Ability of Lifeguards to Detect Submerged Manikins in Public Swimming Pool Environments

Authors

Élie Vignac, University of RouenFollow
Pascal Lebihain, University of PoitiersFollow
Brice Guignard, University of RouenFollow
Natacha Heutte, University of RouenFollow
Loic Le Minor, University of PoitiersFollow
Bastien Soulé, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1Follow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.13.04.10

Disciplines

Exercise Science | Health and Physical Education | Kinesiology | Leisure Studies | Public Health | Sports Sciences | Sports Studies

Abstract

To prevent drownings in public swimming pools (PSP), French legislation requires constant surveillance by state-certified lifeguards. While previous research showed that surveillance was not always effective, this article focuses on efficiency of surveillance when it is effective. We evaluated the ability of 4 volunteer professional lifeguards to detect a submerged manikin under controlled conditions. One hundred and eight (108) tests were carried out in 2 PSP. Four variables were controlled (i.e., distance, depth, surveillance station, attendance). Our results showed that rapid drowning detection was not exclusively linked to the individual detection capabilities of a lifeguard, but rather it emerged from a tight coupling between the lifeguard’s perception and his/her working environment. The tests performed in this study are useful to prevent drownings and therefore should be reproduced in other public swimming pools (i) to identify problematic situations and (ii) to train lifeguards’ surveillance capabilities.

Recommended Citation

Vignac, Élie; Lebihain, Pascal; Guignard, Brice; Heutte, Natacha; Le Minor, Loic; and Soulé, Bastien (2022) "Ability of Lifeguards to Detect Submerged Manikins in Public Swimming Pool Environments," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 13: No. 4, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.13.04.10
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol13/iss4/10