United States Lifesaving Association Man

1. Lifesaving History

• The First American Lifesavers
• Roots of Modern Lifeguarding
• Lifesaving Devices
• Developing National Open Water Lifeguard Standards
• Modern Lifeguarding
• Historical Lessons

2. Use and Protection of America’s Beaches

• Beach Popularity
• Protecting the Beach Environment

3. The Role of the Professional Lifeguard

• Responsibilities and Expectations
• The Lifeguard as Manager
• USLA Code of Ethics
• Lifeguard Rewards

4. Open Water Lifeguard Qualifications and Training

• The USLA Lifeguard Training System
• Training Modes
• Minimum Recommended Standards

5. The Surf Beach

• Waves
• Shoreline Topography
• Rip Currents and Lateral Currents
• Tides
• Extraordinary Sea States

6. The Flat Water Beach

• Lack of Surf
• Buoyancy and Resistance
• Flotation Devices
• Crowd Density
• Currents
• Beach Topography
• Weeds and Plant Life
• Turbidity
• Seiches
• Flat Water Lifeguard Strategies

7. Aquatic Life and Related Hazards

• Marine Life
• Freshwater Life
• People

8. Weather

• Frontal Storms
• Other Storms
• Lightning
• Waterspouts
• Fog
• Wind
• Temperature
• Floods
• Sun

9. Drowning

• Activities Associated with Drowning
• Higher Risk Populations
• Drowning Stages
• Pathophysiology of Drowning

10. Preventive Lifeguarding

• Public Education
• Rules and Regulations
• Signs and Flags
• Identifying Pre-Events
• On-Site Preventive Actions
• Special Operation Modes
• Extended Shifts
• After Hours and Post Season Prevention
• Maintenance
• Facility Design

11. Water Surveillance

• Recognition and Assessment
• Effective Water Observation
• Area of Responsibility
• Maintaining Vigilance
• Coverage Systems

12. Components of a Rescue

• Recognize and Respond
• Contact and Control
• Signal and Save

13. Standard Rescue Equipment

• Rescue Flotation Devices
• Swim Fins
• Rescue Boards
• Spinal Stabilization Devices

14. Specialized Rescue Equipment

• Emergency Vehicles
• Rescue Boats
• Aircraft
• Boat Tow
• Landline

15. Special Rescues and Defenses

• Rip Current Rescue
• Multiple Victim Rescue
• Rescues Without Equipment
• Defenses
• Surfer and Bodyboarder Rescues
• Diver Rescue
• Fugitive Retrieval
• Suicide Attempts
• Fog and Night Rescue
• Rock and Jetty Rescue
• Pier Rescue
• Boat Rescue
• Automobile Accidents in Water
• Aircraft Accidents in Water
• Flood Rescue
• Shark Bite Rescue
• Ice Rescue
• Cliff Rescue

16. Emergency Planning and Management

• The Incident Command System
• Emergency Operation Plan Development
• Managing Common Lifeguard Emergencies

17. Underwater Search and Recovery

• Search
• Recovery
• Crisis Intervention
• Debriefing and Counseling

18. Medical Care in the Aquatic Environment

• Lifeguard Medical Training
• Lifeguard Medical Equipment
• Providing Medical Care
• Resuscitation of Drowning Victims
• Injuries from Aquatic Life
• Spinal Injuries
• Cold Water Injuries
• Legal Issues

19. Scuba Related Illness and Treatment

• Risks Associated with Scuba Diving
• How Scuba Works
• Decompression Illness
• Reporting Diving Accidents

20. Lifeguard Health and Safety

• The Lifeguard Athlete
• Protecting Your Skin
• Eye Protection
• Ear Protection
• Infection Control Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

21. Lifeguard Facilities and Equipment

• Lifeguard Towers Main Stations
• Equipment
• Tower Preparation
• Tower Maintenance

22. Communication Methods

• Communication Needs
• Communication Tools
• The 9-1-1 System

23. Records and Reports

• Report Writing
• Standard Reports
• Lifeguard Log

24. Public Relations

• Principles of Lifeguard Deportment
• Uniforms
• Cultural Diversity
• Media Contacts

25. Junior Lifeguard Programs

• History
• Junior Lifeguard Program Components

26. The Responsible Lifeguard

• Legal Considerations
• Protecting from Liability
• Professional Responsibility

Appendix A: USLA Approved Arm Signal

Appendix B: Report Forms

Appendix C: Diver Accident Report Forms

Appendix D: Knots and Splicing

Glossary and Index