1860s, in
1774 the Royal Humane Society of London already indicated the use of rescue
techniques along the English Channel. The first printed materials with recommendations
were then distributed, especially in advanced countries. The Red Cross conference in
1863 had set itself a single objective: to care for those wounded in combat.

In the United States, the Humane Society of Massachusetts was founded in 1786, with
the purpose of providing bathers with greater safety by placing signs that provided

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information on the use of rescue equipment provided by the society to respond to

emergencies. They also built houses to shelter survivors of shipwrecks on their coasts.
By the mid-1800s it had 18 stations with boats and rope-throwing equipment.

Dr. William A. Newall witnessed a shipwreck near Long Beach, New Jersey in 1839 and
saw 13 people drown trying to swim 300 yards to safety. He remembers this tragedy and
later, as a New Jersey State Congressman, helped persuade the government to get
involved in the rescue. In 1848 Congress passed the Newell Act and appropriated
$10,000 to be used to build and equip eight boat stations along the state's coast between
Sandy Hook and Little Egg Harbor.

Organized international water rescue activities date back to 1878 when the First World
Water Rescue Congress was hosted in Marseille, a city in the south of France. Since
then, for decades, in each independent nation, there have been many outstanding
achievements in water rescue. Because of this, the need for an international forum to
exchange ideas was soon recognized.

In 1890, under the direction of Commodore Longfellow, the United States Volunteer
Lifeguard Corps was founded in New York. From here, other chapters of the same are
organized in other states of the country. The main objectives of this organization were:
Rescue of drowned people, Aid to the injured, Protect the public and Teaching
swimming.

On January 3, 1891, the Englishmen William Henry and Archibold Sinclair recognized
the need to develop and teach lifesaving, joining forces to found the Royal Lifesaving
Society with the purpose of complementing the work of the Royal Humane Society to
combat the high rate of lifesaving. drownings, and the organization publishes its first
instruction manual. The techniques advocated by the Society were soon adopted by
many countries. The first Australian branch was organized by small groups of volunteers
in 1894 to serve as lifeguards on the beaches of Sydney, Australia.

Canada also saw the arrival of water rescue in 1894 when Arthur Lewis Cochrane
emigrated to this land bringing the lifesaving skills he learned in England, but it was in
1896 that he passed them on to the students of Canada College in Toronto, Ontario.

On April 13, 1907, the first public lifesaving demonstration in the Argentine Republic was
held in the Barcace Club pool. Later, at the VII International Conference of the Red
Cross in London in May 1907, the Argentines Villalta and Logui presented the proposal
to create a Rescue School in Argentina. It was not until 1928 that the first post at the Los
Angeles Spa, in Olivos, began to operate.

The Federation Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) was founded in 1910 in

Saint-Ouen, a small town near Paris, in France. Among the founding countries were:
Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Tunisia. By
1914, the Federation was represented by more than 30 national organizations, as full

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members. It was established to promote the objectives of water rescue in controlled

waters and waves around the world.

Commodore Longfellow is requested by the American Red Cross, in 1914, to organize

and direct swimming, safety and water rescue programs throughout the country. Through
which the American Red Cross Lifeguard Service and the Youth Lifeguard Program are
established.

In December 1924, a dual lifesaving system was established with Surf Lifesaving
Australia responsible for the beaches and the Royal Lifesaving Society Australia for the
other water areas.

1938 saw the birth of the National Aquatic Lifeguard Program in the United States. Later,
in 1951, the National Council for Cooperation in Aquatic Training was formed. Later, in
1966, the National Lifeguard and Wave Association was started.

Santiago de Chile took its first steps by forming the first group of lifeguards in 1964
thanks to the participation of some physical education teachers and swimming
instructors, who resorted to the knowledge developed by the Germans, French, Italians
and North Americans, also collecting information through the YMCA and placing greater
emphasis on first aid preparation.

On March 24, 1971, World Life Saving (WLS) was founded in Cronulla, New South
Wales, Australia. The constitution came into effect on June 14, 1987 with formal
agreement between the founding countries: Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, South
Africa and the United States. By 1994, it was represented by more than 20 national
organizations as full members.

In 1974 the American Red Cross developed the Advanced Lifesaving Program. In 1979,
the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) was established, and since then this
organization has evolved to be the main promoter of water rescue in its country.

On February 24, 1993, a new and larger international rescue body emerged from the
common objectives of the FIS and the WLS. The International Lifesaving Federation
(ILS) was officially formed by its General Assembly in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom on
September 3, 1994. At the same time, the FIS and the WLS were automatically
dissolved.

The last great advance in the profession took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands in June
2002 when the World Congress on Drowning "Drowning 2002" was held. Summit event,
where experts from the member countries of the Federation and other organizations
classified the topic by most significant groups and content, for standardization in
concepts and skills.

Nowadays, the importance that rescue has in our society seems unquestionable; there

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are data, reports and statistics that are sufficiently revealing about the importance of
prevention and the prevailing need to have highly qualified rescue teams.
In our study framework we intend to approach rescue from a utilitarian and educational
perspective that can be applied in different stages of education, thus guiding the training
process of physical education to the context of today's society. To this end and serving
as a reference for the completion of this unit, we reflect the following data extracted from
a WHO report.

In 2001, an estimated 685,000 children under the age of 15 lost their lives due to
unintentional injuries such as traffic accidents, falls, burns and drowning. About 20% of
all deaths from unintentional trauma worldwide occur in children under 15 years of age;
This type of trauma is among the 10 main causes of death for this age group.
The main causes of death from unintentional trauma among children are those caused
by traffic accidents (21% for this age group) and drowning (19%) ".

Most studies on accidental drowning focus on children and in some countries, drowning
is the leading cause of death among younger age groups. Especially in colder climates,
the cause of death may be drowning or chilling by immersion.
Data show that men are more likely to drown than women, generally due to greater
exposure to aquatic environments (whether for occupational or recreational use) and
alcohol consumption (producing a decrease in resistance capacity, poor judgment and
further emboldening)

EVOLUTION OF AQUATIC RESCUE TOOLS

Rescue devices:
The boats most commonly associated with early lifesaving were those used along the
Atlantic coast. Made of wood they weighed 700 to 1000 pounds and were about 25 to 30
feet long. Some had air chambers at both ends to help prevent sinking. They were
generally manned by a crew of six men.
Many rescues on the Atlantic coast involved ships stranded on bars near the beach,
having been carried there by storm waves or by the disorientation of their captains. Since
these boats were vulnerable to capsizing, when the seas were high and sailboats were
destroyed near the shore, lifeguards turned to Buoas Calzones devices.

The Breeches Buoys themselves were currently a large lifebuoy. The tarp was
suspended loosely across the center with two holes for a victim's legs, forming a type of
pants. The victim could hang safely on it with his legs in the holes and the ring under his
armpits. The device used to deploy this device was more complex.

RESPONSIBILITIES, RULES AND LEGAL ASPECTS

We already know that aquatic rescue is the set of knowledge, standards and skills used
for the effective surveillance, protection and care of people who go to the different
aquatic sports and recreation areas for public use, and who may fall into a situation of

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danger that threatens your life.

Water rescue is divided into three aspects:

1. Aquatic safety : are the safety rules and regulations; visible or not; that ensure that
the behavior of users of a certain bathroom area is managed accordingly.
2. Preventive rescue : it is the action of anticipating risk situations to mitigate their
occurrence, based on regulations, or using warnings with signs or signals.
3. Water rescue : in the worst case, it is the action of entering the water in the middle
of a risky situation, approaching the person(s) in danger, taking him/her
appropriately and stabilizing them, removing him/her ) of the aquatic environment
and provide primary emergency care, until medical assistance arrives or you can
be transferred to a hospital care center.

Rescue and First Aid emerges as an activity aimed at rescuing people in danger, since
this task requires constant preparation to maintain optimal physical condition.

For rescue professionals, it is also, and even more important, a social educational
activity, since it physically prepares to be able to save a life at any time, without
forgetting the great contribution that the practice of any sport entails, both physically and
intellectually. . The practice of water rescue begins from the earliest ages, developing
tests both in the pool and on the beach. Water rescue today is a sport practically
unknown to a large part of society, something that does not happen in other countries
such as Australia, where this practice is widely followed by the population.

Professional and volunteer lifeguards in places such as swimming pools, lakes and
beaches know that they are solely responsible for providing the most adequate safety
conditions possible to users or bathers.

Lifeguards must be aware of the legal conditions of their actions, and are responsible for
their actions and also for the mistakes they make, since they could face legal charges for
negligence and/or incompetence in their actions.

Some important aspects

• Perform water activities in areas protected by lifeguards
• Swimming in areas monitored by Surveillance Groups
• Respect the instructions, know and respect the flags
• Don't go too far from the shore
• swim parallel to the coast and never alone.
• Recognize the bathroom area, identify potential risks.
• Its depth, water temperature, currents, waves, eddies, climatic factors
• Do not dive headlong into unknown depths or without visibility
• know the tides, waves and currents
• Be careful with caves, rocks, nets, spinels, algae, etc.
• Regulate body temperature, The body must progressively get used to the
temperature of the water, get wet before entering the water.
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• If you feel very cold, go out immediately.

• You have to be especially careful with children if you notice goosebumps,
tremors, take them out of the water and keep them warm.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, use protective creams and try to drink fluids
regularly.
• Respect the digestion time, Avoid eating excessively before swimming, enter the
water after 2-3 hours after the last meal, especially if it is very cold or if you are
going to do intense exercise.
• Don't lose sight of the children, they don't know the danger, it takes very little
water for them to drown, an area that seems safe to us, can be very dangerous
for them. In busy areas they get lost easily.
• If you see someone in danger, ask for help, notify the only professional lifeguard
prepared and authorized to act. If you are alone, do not try to carry out the
rescue, on many occasions a dangerous situation ends with two drownings (the
victim and the desperate helper who becomes the second victim.
• You can only help by throwing or bringing an item (preferably floating or light) to
the victim to calm him down and keep him floating. The element must always be
between the victim and helper to avoid contact.

• If you are in danger, calm down and ask for help. If you are the one in danger,
stay calm and try to relax. Raise a hand to ask for help. If you are relaxed, it is
easier to float.
• Respect the hygiene and safety rules, do not push others, do not run around
swimming pools, do not jump without first making sure that no one is under the
water, do not sink others, do not eat, do not drink, do not smoke.
• If you are alone Analyze the characteristics of the place (currents, waves, rocks,
winds) and your limitations before acting, look around you for some element that
can help, preferably floating, bring it closer to the victim or throw it so that it can
float.
• Never make direct contact with the victim or take risks as you may become the
second victim.

LABOR COMPETENCE STANDARD

TITLE OF THE NCL 230101144 Guide and assist people in the face of risks of incidents
and accidents in different bodies of water, in accordance with national and international
procedures and protocols established for safety, rescue and aquatic rescue.

CODE ELEMENT 01 Guide people to the risk conditions according to the different bodies
of water.

PERFORMANCE
1, One (1) direct observation of the instruction given to a group of people, regarding the
risks to which they are exposed in a given body of water.

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KNOWLEDGE
1, Oral or written test to evaluate the knowledge and understanding described in sections
1 to 9.

PRODUCT
1, One (1) list of recommendations according to the risks of the body of water

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

A. Recognition of the existence of the emergency is carried out taking into account the
performance of people in the body of water and its environment.
B. The assessment of the individual and collective response capacity and available
technical resources is carried out according to the scenario.
C. The evaluation of the risk inherent and associated with the emergency is carried out
in accordance with the environmental conditions.

D. The physical, athletic and psychological performance during rescue tasks is in

accordance with the parameters established in the different bodies of water.
E. The application of rescue and water rescue techniques are in accordance with the
scenario.
F. The care provided to the victim follows current basic life support and first aid
protocols.
G. The activation of the emergency system is carried out according to the
characteristics of the event.
H. The selection of means of transportation is made according to the event and body of
water in which the emergency occurs.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

01. Difference between incident and aquatic accident. (A, b, e, g, h).

02 . Basic concepts of hydrology and physics applied to different bodies of water. (a, b, c,
d).
03. Risk overview. (a, b, c).
04. Types, uses, and maintenance of response equipment in water rescue. (b) 05. Use of
appropriate materials for the improvisation of tools for water rescue. (B, c, e).
06. Principles of physical conditioning – athletic. (of).
07. Swimming, water rescue and free diving techniques (d, e).
08. Relaxation and stress management techniques (d, e, f).
09. Rescue maneuvers without entering the water and approach maneuvers without
entering. (d, e, f, g).
10. Body-to-body rescue procedures and extraction of victims from the water. (d, e, f,
g).
11. Basic life support and first aid protocols. (D, e, f, g).
12. Local emergency medical systems. (d, e, f, g).

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13. Safe transportation systems for the victim in case of aquatic emergencies. (g, h).
14. Chain of custody. (e,f,g )

NEW LAW ON POOLS

The following decrees and laws established by the national government apply in force in
Colombian territory, it is the obligation of the lifeguard to know and make known the
aspects of these laws, which is why only for the knowledge of this course I relate it as an
important character the general provisions of the law, and it is mandatory for the
lifeguard to know the rest of the laws established for reference.
LAW 1209 OF 2008 (July 14)
Through which safety standards in swimming pools are established
DECREES:
CHAPTER I
General disposition

Article 1.
Object. The purpose of this law is to establish the rules aimed at providing safety and
adapting swimming pool facilities in order to avoid accidents, health problems and
protect the lives of their users, without prejudice to the provisions of other rules that, with
concurrent nature, may be applicable to them.

Article 2.
Area of application. The scope of this law extends to all pools for collective use that,
regardless of their public or private ownership, are located in the national territory.

Article 3.
Private residential properties. In the case of swimming pools in private residential
properties, these must be incorporated if they already exist or include in their future
construction, motion sensors or immersion alarms and the vacuum release security
system.

LAW DECREE JUNE 17, 2009

What obligations do those responsible for swimming pools and similar structures have?

1. Carry out the control of the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics in
the treatment and use of swimming pool water; also in the control of surface samples
(internal traffic areas of the enclosure, platforms, bathrooms, showers, changing rooms,
footbaths and wet areas) with the purpose of eliminating fungi and yeasts.

2. Operate and maintain the good condition and functioning of the complementary and
annexed facilities in sanitary conditions.

3. Implement and make effective health education campaigns and widely disseminate

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the obligations that bathers have to preserve water quality, good use and safety in
swimming pools .

4. Demand the removal or prohibit entry into the pool ponds and similar structures of
any person who contravenes the provisions of the Use Regulations provided by the
person responsible; It is also empowered to demand the withdrawal or prohibit the entry
of people who violate public morality.

LAW No. 19 June 5, 2007

That regulates the exercise of the professional profession of Aquatic Rescue and
dictates other provisions

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DECREES

CHAPTER I
General disposition

Article 1.
This Law regulates the exercise of the professional profession of Aquatic Rescue,
subject to the provisions of this Law and its regulations.

Article 2.
The Aquatic Rescue professional, the lifeguard, is the person trained in special
techniques and skills to ensure the well-being and safety of people, as well as to initially
assist them in risky situations that threaten their life, in and around the water. The tasks
and functions of this profession will be carried out in the areas of recreation or water
sports in public or private facilities, within the national territory.

Article 3.
The professional job of Aquatic Rescue is recognized as high risk, since the person who
performs it faces situations of constant exposure to solar radiation and humidity, with the
possibility of acquiring conditions related to said exposure; In addition, they face the
possibility of contracting infectious diseases when providing first aid, suffering injuries or
accidental death when carrying out rescues, and possible attacks by users who do not
comply with safety instructions.

Article 4.
The provisions contained in this Law are aimed at:

1. Protect the life and ensure the well-being of the people who go to aquatic areas.
2. Protect the aquatic environment, its flora and fauna.
3. Preserve and protect the rights of lifeguards, as Aquatic Rescue professionals.

DROWNING BY SUFFOCATION OR IMMERSION

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What do we understand by drowning?

We understand drowning as death due to asphyxiation that occurs after immersion in
water or another liquid, in such a way that as the airways are blocked by water, the
passage of atmospheric air and oxygen to the respiratory system is prevented. We
include under the name of secondary drowning the set of injuries that appear after 24
hours of immersion, either due to lung infection or injuries to different organs, including
the lungs. There are two types of drowning:
Dry drowning: a spasm of the glottis occurs due to laryngospasm, so the water does not
reach the interior of the bronchial tree; It is also called white drowning, due to the pale
appearance of the victim.
Wet drowning : there is aspiration of fluid into the lungs after the initial phase of
laryngospasm, due to stimuli from hypoxia and hypercapnia in the respiratory center of
inspiration; It is called blue drowning and represents the authentic picture of asphyxiation
by immersion.
The highest frequency of events occurs in childhood, between the first and five years of
life. This occurs in cases where there is carelessness on the part of family members,
they fall into wells, swimming pools or unfenced pools; Subsequently, there is another
period of maximum frequency, between fifteen and twenty-four years of age, to a lesser
extent under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. On the other hand, depending on
the environment in which it occurs, immersion can be due to:
Sea water : which is hypertonic, which causes fluid to pass into the bronchi and alveoli,
making gas exchange difficult, leading to death due to asphyxiation, hypoxia, acidosis
and pulmonary edema.
Salt water produces destruction of the alveolus and alterations in the distribution of
liquids and ions, in such a way that due to its composition, and unlike fresh water, it
favors the passage of liquid to the alveoli from the blood. The bronchi and alveoli are,
therefore, flooded by salt water and a leak from the blood capillaries. On the other hand,
some ions such as sodium, chlorine and magnesium pass into the blood from the alveoli
flooded by salt water. These alterations will produce a decrease in circulating blood
volume.
Fresh water: it is hypotonic, and passes quickly from the alveolus to the bloodstream,
producing hypervolemia and hemolysis, which causes death due to ventricular fibrillation,
hypoxia and pulmonary edema.
Both fresh water and salt water cause damage to the alveoli. Fresh water, due to its
composition, tends to move quickly from the alveolus towards the vascular stream,
causing an increase in the circulating volume in the blood vessels. Furthermore, the
fresh water that does not enter the circulation and remains in the lungs is very harmful to
the alveoli, subsequently causing the injuries of secondary drowning with destruction of
the alveolus wall and deposition of fluids and proteins.
Drowning in swimming pools : it is the same as fresh water, with the aggravating factor of
chlorine that produces toxic action on the alveolar wall.

Drowning in contaminated water : which presents two additional problems: Bacterial and
chemical contamination. In any case, the main event after immersion is arterial
hypoxemia.

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Initially, after complete immersion in the water, the panicked victim inhibits his breathing
while struggling and flailing violently. The agitation gradually disappears as small
amounts of air leave the lungs and similarly large amounts of liquid are swallowed and
aspirated. Vomiting is frequently associated with the ingestion of a large amount of liquid.
Finally, all airway reflexes disappear and water passively enters the trachea, succumbing
and causing cardiac arrest.
In all drowned people, a certain degree of hypothermia occurs, to a greater or lesser
extent, which in some way protects the brain from hypoxia. Sometimes trauma is the
main event that precipitates the Immersion; Cervical and thoracic injuries often coexist,
which are not noticed and lead to disastrous consequences.

What external appearance can the injured party present?

Blue drowning : Linked to respiratory arrest due to spasm of the bronchi but with
preservation of cardiac pulse, although weak. The injured person is not breathing and,
due to the lack of oxygen, we see an intense violet or purple coloration of the skin,
especially on the face, hands and nails. Lack of brain oxygenation can lead to seizures.

White drowning : Linked to cardiac and respiratory arrest. The patient is not breathing,
has no pulse, is pale, with dilated pupils and loss of muscle tone.

What injuries are associated with immersion?

Fundamentally, hypothermia can itself produce death, which occurs when the organism
reaches a core temperature of 28º C. More than six hours in water at 15º C or fifteen
minutes in water at 4º C produce cardiac arrest.
As a consequence of hypoxia, destruction of red blood cells or erythrocytes and
formation of clots within the vessels, as well as kidney disorders, usually occur. Severe
cerebral sequelae can occur in 15 30% of those drowned.

What will the prognosis of the drowned person depend on?

Fundamentally, the immersion time, the temperature (hypothermia) and the quality of the
liquid (fresh water, sea water, mud, wastewater), the earlyness of basic resuscitation,
adequate transport in a mobile unit and the quality of Intensive Care. .

What can we do in case of drowning?

The first thing of all is to take care of some minimum safety measures to reduce the
number of casualties: in the case of currents or waves, it is important to consider the
possibility of our strength failing. Likewise, we must prevent people who do not know how
to swim from jumping in to help the drowning person; remember the motto "one drowned
person is better than two".

Once the rescue has been carried out, begin basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation
maneuvers (basic CPR), if possible, even in the water, while approaching the shore.
Upon reaching shore, quickly drain water by placing victim face down with hips raised
and head tilted for 8-10 seconds. Once the drainage has been completed, proceed to

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perform mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.

If possible, application of an oxygen mask when starting respiratory movements.
Never forget circulatory recovery, so if there is no pulse we will have to combine mouth-
to-mouth artificial respiration with external cardiac massage.

Important recommendations before arriving at the hospital

• Never stop performing resuscitation maneuvers, no matter how desperate the

situation may seem.
• No time should be lost in starting the transfer.
• Transport any child who has been submerged to the hospital, even if they are
alert or conscious.
• Remove wet clothing to check for possible associated injuries and, at the same
time, avoid continued cooling.

AQUATIC RESCUE AND LIFELIFE EQUIPMENT

The material used by rescue and aquatic lifesaving personnel and also in aquatic
emergencies is as follows.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT- UNIFORM:

Many places require a specific type of uniform for lifeguards, so it is important to have it
clean and only use it when necessary.

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- SWIMSUIT: A nylon swimsuit is ideal as it dries quickly. It must be colored to be

easily recognized.

- T-SHIRT : This is used for extra protection against the sun and should be easily
identifiable.

- HAT: serves to protect the head and face from the sun. The use of a hat will be
mandatory in all tests. All members of the same team must wear the same hat. In
pool tests the cap will be made of latex, silicone, lycra or similar. In Open Water
events the hat will be made of lycra, fabric or similar, and will be tied under the
chin.

- PITO: its function is to attract the attention of bathers

- SUNGLASSES: they should not reflect or have a high degree of filtration of water
and sunlight
RESCUE EQUIPMENT

- RANGE PARTIES: The range perdige is mainly

used in swimming pools and campsites on the
water's edge. It should be approximately 10 to 15
feet long and can be made of bamboo, aluminum
or fiberglass.
- BEAVER ROK: A beaver crook is a long, light pole
with a hook at one end, the hook should be large
enough to go around the victim.
There are handholds along each side. They come
- TORPEDO BUOY: newer models are made of floating plastic,
in two sizes, the small ones have a rescue rope, while the larger ones are tied to
another rope attached to the shore.
- ROPES AND REELS: they are approximately 500 and 600 feet long, at one end of
the rope there is a hook or ring that allows a tire or rescue buoy to be attached. It
is necessary for another rescuer to handle the reel while another is moving the
tire to the victim.
- RIGID BOARD: they can be made of marine wood or plastic, it has handles and
slides under it to make lifting it easier.
- RESCUE BOARD: A rescue board is a piece of rescue equipment used in open
water, it provides more flotation and supports the victim and rescuer.
- RESCUE BOAT: The trawler is a common type of boat used in lifeguard
operations, it must be in a place that is easy to access and that allows it to be
used along the beach or lakes for patrols, it contains extra oars, safety buoys.
rescue, range shot, anchor and ropes, life jackets, first aid kit.

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SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS

- LIFE ROPE: specialized ropes for water rescue with anti-floating quality and
distinctive fluorescent colors, these ropes may come attached to small buoys or
other buoyancy devices.
-

- SWIMMING FINS: Lifeguards in open water areas must use swimming fins for the
following reasons: the rescuer has to cover long distances, help the victim in deep
areas and in search and rescue operations. -
- MASK OR FIELD: a mask must have an unbreakable, tempered glass covering
plate, this must be mounted on a flexible plastic band that fits another anti-
corrosive metal or plastic reinforcement band.
-

- BREATHING TUBE OR SNORKERL: is a hollow rubber tube 12 to 15 inches long

with a soft rubber mouthpiece, it may be constructed of a single molded piece or
have a flexible rubber section in the curved part of the tube.
-

- GRAPPOLE: This is a 12 to 16 foot long item with a large, smooth hook on one
end that is used to search for bodies or pieces of lost equipment in dark or murky
areas of water. -
- LIFEGUARD HOOP: It is made of solid floating plastic with an attached rope, it
must support the lifeguard and the rescuer at the same time. -
- JAR OR GALLON: It is a one-gallon plastic container with half an inch of water
which can be used as a lifebuoy if tied to a rope and is very useful for long-
distance rescue.
-

- RESCUE BUOY OR TORPEDO: It is made of resistant, light and strong floating

plastic, it has handles on each side where the victim and the rescuer can hold on
and a rope with a shoulder rope at the other end.

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COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS THROUGH SIGNALS

Signs should be simple, clear and easy to understand when used.

WHISTLE: It is a means of communication frequently used by lifeguards. A whistle in
good condition, if blown loudly and firmly, can generate a shrill tone that cuts through any
noise. It is important that the whistle is used sparingly. and only when necessary.

A short whistle is to draw the attention of a swimmer who may be at risk of a deep or
dangerous area.

Two short beeps are to get the attention of another member of the lifeguard staff.

Three long beeps announce that an emergency is in progress and help is required.

HAND SIGNALS: in certain situations, hand signals can be used in combination with the
whistle.

Pointing, to attract attention , the lifeguard

points directly at the individual as a signal that
they are at risk when swimming in the area, it
may be accompanied by a short beep

Directional movement: a swimmer is in an area of possible danger and the lifeguard

announces from outside a prompt exit from the
area, in case the lifeguard is inside the water it is
used to request help from another lifeguard.

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Stopping, with the arm straight and extended and

the palm directly to the swimmer and firmly,
indicates that you must stay in a safe place.

Assistance is required, the arm is raised up and

down with the hand above shoulder level and
with the fist closed.
Situation under control in the rescue, the arm is
extended directly from one side to the other with
the palm open or with the previous step with the
hand on the head.

The situation is under control, the hand is placed on and to the side of the head

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SIGNS WITH EQUIPMENT

These signals can be made by a second helper, the torpedo is placed vertically over the
head and moved from side to side and used as a signal that assistance is on the way.

Situation under control, the rescue torpedo is placed

horizontally above the head, and another element such as the
boat's oar can also be used.
Flags, They can be placed on the lifeguard's own chair or

stuck in the sand to indicate dangerous situations in a specific area.

Flags: Lifeguards must raise the flag that indicates to users the level of danger of the sea
and must change it when for any reason that level of danger changes. The meanings of
each of the flags must be displayed on informative posters since in different countries
there are different symbologies.

The flags will measure 1.5 meters by 1 meter and will be hoisted at least three meters
high in easily visible places. In other countries they are used in a triangular shape
(isosceles) with the base of the triangle towards the flagpole with a proportion of: base1,
sides 1.5, taking into account that the base will be at least 50 cm. By 75 cms. The sides,
located at a minimum height of 2 meters and one will be placed every 50 meters.

The colors and their meaning are:

GREEN : bathing is allowed, no special measures are necessary. In addition, there must
be complementary flags that will help to better understand the dangers that may occur in
the area.

YELLOW: dangerous beach, swim with caution, bathing is allowed with certain
limitations, bathing is prohibited where you cannot remain touching the bottom with your
head out of the water. The appropriate security measures will be taken for each situation
of danger or risk to the health of users.

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RED: bathing is prohibited, it will always be present on beaches where use is prohibited,
on dangerous beaches and on free beaches when bathing poses a high risk to people's
lives, it may be due to sea conditions, weather, marine fauna. , floating elements,
pollution, etc.

WATER RESCUE AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Reach assistance, in a reach assistance, the helper must secure himself firmly to the
edge of the pool or deck and carefully extend his hand or leg towards the victim until he
gains a grip and keeps him in a safe position.

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Wading assistance , the lifeguard can advance in the

water up to chest height with relative safety, then leans
his back towards the shore and, grabbing the victim,
pulls him strongly until he is safe.

Using free floating support , you can avoid personal

contact by using such life-saving equipment as boards,
floating cushions, torpedoes etc. In these cases the
victim can be encouraged to hold on to the object and
swim or push off to a safe place.

ASSISTANCE THROWING OBJECTS

You can throw a ring buoy , a rescue tire or any object

and the victim can grab it and be pulled to a safe place,
throwing mode:

- Get into a safe position and maintain your balance

- Bend your knees
- Step on the other end of the rope
- Direct the throw so that the object
falls beyond the victim, but within
reach.
- When the victim grabs the object.
Continue talking to him while
gradually removing him to a safe
place, the rescuer's body should
lean away from the victim.

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Another way, taking into account the distance between the victim and the rescuer, is to
swim with the ring buoy until you reach the victim and quickly passing the ring buoy to
him can safely pull him to the shore.

Jar or throwing bag are some other elements that serve in a similar way to be thrown by
the helper near a victim at risk of drowning.

RESCUE TECHNIQUES

ENTRIES TO THE WATER

Rescue begins with entering the water in an appropriate and safe manner. The entry can
be in a pool, a pond, river, lake or the sea. The depth of the water is important to know. If
you do not know how, consider a slow and safe entry. , it is important to consider the
height above the water and its clarity, this will determine the type of entry that should be
made.

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STRING JUMP , the purpose of the lunge jump is to keep your head above water level
and eyes on the victim, the water has to be at least 5 feet deep and the side of the pool
or place of the jump is not can be taller than 3 feet, jump into the water with your legs in
a lunge or scissors position, leaning your body forward and at an angle, using your open
arms and stopping the sinking of your body when you hit the surface of the water.

STANDING FROM A HEIGHT, should be done when you

have to enter the water from a height of more than 3 feet.
The water has to be deep. The safe way to enter the water
is vertically with your arms at your side, legs together and
knees slightly bent, head high and eyes on the victim.

Other ways to enter the water is the simplest way which is

to sit on the edge of the pool or entry point and gently slide
without causing a splash in the water.
To enter the sea, the rescuer must run in the direction of
the sea and make a quick dive, frequently raising his head
to see the victim.
Shallow dives are very useful in pools, lakes and the sea
to gain movement and speed to reach the victim.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF POSSIBLE VICTIMS

Most people who are drowning are not able to call for help,
a skill that has to be developed by lifeguards, is the ability
to recognize that someone needs help. The first concern
should be can the victim support themselves? What is the effective and safe way to
help? Let's get to know some types of victims in an aquatic crisis.

TIRED VICTIM is someone who is too tired and has difficulty getting to the shore or next
to the pool, but who is not in immediate danger.

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VICTIM IN DIRT , this is a person unable to reach a safe place without help, but capable
of staying afloat and breathing and calling for help.

A DROWNING VICTIM is someone unable to stay afloat, breathe, or ask for help.

ACTIVE VICTIM , this is a person who desperately tries to stay on the surface, takes a
breath and his body remains in an almost vertical position, head back and holding his
hands.

PASSIVE VICTIM , this is a person who is floating face down on the surface of the water

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SWIMMING TECHNIQUES AND APPROACH TO VICTIMS

Approaching a drowning victim must be done quickly and carefully. This decision will
depend on the victim's condition, waves if you are in the open sea, water temperature
and your own physical condition.

CROL STROKE , the crawl is without question the fastest of all approach strokes, it must
be performed with the face in the water to reduce frontal resistance and maximize speed,
and it is also effective for constantly visualizing the victim.
CHEST STROKE , although the breaststroke is slower than the front crawl, it is a very
effective approach stroke that allows the lifeguard to swim on the surface or under the
water; combines speed and energy conservation has the advantage of keeping your
eyes directly on the victim and breathing constantly while approaching
LEVELING, the leveling of the lifeguard is relatively a slow and safe approach to the
victim, this will give you the possibility of identifying what grip maneuver you can use and
what procedure to use to drag the victim, leveling yourself on the surface of the water is
staying at a level. float while the victim gives the opportunity to help him to be rescued

SWIMMING TECHNIQUES AND VICTIM TRANSPORTATION

REVERSED SCISSORS PUNCH , this punch is done like a normal scissors punch, except
the leg closest to the surface (top leg) is extended
back and the leg furthest from the surface (bottom leg) extends
forward

ELEMENTAL KICK PUNCH , a lifesaver may possess an elemental back kick punch more
powerful than the scissor kick.

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ROTATION KICK , this kick was developed for use in water polo, it can also be used for
water rescue, it is a changing movement on each leg that hits the water through the
range of removal or swirl, it is best when combined with The breaststroke is very useful
in the management of a patient with spinal cord damage or when a load or element must
be kept out of the water.

DIVES, dives are a skill that the lifeguard has for the recovery of victims at depth, some of
these dives can be standing, diving and quick immersion with swimming.

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SWIMMING OR DIVING FROM BEHIND,

is a technique that is performed only
when the lifeguard is sure of the depth
of the area where the victim is located
and basically it is diving under the
victim looking for his disorientation and
coming out from behind to grab him
with a crossed arm. between the
shoulder and the opposite armpit.

APPROACH FROM THE FRONT , with

the victim on the surface it is very easy
to approach and grab it from the front,
it is to take it by the hand opposite to
yours, turn it on the same surface and
cross your arm over the victim's
shoulder and opposite armpit. .

APPROACH FROM BEHIND, when we

have a victim on the surface passively
or actively, we approach from behind
and level our position and then use
some safe grip technique for the victim
and be able to tow him to shore.

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SWIMMING ASSISTANCE is a way to help the conscious victim achieve better movement
on the surface. It can be done from the front or back, depending on the case. It can also
be done alone or with another rescuer.

TOWING AND TRANSPORTATION OF

VICTIMS
The purpose of a tow or transport is to take
the victim to a safe place where they can be
attended to in a timely manner by the
lifeguard. It must be quick and effective. In
case of long-distance transport, it is
preferable to request support from a boat or
a rope. to improve movement.
TOWING BY ONE ARMpit , take the level
position close to the victim, then take him
by the armpit and swim with the backstroke
or side stroke technique, using the other
arm to tow him.

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DOUBLE AXILLA TOW , take the leveling position and that's it, grab the victim by the
armpits and level him on the surface keeping his head above the water, for movement it
is recommended to use the rotating kick technique.

WRIST TOW, used for the care of a passive victim, you must take the victim's wrist and tilt
back with an elementary side or back stroke style swim, using the other free arm for the
drag and keeping the victim's face out of the water.

CROSS CHEST CARRY, used mainly for

active victims, is very comfortable for the
victim to stay out of the water and is difficult
for the lifeguard to use over long distances.

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ALTERNATE CROSS CHEST
TRANSPORTATION , the helper's arm is
placed on the victim's shoulder and his
hand covers the victim's armpit or
below.

TRANSPORTATION WITH
UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM , place both
hands on the parietal area of the victim's
head and, keeping it out of the water, perform a movement with the rotary kick or inverted
chest technique.
This way of transporting unconscious victims is not recommended for patients with
possible spinal injury. Another priority way is to place one hand on the victim's forehead
and the other under the neck and perform the same transportation procedure.

RESCUE WITH EQUIPMENT IN THE WATER

The procedures of using rescue equipment such as the torpedo, tire, rescue hoop or
other element are in a certain way a practical resource of assistance, in all cases of
displacement of the victim, and maintenance of buoyancy.
The lifeguard must know how to use it in a simple way and it must not be an obstacle to
swimming or assisting the victim. For this reason, these elements must be attached to
the rescuer's wrist, shoulders or perhaps ankles, everything depends on the equipment
used.
Let's remember that we can transport our victim by simply passing him the floating object
and dragging him to the shore
If we use a torpedo, it must go under the back of the helper and the same techniques of
safe dragging to the shore will be used. This equipment is so effective that it serves to
keep the helper and the helper out of the water and can also give breathing
immediately by placing the floating object under your back and keeping the helper's face
out of the way.

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DEFENSES, BLOCKS AND RELEASES

A person who does not know how to swim or who for some reason thinks he is going to
drown, fights for his survival and sometimes, you may find yourself face to face with a
victim in a state of panic. It must be taken into account that strength is increased by
maximum due to the increase in body adrenaline, and the movements are usually
desperate and uncontrolled, this type of person almost always grabs the head, neck,
wrists or arms of the person who is going to help them, for this reason it is recommended
a Quick reaction on the part of the helper.

ONE OR TWO HAND BLOCK , is a way to prevent

the victim from clinging to you, make a block by
placing the palm of a high hand on the victim's
chest, while leaning and submerging; The same
procedure can be done with both hands while
submerging, avoiding the victim's grip.

EVATIONS , if you are grabbed by the victim there

are several agility options available: swim to a safe
place with the victim hanging, dive to break contact
and evade and rescue agilely.

EVASION FOR FRONT HEAD GRIPS, proceed as follows: take a breath, bend your chin or
turn your head to the side, dive in with the victim, put your hands on the victim's elbows
and push him up and out. , swim out of reach and do a rescue procedure

Another way is to pass one of

your turned hands over one of
the victim's arms and grabbing
his wrist or forearm and
pressing upwards makes him
rotate his entire body, making
a grab and then a safe drag.

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EVASION FOR CHEST GRIPS, a simple way to evade the victim is by placing your hands
in front of his face and pulling his chin back, another way is by covering his airways
(nose and mouth) and moving his face backwards, If you are stronger than the helper,
place a knee between them and try to force the release.

EVASION FOR GRIPS FROM THE BACK, although

the technique may seem complicated, the
procedure is very simple, you simply have to take
the victim's thumb and jointly the wrist and turn it
outward, sinking to move behind the victim and
grab to proceed to a safe drag.
Another way is to hold the helper's little fingers
with both hands and then separate their arms
while raising them.
We will release the right hand to go look for the
left elbow of the helper and, doing dislocation, lie
the injured person on

our chest.

EVASION FOR WAIST GRIPS FROM THE FRONT OR BACK

FROM THE FRONT, the right hand will be passed behind the head of the aggressor until it
is placed on his right side, and the left hand will be attached to the left side, once the
head of the injured party has been held in this way; The rescuer will begin by rotating the
neck gently and without abruptness until the aggressor's back is placed on his chest.
Without letting go of the head, the lifeguard will begin the drag with an inverted
breaststroke kick, reassuring the aggressor at all times.
ON YOUR BACK, Placing the helper's hands above the aggressor's hands, he or she will
immediately realize which hand he or she is using. If this is the right hand, the rescuer

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with his or her right hand will take one, two, or more fingers and open them toward the
aggressor. outside thus breaking the hold, then he will pass his elbow inside the
aggressor's arm and passing his head underneath we will turn him until his back reaches
our chest.
We place our left hand on his forehead, and with an inverted breaststroke kick we begin
the drag, reassuring the injured person throughout the journey.

EVASION FOR GRABING BY THE HAIR , If he grabs us by the hair with his right hand, the
steps that the lifeguard will follow will be the following:
With the lifeguard's right hand inverted upwards, she will grab the aggressor's right wrist,
and with her left hand she will grab the elbow. This grip on the wrist and elbow will be
done at the same time.
Next, in order to play with the shoulder joint of the aggressor, we will place his arm at a
right angle, and using leverage on his elbow, we will turn the aggressor until his back is in
front of our chest.
This same technique will be used for the wrist grip.
Once the previous movement is finished, the lifeguard will place his left hand on the
forehead of the injured person to place his head in hyperextension and the lifeguard's
right hand continues holding the wrist of the “aggressor”, we begin the drag with an
inverted breaststroke kick and giving encouragement. and advice to the injured during
the journey.

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EVASION FOR NECK GRIPS WITH HANDS IN FRONT, the same technique seen above is
carried out except that the rescuer's right arm must pass over the victim's left arm.

AGAINST LIFEGUARD DAM TO SEPARATE TWO BATHERS

It can happen that two bathers stop swimming and hold on to each other, resulting in a
fight that exhausts both of them and with the aggravating circumstance of drowning. In
these cases the lifeguard has to separate the two bathers, take one and then return for
the other, if necessary. The way to carry out the counter-press is as follows:
The lifeguard swims until he reaches a position behind one of the bathers, grabs him by
the chin with both hands and, resting his forearms on the bather's shoulders, sinks them
both. While doing this operation, he will raise one leg until it passes over the shoulders of
the bather, whom he has held by the chin, and, placing his foot on the other's shoulder,
he will push him down (without kicking him).
At the same time he pulls the
one he is holding by the chin
back and separates them from
each other. As soon as the two
have been separated, he will
take the one he has caught to
safety and return for the other,
if necessary.

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ACCIDENT LIFT SYSTEM OUT OF THE WATER
1. conscious victim
In this case, it will be the victim themselves who will help us and indicate the most
comfortable way to carry out its extraction, taking into account at all times the possible
injuries they may suffer.

2. Unconscious or disabled victim

a) On beaches : On beaches in areas where the bottom is not excessively hard
abrupt and progressively decreases, we can patiently extract it by dragging it by the
armpits so that its feet rub against the ground. We can also hold the individual
transversely on our kidneys, holding it with one hand by the shoulders and with the other
by the feet, using the technique of the
"firefighter carry."

b) In swimming pools : There are two methods to get it out of it:

Hoisted up the ladder, When the lifeguard reaches the ladder with the injured person, he
holds onto it, placing the injured person facing you and without letting go of the ladder,
the lifeguard sinks and places the injured person on his shoulder. Once the victim is
placed on his shoulder, he will begin to rise until the victim's buttocks are level with the
edge; He will sit him down holding his head and knock him down. Then, the lifeguard will
come out of the water and drag him or her until the injured person is out of the water.
This system is used when the person is heavy or when we are near the ladder.
Hoisted on one side, When the lifeguard reaches the shore, turns the victim facing out of
the pool, the lifeguard will place the victim's hands on top and out of the water (first one
and then the other). The lifeguard, supporting himself with one of his hands on top of
those of the injured person and the other at shoulder height, will emerge from the water.
Without releasing support from the injured person's hands, he will interlock his arms,
holding the injured person's right wrist with his right hand and the left wrist with his left
hand. In this way, the injured person will be turned until he or she is looking at the pool.
Placing one foot on the edge, separating the injured person from the edge a few
centimeters and giving a push will take him out.

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CERVICAL OR BACK INJURY IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

The most serious injuries that can occur in the aquatic environment are those that affect
the spinal column, especially those produced at the level of the neck, which as a
consequence can cause immediate paralysis and drowning.
This type of injury is a consequence of: diving with the head hitting the bottom or objects;
impact with the water surface at high speed when launched from a height; use windsurf
boards; surf; bodyboard or any type of boat;... If this type of accident occurs, it is
necessary to act quickly and in a coordinated manner, since normally these victims tend
to end up face down and more than one helper will be needed to be able to act correctly.
- Notice will be given and help will be requested.
- We will enter the water carefully and approach carefully so as not to produce waves
that move the victim. The victim's neck will be stabilized before being turned face up. To
do this, we will use the vee arm techniques, or the lathe maneuver.

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SELF SURVIVAL

Surviving in water depends on three factors: Knowledge, equipment and training. Without
any of these three requirements, hopefully, one can save the situation, but it will be more
difficult and the chances of success are lower. It is convenient to remember that urgent
actions are based on long-considered reactions.
It will never happen to me! It is the first thing we all think when faced with the possibility
that something does not go as planned. But we must know that in the sea or in any
aquatic environment, it is always lurking and even the best hunter can miss the hare.
When sailing in cold waters, prevention is better than cure... and what's more, "he who
does not foresee... will hardly be able to cure in time." So here are some tips.

Make it a game that could possibly save your life.

1. A better way to survive in a very large space of water, specifically in the sea, is to
save all the energy possible, allow the water currents to drag you, generally they
go to the coasts and that is where your energy reserves You need them to swim
to shore, when you do, try to swim away from the reefs and stones on the shore,
swim diagonally in the same direction as the waves smile.
2. If you continue in the open sea, save energy by swimming on your back, but with
the variation in the kick and stroke technique. The position of the back rescue
technique is similar to that known in swimming but with the difference that the kick
is an open inverted chest kick and the stroke is open and extensive to the sides.
3. Buoyancy is an important basis for self-survival, normally when we fall from a boat
we do so with all our clothes on, let's take advantage of the shirt for example to
inject air into it and be able to make a float; Let's use our jeans or pants to make a
life jacket, the only thing that cannot carry weight are our shoes, we have to get
rid of them.

PSYCHOLOGY AND AQUATIC RESCUE

Before beginning, we must clarify that this article intends to analyze one of the many
aspects that can be improved today in Aquatic Rescue. Unfortunately in our country, it is
a task that is not usually properly contemplated in the legal framework (except for pools
for collective use), or, where appropriate, has many deficiencies.

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From the moment a human being thinks, he behaves in a certain way depending on his
mood, his problems, what he perceives at the moment, whether or not he feels
threatened or observed, his expectations, the confidence you have in yourself, the quality
and quantity of previous experiences, etc., with which we realize that the subject is not
as easy as it seems, and that there is a component (the psychological one) that has the
wonderful and great power to influence another person (the physical person) to a lesser
or greater extent, even reaching "blocking", in which the person is not able to react in any
way to a given problem.

In Aquatic Rescue, we realize that the problems are even greater, because the final
objective in which maximum performance must be achieved is none other than saving
the life of a drowning person. If we fail in this, we will not lose a world title, nor a personal
or local record: The life of a human being will be in danger.

The Aquatic Lifeguard cannot "afford" anything to get out of hand. You must have
everything perfectly analyzed and structured, you must have solutions planned for
possible accidents, etc.
Well, it gets even more complicated when it turns out that the human body "suffers" a
series of abrupt and sudden changes in situations that are out of the normal, everyday
life, frequently related to problems. Given this, the heart and respiratory rate increases,
bodily actions that are not priority are paralyzed (digestion, etc.), muscle tremors,
sweating, dry mouth, etc. occur.
In short, a state of anxiety occurs in the individual, caused by a series of threatening
stimuli. Given this, one can respond correctly (few cases), incorrectly (most), or even not
be able to respond at all, when this state places the individual in a situation of absolute
loss of control.

As soon as we think about the issue, we will come to the conclusion that the Aquatic
Lifeguard will always act under this situation, with which we deduce that the role of
Psychology within Rescue is not aimed at understanding the behavior of the person we
are going to. to rescue, but rather its objectives are the analysis of the stimuli that cause
an anxiety situation in the Rescuer, the understanding of that state and the knowledge
and practice of appropriate psychological techniques to correctly confront that situation.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SEQUENCE OF ACTION IN RESCUE

WATER
If we want to know something specific perfectly, we must understand each and every one
of the steps or phases that make up that something: in Salvamento we call this
"Sequence of Action". This ranges from the perception of a certain problem to its
practical resolution:

Perception of the problem: With respect to this phase, it is worth highlighting the ways or
means that the Aquatic Lifeguard has, which are none other than the sense organs. To
do this, you must use sight and hearing mainly, since they are the ones that provide the
most external information. Starting from this basis, you can and should use any auxiliary

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means within your reach to obtain as much information as possible (e.g. binoculars).
Having said that, we must know perfectly the stimuli that can indicate to us at a given
moment that a specific problem exists. These are generally:
• Screams or screams (for help or help)
• Desperate movements of the arms and head, "searching" for the surface of the
water (these movements are generally symmetrical, uncontrolled, and with a level of
force above the normal level).

Once the Aquatic Lifeguard perceives these stimuli, he must put in place the entire action
mechanism to solve the problem, but an enormous difficulty arises:
Normally, the environment being monitored presents a series of continuous stimuli that
largely coincide with those mentioned above. In general, users who access a beach or
any aquatic facility do so with a clear reason, which is rest, leisure or recreation.
Therefore, a high percentage of "bathers" need to relieve themselves of the load of
stress accumulated throughout the week, month or year, characterized mainly by boring
and daily work, by a large load of poorly done household "work". grateful and never paid,
or a school in which you have to remain for long hours in static positions and in which the
recreational element is increasingly eliminated.

All this leads to characteristic behavior, which is out of the ordinary, so that we can
observe how people run through the sand, play, jump, splash in the water, dive in
irrational ways, scream, move uncontrollably, etc. , etc etc.

We then reach a clear conclusion: the stimuli that can indicate to an Aquatic Lifeguard
that a person is in trouble are clear and intense, but they become confusing due to the
environment in which they are located, in which other very similar stimuli occur. in terms
of form and intensity, hence the phase we are analyzing is vital for achieving the primary
objective: The safety of the injured party.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING OF THE AQUATIC LIFEGUARD

Once we have described those stimuli that lead to a state of stress, which can have a
very negative impact on actions, we must comment something about this state and the
ways that exist to modify it, as well as its real application.
In the introduction to this article we briefly commented on the physiological changes that
the Aquatic Lifeguard "suffered" in a situation that was out of the ordinary. At the outset it
must be said that in the vast majority of cases you will have to act in situations that stand
far above that normality, which means that "half-baked remedies" or "band-aids" are not
valid for these problems. It must be clear that the psychological work to be carried out
must be serious and extremely careful, since we are dealing with people who "save
lives."
As a starting point we think that they should be correctly informed about the reason for
these variations, and it is none other than simple and clear survival.
Human beings, throughout time, have had to fight against natural phenomena, animals of
different species and sizes, enemy clans, males eager for the command position, etc.

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This means that it has had to face problems of considerable importance on countless
occasions. Faced with a situation like this, human beings prepare themselves in a matter
of tenths of a second for anything that could endanger their lives:
But as the body does, it raises its heart and respiratory rates, so that its blood circulates
more quickly and carries the necessary amount of oxygen to the main muscle groups.
Non-priority tasks cease, such as digestion, which recruits an amount of blood that is too
valuable for other functions (hence the current "decomposition" prior to a competition,
exam, etc.), or a series of much-needed fluids ( saliva), with consequent dryness in the
mouth. Tremors occur, because the "muscle tone" increases, more motor units are
recruited, and each of them in turn recruits each and every one of its connections with
the muscle fibers (motor plates), hence it is not It is possible to control this "muscle tone",
far above the daily level, and which predisposes the body to carry out a much more
intense contraction than normal. There is a considerable hormonal secretion, at the level
of adrenaline, a powerful vasoconstrictor (if bleeding occurs, it stops immediately),
endorphins (they eliminate the sensation of pain to a lesser or greater extent), etc.

In short, the body "triggers" all its alert systems, as if it were a perfect machine, and in a
matter of tenths of a second it is ready to physically respond 100% to any situation that
arises.
But if the body is fully prepared to perform at its best, how is it possible for failures to
occur? The answer is simple: if we ride a horse with specific characteristics every day,
there will come a time when throughout our lives we will master it perfectly. But if at
certain moments this horse becomes a "thoroughbred", and is ready to react to almost
everything we ask of it, it may happen that we, as riders, try to get the most out of it and
push it to the limit, or On the contrary, let us choose to dismount in the face of the
imminent danger that a total loss of control would entail.

We must, therefore, teach the rider to control his horse in all his behaviors, whether
everyday or not, and if he is too calm we will have to speed him up, and if he is too
nervous we will have to slow him down, but this requires a lot of work, since one By
instinct you will rarely be able to do it correctly.
If the comparison is allowed, the rider is the mind, and the horse is the body.
Once this is clarified, it is worth highlighting something of great importance. This must be
a real job, something that truly serves to understand the stress situation of an Aquatic
Lifeguard, and if possible, to modify it in order to be 100% effective. So we must consider
the correct and viable ways to do it.

DESCRIPTION OF TECHNIQUES THAT MAY BE USEFUL

If we want to modify the activation state of an individual, we have a series of techniques,

which, analyzed together or separately, will help us achieve our objectives:
RELAXATION TECHNIQUES: There are three large groups within this area:
A.- BIOFEEDBACK TECHNIQUES: This technique is based on the measurement of
a series of physiological processes of the individual, so that they can voluntarily control
them (heart and respiratory rate, skin temperature, muscle tension, hand sweating, etc. ).

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B.- MIND TO MUSCLES RELAXATION TECHNIQUE: It focuses on the control of

thoughts, so that the path that leads them to the muscles is mastered. They should be
done in calm environments, in a comfortable position and with a passive attitude.
Among the best known and most effective is Schultz's Autogenic Training, based on a
series of exercises aimed at producing two sensations: Heat and heaviness.
C.- MUSCLE TO MIND RELAXATION TECHNIQUE: It is based on the body aspect,
such as the level of muscle tension, dealing with the pathways that send stimuli from the
muscles to the brain, unlike the previous technique. Among the most notable is
Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation, based on the following
• Bodily well-being is incompatible with anxiety or psychological stress.
• The body's response to mental stress manifests itself in the form of muscle
tension.
• Deep muscle relaxation eliminates psychological stress.

This technique is based on the awareness of the contraction and relaxation of certain
muscle groups, since a large number of people are not able to relax because they do not
"feel" their body, neither when it is tense nor relaxed, which means they completely lack
control over him. What Jacobson establishes as a starting point for learning to relax.

ENERGIZATION TECHNIQUES:
When we talk about activation we refer to the level of "tension" that an individual
presents in certain situations. This can be low or high depending on a large number of
factors, which can cause it to respond in a calm manner, or on the contrary with a high
level of excitement. It should be noted that this activation exists permanently throughout
our lives, and goes from very low states, in sleep, to very high states, in a panic attack.
Depending on the type of person or the specific situation, one will behave in one way or
another, and there will even be certain situations that require a considerable level of
activation or energization, so the psychologist's task will not be to relax that person.
individual, but to activate it, always within an order and a measure, that allows total
control over its actions. Energization techniques are based on this, among which are
educational, cognitive, psychophysiological and self-hypnosis techniques.

CONCENTRATION TECHNIQUES:
They are based on the specialization of attention, that is, being able to focus our
perception systems on certain specific stimuli, so that we select some and discard
others. This is basic at the Rescue level, because if the Lifeguard learns to select what
indicates that a person is in danger and leave aside everything that does not interest
him, his perceptual quality will significantly improve.
Likewise, these stimuli can be internal, or refer to specific activities that the individual is
carrying out, with which the individual will focus exclusively on the task being carried out
at that moment. In this way, all the person's potential is directed towards maximum
performance of that specific task, with which the level of effectiveness will improve
considerably, since they will not be distracted by other secondary tasks.

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DISPLAY:
With these techniques the subject mentally "visualizes" one or several actions, so that he
or she actually "executes" them. At the level of representation of technical gestures, it is
a variant widely used in high sports performance, specifically in specialties such as high
jump and pole vault, in athletics, or even in other modalities such as skiing, skating, or
rhythmic gymnastics.
Its effectiveness is actually very high, because a mental rehearsal is carried out, prior to
the physical one, with which the governing body of the entire movement "reviews" each
and every one of the necessary movements before actually executing them.

APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

Regarding the way in which the techniques described above should be applied, in order
to modify the behavior of the Aquatic Lifeguard, we have tried to be as operational as
possible, describing the mode of application that we consider most effective, and always
taking into account our knowledge, With which we will not be able to delve too deeply
into each of them, but rather set the general guidelines or behaviors.
We consider that the starting point would be the analysis of each of the individuals that
we must treat, so that we know as much as possible about their personality, their daily
behavior, and in the face of specific situations of action in Aquatic Rescue and First Aid.
It would be convenient to establish the level of theoretical and practical knowledge of
each of the subjects, as well as previous experience, number of cases with positive and
negative results, etc.

Strengthening program for rescuers

Presented by GUSTAVO ADOLFO TABORDA OSORIO
Helicopter Rescuer / Phase III Instructor
Aquatic Lifeguard Instructor
Armenia Quindío 2013

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