Camping Blog

Waterfront Safety Webinar

1. Every child is swim tested and marked according to ability
1. The swim test matches the water exposure at your camp…a camp with little or no aquatics programming other than 1 hour swimming each day in a pool will have different needs in its test than a camp who operates extensive aquatics programming
2. The swim test includes swimming, treading water and deep-water plunge-to-recovery at a minimum


2. Non-Swimmers require extra safety controls
1. Increased Supervision Ratios AND
2. Should be limited to shallow water only (less than 48” Max) AND
3. Wearing a properly fitted and donned USCG PFD (lifejacket) OR
4. Should be directly supervised by in-water staff (max ratio 3:1)


3. Lifeguards scan according to the 10/10 and/or 10/3 rule of scanning
1. This should be observable and documented as part of regular observations by leadership staff 
• Look to see that head is moving
• Verify that there are no blind spots for each guard
2. All areas of the waterfront may be directly observed (ie no blind spots, no distances too great to render AR within 3 minutes)
3. Lifeguards rotate positions approximately every 15 minutes
4. Lifeguards get a 10 minutes break between swim periods
5. Scanning drills should be conducted at each program area in the waterfront to ensure the effectiveness of each guard’s scanning and recognition skills
6. Drills should activate the Emergency Action Plan for the specific emergency being drilled
• Missing camper from the waterfront
• Boat adrift with no campers in it
•  “Camper” unconscious in the water with a sail boat nearby (think head injury)
7. Guards who cannot meet the guidelines are removed from duty until additional training is completed
8. Non-lifeguard staff at the waterfront provide supervision and camper control function (rule enforcement) so that lifeguards may focus on preventing drownings


4. Leadership Staff Support Waterfront
1. Staffing with appropriate numbers
2. Ensure skills at start of summer
3. In-service training (at least 4 hours each month)
• Skills based training – rescues, scanning, CPR, EAP
• This is not a safety meeting or fitness time
4. Ensures proper equipment is onsite
• Personal Equipment (polarized glasses, sun hat, umbrella, water for hydration)
• Rescue equipment (rescue board, rescue craft, rescue tube/can, mask, fins, etc)
• Safety Equipment (First Aid/CPR, O2, AED, Bullhorn w/ working batteries, etc)
• PPE for guards (mask, gloves, safety goggles)
• Equipment is fit for use and regularly maintained/checked (documented at least every other week)
5. Regular observations and audits (documented)


5. Every child is accounted for at all times on the waterfront
1. Buddy Checks
• Every 5 to 6 minutes
• Buddies held accountable for each other at all times (“where is your buddy?”)
• No Truddies
2. Check-in/out is 100% accurate 100% of the time
• Discrepancies activate the EAP
• Monitored and managed by staff
3. Missing Campers
• Regular drills including “live” drills
• Initiate water search with land search as part of EAP
• Every staff understands and can execute his/her role in the EAP
• Campers  understand their role in the EAP (we need everyone’s cooperation to do this right)


6. Play structures
1. Adequately staffed to see all sides (no blind spots)
2. Following manufacturers guidelines for safe use at a minimum
3. 10/3 rule is validated (I can see everything in the zone and render aid)


7. Boating
1. Boating staff are trained to teach campers safe boating practices
2. Boating staff receive documented training and orientation
3. Staff possess skills, training, and experience to lead campers and teach program effectively and safely
4. Staff possess relevant certifications (USCG, US Waterskiing, ARC, US Sailing/ASA, ACA)
5. Communication plan must be in place
6. EAP must be drilled