Lifeguards at SB get a big thumbs up!

[mtdewhead]

Last week at SB, there was a child, probably about 3, who apparently wasn't feeling well and was lying on a lounge chair sleeping in shade. The parents looked over and realized he was having some sort of seizure, apparently fever induced. The lifeguards responded immediately and began CPR and lifesaving first aid. By the time the ambulance arrived he was alert and crying.

My DH and I both noticed how alert the lifeguards were. They were constantly checking every nook and cranny and do a check of their area before and after taking their post, which rotates. I never once saw a guard dazing off or not completely doing their job. I belong to a private swim club here at home and I only wish our guards would do half the job the guards at SB did!

 

[RobDoc]

Very Impressive!

Thanks for the report.

 

[disneyatheart]

We have stayed at BCV three times this year and I agree! The lifeguards are top notch! I noticed that they checked their posts f(from end to end) before leaving to their next rotation. Very rarely would I see these lifeguards sitting down too!

 

[Corinne]

We were there as well, although I did not know what had happened. I agree with you about the guards at SaB, but, truthfully, it has been our experience throughtout the property that the guards are top-notch. We were at Blizzard Beach several years ago, and one guard had to go in twice in a 15 minute span. She never took her eyes off the area she was watching.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

That is so great! I have always been impressed with the lifeguards at Disney resort pools. It was very inconvenient for us, but quite often during our stay at All Star Movies 2 years ago, they had to close the pool ALOT, and it would be closed for HOURS. Why? Because either their were toddler's in the pool not potty trained without a diaper, or babies in the pool without a swimming diaper ( these are VITAL for pools) What would happen is a guard would notice a poop in the water, and clear everyone out, and the pool would have to be cleaned, shocked, ect.

Imagine if the lifeguards were not alert and paying attention? I mean they even notice POOP in the water. Imagine if hours passed before it would get noticed?

Yes indeed, Disney is 1st class all the way!!!!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

My DD is a supervisor at our local water park and has always been impressed with all the WDW guards. She says they're top notch.

 

[Fmrlifeguard]

Disney lifeguards are Ellis certified, or at least were when I was there. This is a very serious program - lifeguards must pass tests, participate in on-going training and re-certs, be subject to spot checks, and are monitored a lot by hidden observers. Scanning their entire area every ten seconds, checking area before a bump/rotate, etc are all protocol. When I went down to work a summer at Disney as a lifeguard my expectations were way off. Glad to see they professionalism is noticed. We did have a lot of fun after hours!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I am very proud to say that first lifeguard on the scene in that incident is my son. Thank you for your kind words. I know that everyone involved has been receiving much praise from Management as well as Guests. It is certainly wonderful to hear kind things about Cast Members rather than the usual complaints.

Yes, they are still Ellis certified.

 

[YesDear]

Words cannot express the pride with which I read your post! The first lifeguard to get to the young man was my son! He is there on the college program and he has been there about a month.

As you can imagine, it was very stressful for him! It was his first and let us hope last save. He was very glad his training kicked in and he did what he was supposed to do.

He was very appreciative that a number of guests came up to him the next day and said what a good job they did.

They have updated training constantly and do take their job seriously.

There is another post on this forum about chair saving at SAB. I have to agree with my son that he is more interested in protecting people than being the towel or chair police.

You will probably see another post from his mom in a minute or so, if not before this one. We both had to wipe our eyes before responding.

Thanks again for the compliment. You have no idea what it means to us and to our son!

 

[tinksmom]

A big pat on the back for raising such a wonderful son! It truly is emotional to know all the hard work you put in raising him has paid off. Our children, afterall, are a mirror of their parents.

We were at SAB this summer and I was very impressed with the lifeguards, too. My 10yo DD and I witnessed some of the training and it is very intense. She now wants to be a lifeguard in the college program when she's old enough.

Not only do they keep an eye on the water, they also take the time to ease the mind of protective parents. We don't let our daughter out of our sight much and it was a big deal to let her walk to the slide stairs by herself. The lifeguard at the top took the time to call the lifeguard at the bottom of the slide so I would know my little love was safe!

I look forward to returning to SAB to enjoying the safety provided by the wonderful lifeguards.

 

[BWVDenise]

for having such a great son!!

We witnessed a save at SAB 2 yrs ago when a woman slipped through a tube and went under. The lifeguard didn't miss a beat and jumped right in there.

Disney lifeguards are fantastic! And the ones we've had conversations with also happen to be extremely nice, too!

 

[KNWVIKING]

Because of a herniated disk, when I get in a pool I love to do a face down "dead mans float". I can also hold my breath for nearly 3 minutes. My DW has had to warn off the guards on several occasions because they were coming in to save me. Even after she explained,the one guard told her I was making him a nervous wreck. DW told me I can't do my float when the guard is female.Bummer.

 

[KAMLEM]

When we were at HH last week, one of the life guards told us that they don't allow snorkels in the pools for this same reason. They can't tell whether someone is breathing through the snorkel or in trouble.

In reference to the above post, what does being female have to do with the situation - am I missing something?

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by mtdewhead
Lifeguards at SB get a big thumbs up!

...........

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"In reference to the above post, what does being female have to do with the situation - am I missing something?"***

DW is afraid I'll play along and let them revive me

 

[JudithM]

RweThere & YesDear, congratulations to your son for a job well done! Thank him for us for being so attentive.

KNWVIKING, husband & I got a good laugh out of your wife's comment - I understand her position !

 

[mmmcq]

We were at SAB for 5 days a week ago and in the pool everyday. I noticed right away how vigilant the guards were walking around their stations constantly and looking down into the pool as they walked.

We have belonged to a large outdoor pool complex (with slides and 3 kiddie pools) for many years and while I have always believed those guards were top notch....while I was at SAB I said to myself "now these are well trained guards".

We even saw the guard at the end of the line of the slide close it off for 5 mins so that a man who had lost his glasses when he hit the water could look for them underwater around the opening of the slide. He actually found them buried in the sand and was much appreciative. He said he'd never have been able to drive back to NJ without them.

I can only imagine the fear going through the parents of that young child who was ill. How wonderful for them that RweThere and YesDear's son and others maintained their cool/composure and were able to revive and/or stabilize the child until EMT's arrived. I had tears in my eyes reading the post.

 

[floridafam]

Your son did a great job!

It is true that lifeguards have enough to worry about and shouldn't have to worry about towels and chair saving.

 

[msdis]

We were there last week and my little nephew was playing but must have been doing something that made the lifeguard think he was in trouble and jumped in to rescue him. It's great to know they react long before a conslusive decision is made which may be too late. Thanks to the Disney lifeguards, they ARE top notch!

 

[KAMLEM]

KNWVIKING-

That's funny! I am so dense sometimes.