Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Man Outside of His Zone
Former Member
Link to the story Florida Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Drowning Man Outside of His Zone
"According to the Sun Sentinel, Lopez was approached by a beachgoer who pointed out a man struggling in the water nearly 1,500 feet south of his post.
Instinctively, he ran down the beach to save him. By the time Lopez got to him, he had been pulled to shore by fellow beachgoers.
Following his rescue attempt, Lopez was let go for leaving the area he was supposed to be covering."
Parents
Former Member
I used to train Ellis lifeguards, zones have overlapping areas of coverage in a pool environment, not sure about open ocean. I do know in Volusia County FL (Daytona Beach area), guards work alone from guard stands set approximately 50 yards apart.
In pools when a rescue is being affected, the pool is cleared so all guards can assist with the situation.
Yes, I used to have a Jeff Ellis and Assoc. certification for lifeguarding as well as the Red Cross. JE&A has a much more thorough, specific, and comprehensive program than Red Cross and I believe holds guards to a higher standard. It may have also been my employer too, but this was for an outdoor lap pool. There were daily skills and knowledge audits and required weekly continuing education.
First of all, I'm surprised they didn't have overlapping coverage/two guards to monitor. It seems like the lifeguard should have be able to notify other guards to cover his zone.
I think they're probably saying the appropriate course of action would have been to clear the water and then leave if he could not adequately occupy his area of the water.
I definitely think it is ridiculous that he would lose his job over this. In the heat of a catastrophe react faster than they think. I've seen kids start to drown and it's scary experience. Everyone is looking to you to help or you're the only one that notices. I would see this as a learning opportunity for them to clarify what the best course of action would have been. And maybe they were trying to look for a reason to get rid of him / he's had issues in the past following instructions?
Luckily no one got hurt in this situation. But had he not responded and the man drowned, that would be an even worse situation. Even if JE&A said he did the "right" thing not leaving his post, the kid would have to live with that man's death for the rest of his life.
I used to train Ellis lifeguards, zones have overlapping areas of coverage in a pool environment, not sure about open ocean. I do know in Volusia County FL (Daytona Beach area), guards work alone from guard stands set approximately 50 yards apart.
In pools when a rescue is being affected, the pool is cleared so all guards can assist with the situation.
Yes, I used to have a Jeff Ellis and Assoc. certification for lifeguarding as well as the Red Cross. JE&A has a much more thorough, specific, and comprehensive program than Red Cross and I believe holds guards to a higher standard. It may have also been my employer too, but this was for an outdoor lap pool. There were daily skills and knowledge audits and required weekly continuing education.
First of all, I'm surprised they didn't have overlapping coverage/two guards to monitor. It seems like the lifeguard should have be able to notify other guards to cover his zone.
I think they're probably saying the appropriate course of action would have been to clear the water and then leave if he could not adequately occupy his area of the water.
I definitely think it is ridiculous that he would lose his job over this. In the heat of a catastrophe react faster than they think. I've seen kids start to drown and it's scary experience. Everyone is looking to you to help or you're the only one that notices. I would see this as a learning opportunity for them to clarify what the best course of action would have been. And maybe they were trying to look for a reason to get rid of him / he's had issues in the past following instructions?
Luckily no one got hurt in this situation. But had he not responded and the man drowned, that would be an even worse situation. Even if JE&A said he did the "right" thing not leaving his post, the kid would have to live with that man's death for the rest of his life.
