The Ocean Lifeguard Intervention Continuum: A Cognitive Aid for Surf Lifeguard Education

Authors

William A. Koon, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; California State Parks, Sacramento, California, USA,Follow
Ryan M. Gates, California State Parks, Sacramento, California, USAFollow
Shane Scoggins, California State Parks, Sacramento, California, USAFollow
Paul Andrus, California State Parks, Sacramento, California, USAFollow
Jack A. Futoran, California State Parks, Sacramento, California, USAFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.12.04.11

Disciplines

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Exercise Science | Health and Physical Education | Kinesiology | Leisure Studies | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | Other Rehabilitation and Therapy | Outdoor Education | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Sports Management | Sports Sciences | Sports Studies | Tourism and Travel

Abstract

Ocean lifeguards are constantly engaged in beach risk analysis, required to efficiently evaluate a variety of environmental and other factors quickly in order to triage and prioritize who needs help. Teaching these skills is a challenge for introductory training programs. We sought to improve new lifeguards’ understanding of the interaction of various risk components in the beach environment and aid decision-making related to when a lifeguard should intervene in a situation. We developed a two-part cognitive aid for introductory ocean lifeguard education depicting individual and interacting elements of a beach goer’s risk of drowning or injury and the process by which that risk increases with associated lifeguard interventions on a continuum from low risk and no distress to drowning. This new cognitive aid represented an advancement in the presentation of complex material in introductory training programs for those involved in aquatic rescue.

Recommended Citation

Koon, William A.; Gates, Ryan M.; Scoggins, Shane; Andrus, Paul; and Futoran, Jack A. (2020) "The Ocean Lifeguard Intervention Continuum: A Cognitive Aid for Surf Lifeguard Education," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 12: No. 4, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.12.04.11
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol12/iss4/11