Public Pools - Emergency Action Plans

Verify existence of Emergency Action Plan

Visual evidence of the EAP is clearly apparent

Essential

• All lifeguards must have easy access to a current EAP
• EAP can be in manual format
• EAP can be in the format of poolside signage

• EAP must succinctly specify the actions to be taken in every reasonably foreseeable emergency. In most cases this will be limited to pool and facility emergencies. It should include reference to the following:

• Who is in charge
• Nature and location of emergency equipment
• Key steps in dealing with an emergency

• Pool rescue
• Medical alert,(choking, asthma, angina/heart attack, serious cuts, fractures and dislocations etc)
• Building evacuation
• Major first aid
• Spinals

• Aftercare for victims and staff

Desirable

• A flowchart summary of the key steps in dealing with an emergency should be available to lifeguards
• A pool manual cross referencing health and safety policies, pool supervision policies, Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plan should be available to lifeguards giving them one-stop-shop access to the "big picture"

Verify existence of Emergency Action Plan

Visual evidence of the EAP is clearly apparent

Essential

• All lifeguards must have easy access to a current EAP
• EAP can be in manual format
• EAP can be in the format of poolside signage

Question staff on enforcement of pool alone

On the spot random questioning to verify that staff understand and apply the pools EAP

Essential

• Lifeguards must be able to outline the essential elements of the appropriate response to every reasonably foreseeable emergency. That the assessor is satisfied a victim would receive care expected from an entry level lifeguard using National Lifeguard Award as the benchmark

• Lifeguards are not required to know or even recognise the technical terms or even names of policies

• Lifeguards should be asked to quote actual examples of the application of the pool EAP (unless they just do not happen)

• Lifeguards should be given hypothetical situations and asked for their response. The response should mirror the rationale behind policy

Desirable

• Senior lifeguards should know the plan backwards and be able to adapt it to cater to the more unlikely situations, e.g. multiple casualties

Verify details of lifeguard emergency response (EAP) training.

Essential

• That each lifeguard is trained in the operation of that facility’s EAP.

NOTE: This may occur during NLA training; but not all lifeguards will have sat NLA at that facility, if not the assessor must verify that any such lifeguards have at least be en given a copy of the EAP

• Formal EAP training is given in NLA re-sits every two years

Desirable

• Formal EAP training is given yearly