Lifeguard First Aid: Responding to Emergencies and Injuries

Posted on Nov 27, 2024 in Physical Education

Lifeguard Action Protocol

  1. Assess and Reassure: Introduce yourself, gain the injured person’s confidence, and quickly evaluate the situation.
  2. Check Vital Signs: Assess heart rate and breathing.
  3. Administer First Aid: Provide necessary on-scene first aid.
    Suggestions:
    • Bleeding: Apply direct pressure to control bleeding.
    • Unconsciousness: Elevate feet, keep warm, and avoid overcooling.
    • Airway Obstruction: Clear mouth, loosen clothing around the throat.
    • Suspected Spinal Injury: Do not move the victim unless absolutely necessary and the area is stabilized.
    • Nausea or Vomiting: Turn head to the side or place in recovery position.
    • Dizziness: Place in lateral recumbent position.
  4. Call for Help or Transport: Contact emergency services and/or transport the injured. Use designated emergency numbers. Lifeguards should accompany the injured to the hospital to provide information and assistance. If seriously injured, wait for an ambulance rather than transporting in a personal vehicle.

Choking Injuries

Choking incidents are common in water sports but can occur in any sport due to violent shaking, crushing, or strong holds.

Main causes of choking:

  • Respiratory system pathologies
  • Decreased oxygen intake
  • Airway obstruction
  • Ventilatory muscle dysfunction

First Aid for Choking

  • Remove the individual from the cause of asphyxia.
  • Loosen any restrictive clothing around the neck, chest, or abdomen.
  • Position the victim face up, place something under the shoulders to allow the head to tilt back and open the airway.
  • Check for breathing.
  • If not breathing, administer artificial respiration. Kneel beside the victim, extend the neck, and pinch the nose closed. Take a deep breath and seal your mouth over the victim’s mouth, ensuring no air escapes. Give breaths and allow for exhalation.
  • If there is no breathing and no pulse, combine artificial respiration with chest compressions (CPR). Place the victim on a hard, flat surface. Position hands on the center of the chest and perform compressions.

Contusions (Bruises)

Contusions are injuries caused by blunt force impact without breaking the skin, resulting in bumps, bruises, or hematomas.

Contusions typically affect the skin and underlying tissue. Minor contusions may not require stopping physical activity, but they can be painful.

First Aid for Contusions

  • Avoid moving the affected area; stop physical activity if necessary.
  • Apply cold to the area, removing clothing if needed. Avoid excessive cold to prevent skin burns. Apply cold for the first 24 hours.
  • If the injury is severe, bandage and transport the injured to a hospital.

Wounds

Wounds are injuries involving a break in the skin. Contact with sports equipment, falls, and high-speed impacts can cause bleeding.

If the wound is minor and bleeding stops or is minimal with bandaging, the injured person may not need to stop physical activity.

First Aid for Wounds

  • Allow the wound to bleed briefly to cleanse itself. Avoid moving the injured area to minimize bleeding.
  • Clean the wound with soap and water.
  • Remove foreign objects such as glass, wood splinters, or gravel. Use hands, tweezers, or flush with water.
  • Clean and disinfect the wound with gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Clean from the edges outward, avoiding rubbing.
  • Trim loose skin flaps with scissors, not with hands.
  • Control bleeding by applying direct pressure with a dry, absorbent material. If bleeding persists, add more gauze; do not remove saturated gauze.
  • If the injury is serious, dress the wound and transport the injured to a hospital.