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Local Lifeguards Compete to Keep Rescue Skills Fresh

Kristen Whitman

OMAHA (KPTM)- Recent drowning's and near drowning's at Omaha area lakes, rivers, homes and even apartments have been a reminder for swimmers and boaters to keep a more watchful eye on people in the water.   

In a split second someone could go under and with the recent spurts of extreme heat, there is more of a threat to  those out splashing around.

That's why it's important for local lifeguards to stay alert and get regular training on how to respond to different scenarios.

One such training event helps Omaha lifeguards fine tune their live saving skills in the form of a competition.

"A child went off the diving board and he went active. It was an adrenaline rush. I blew my three whistles and jumped in. I got him. After you feel good about yourself. You saved that person's life," Oak Heights lifeguard Lexi Welz said.

"There have been some active drowning's at our pools so far. If it happens to any of us I feel confident that we'd know what to do and keep them safe," lifeguard Andrew Hansen said.

Those are the type of situations more than two dozen teams of lifeguards from around the state train for on a weekly basis. 

They made their way to Omaha Friday evening to put that training to the test.

"At the point when you're in that emergency then it's just second nature to you. You're not thinking, you're just doing it because you're trained so well," Welz said.

The lifeguards competed in rescues , relays and first aid exercises. "There haven't been any drowning's so far this year at any city pools, but there have been at Lake Manawa, the Platte River and even an Omaha apartment complex. All have little to no supervision.

"I've heard that there are a lot more drowning's at lakes, since there isn't a lifeguard, a lot deeper, a lot of cloudy water."

Lifeguards also look out for people who may be struggling with the heat.

"The lifeguard's job is one of the hardest jobs in summer. Look at the heat and crowds. They have to be alert and prepared to act the entire time that they're in the chair providing surveillance," Omaha Aquatics Director Cheryll Peterson Brachle said.

"We train for active drowning's, passive drowning's, stroke, heat stroke, back and spinal, head injuries and anything that can happen at the pool," Hansen said.

It is a job made a little easier when other swimmers learn CPR on their own.

"It's frustrating. There are so many situations where lifeguards stop and save a life and give CPR. It's something so simple that everyone should know how to do it because you could save someone's life so easily," Welz said.

Whether they do it for a summer job or they hope to make a career in the medical field, the lifeguards are making the strides to be the best

Local lifeguards have in service training once a week to help them prepare for real life scenarios.

They also learn how to identify kids who may struggle more in the water.