Lifeguards take on great responsibility in Dixon Center

by Linda Cy/c staff writer

The Dixon Center's swimming pool is becoming one of the most popular places on this campus. It is a great place for exercise and recreation alike, but while the pool is open, one thing must always be present: a lifeguard.

A certified lifeguard must be on duty whenever the pool is open. Cabrini's Dixon Center swimming pool is staffed by IO core student lifeguards that carry two to three hour shifts, along with three or four substitute guards that fill m when necessary.

The guards are under the supervision of Colleen Poole, aquatics instructor at the Dixon Center. Poole remarks that things at the pool generally go smoothly.

The only major problem is concerning scheduling. When students go home for winter or spring break, scheduling becomes quite difficult.

• ·'Only a few guards live in the area;' remarks Poole, "so I usually end up guarding the pool by myself."

In order to work as a lifeguard, one must pass a lifeguard t training course, obtain a Red Cross Certification and the certification to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. f To help students meet these requirements and become a lifeguard, Cabrini offers a lifeguard training course which Poole teaches. The two credit course is held one night a .., week.

Students practice water rescues for the first part of the course then spend time in the classroom working on CPR. During the last week of the course, future lifeguards attempt various tests, which include swimming 20 laps, treading water for two minutes and retrieving a l 0-pound brick from the bottom of the pool. Upon completing this, students are fully certified to guard at any swimming pool.

Once certified, there is no telling when a lifeguard will actually have to make a rescue. A long period of time may elapse before the guard is faced with an emergency situation. To keep guards' skills sharp. Poole tries to hold in-service training sessions.

"We have to be prepared at all times in case an emergency situation does arise," Poole said.

Along with all of the physical aspects of a life guarding position also comes an emotional aspect. Lifeguards are responsible for the lives of those in and around the water they guard. There is no greater responsibility than protecting the lives of others.

First-year student Ryan Griffiths, currently enrolled in the life-guarding class, looks forward to this opportunity and embraces this responsibility.

"ln this class I get exercise, get trained for a possible summer Job, and it makes me feel good to be able to help people out."

Aho a first-year student, Kerri Houseman, a guard for several years who now guards at Cabrini, has a similar perspective.

"It's a good, fun job, and it's pretty much guaranteed. I like the people I work with, and I feel fine about the responsibility of being in charge of people's lives because I trust myself to handle dangerous situations,"Houseman said.

Lifeguards are an essential part of safe swimming anywhere. and the job can have some great perks.