ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
In the midst of our cool spell hundreds took a "morning dip" in the pool at the Wayne C. Kennedy Recreation Complex in South County, Sunday morning.
Lifeguards competed for bragging rights as the region's top life savers. They came away prepared for duty, no matter the weather.
"Pretty cold,pretty cold," said lifeguard, Eric Thompson of the St. Vincent's Pool team from Pagedale.
"It's really cold," said a volunteer swimmer. "Cold enough for my fingers to be numb !"
Still dozens of volunteers and 126 lifeguards, from 19 pools from Hannibal to Highland squared off in the 13th Red Cross lifeguard competition; essentially a " Lifeguard Olympics".
The events tested their skills "in" and "out" of the water.
"Really, I can't stress the preparedness and prevention, (enough) so this is part of how they're being prepared," said Joyce Bathke of the American Red Cross.
The top lifeguards got awarded in different categories like, 'passive drowning scenario', 'CPR', and spinal management scenario.
The scenarios were 'real life': from a man with a compound forearm break from falling on the pool deck; the wound even looking real, so guards would be prepared to see things they hoped they'd never see; a random swimmer, hard to hear or even spot in the loud pool crowd, panicked when help came.
"First of all, recognition of the victim is really key," Bathke said. "So, they recognize the victim. If I'ts a head, neck or back victim then they want to be they are dealing with skills like the head splint or head and chin support to keep that victim from moving, so they do not do any more damage."
"Other people just think they're playing around," said lifeguard Rob Abell of Crestwood. "They won't say anything to the guards or anything."
In the passive drowning event, swimmers were virtually lifeless in the water.
"Passive victims, they're either face up or face down," said Lawrence Brown, a 7 year victim of the St. Vincent team. "They're not moving at all."
"We actually hear it about it a lot," Thompson said. "It's a real life scenario. So, go over it, in case it ever happens then we're ready."
And if ever happens, it'll be a case of a life saved, not lost.
A lifeguard team from Florissant won first place overall. Teams from Hannibal finished second and third.
"Pretty cold,pretty cold," said lifeguard, Eric Thompson of the St. Vincent's Pool team from Pagedale.
"It's really cold," said a volunteer swimmer. "Cold enough for my fingers to be numb !"
Still dozens of volunteers and 126 lifeguards, from 19 pools from Hannibal to Highland squared off in the 13th Red Cross lifeguard competition; essentially a " Lifeguard Olympics".
The events tested their skills "in" and "out" of the water.
"Really, I can't stress the preparedness and prevention, (enough) so this is part of how they're being prepared," said Joyce Bathke of the American Red Cross.
The top lifeguards got awarded in different categories like, 'passive drowning scenario', 'CPR', and spinal management scenario.
The scenarios were 'real life': from a man with a compound forearm break from falling on the pool deck; the wound even looking real, so guards would be prepared to see things they hoped they'd never see; a random swimmer, hard to hear or even spot in the loud pool crowd, panicked when help came.
"First of all, recognition of the victim is really key," Bathke said. "So, they recognize the victim. If I'ts a head, neck or back victim then they want to be they are dealing with skills like the head splint or head and chin support to keep that victim from moving, so they do not do any more damage."
"Other people just think they're playing around," said lifeguard Rob Abell of Crestwood. "They won't say anything to the guards or anything."
In the passive drowning event, swimmers were virtually lifeless in the water.
"Passive victims, they're either face up or face down," said Lawrence Brown, a 7 year victim of the St. Vincent team. "They're not moving at all."
"We actually hear it about it a lot," Thompson said. "It's a real life scenario. So, go over it, in case it ever happens then we're ready."
And if ever happens, it'll be a case of a life saved, not lost.
A lifeguard team from Florissant won first place overall. Teams from Hannibal finished second and third.
