Did you know that Dr. Henry Heimlich first tested his technique to dislodge stuck food on a dog? He tied a string around a piece of meat and forced it into the airway of an anesthetized dog. And did you know that Dr. Heimlich is still alive!? I hadn’t the slightest idea. I also wasn’t aware that there was so much controversy surrounding …continue reading the rest of The Story Behind Dr. Heimlich and His Famous Maneuver
Archive for the ‘Aquatics’ Category
Does that Lifeguard Belong on the Pool Deck?
August 15th, 2012
Imagine that your pool experiences the worst-case scenario… a drowning. In addition to grieving family members, distraught lifeguards, and a devastated community, you’re also be flooded with attention by lawyers and media outlets. In all of this chaos, how much energy do you think you’ll be able to dedicate to compiling the paperwork that may make or break the future of …continue reading the rest of Does that Lifeguard Belong on the Pool Deck?
Breath-Holding Exercise Nearly Costs Swimmer His Life
July 31st, 2012
A teenage swimmer from one of the most prestigious swim clubs in the United States had to be pulled from the pool by two of his coaches last week. Luckily for the swimmer, his coach was scanning the bottom of the pool. Listen to him describe the breath-holding exercise he was performing before he …continue reading the rest of Breath-Holding Exercise Nearly Costs Swimmer His Life
Pool Safely’s First Splash!
May 25th, 2012
Thursday, May 24th was a big day for aquatics professionals, parents and kids everywhere. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign kicked off the third year of its pool and spa safety awareness initiative.
As a Pool Safely Campaign Safety Partner, West Bend joined organizations like the Y, Safe Kids USA, and the American Red Cross in this year’s goal of providing water safety outreach and education to …continue reading the rest of Pool Safely’s First Splash!
Are you Nomophobic? Probably.
February 22nd, 2012
“Phone, keys, wallet.”
“Phone, keys, wallet.”
“Phone, keys, wallet.”
I repeat those three things while tapping at my pockets all day long. I don’t go anywhere without the three. Even when I’m at home I know precisely where my phone is at all times. I didn’t know it until today, but there is no doubt that I am the very definition of a …continue reading the rest of Are you Nomophobic? Probably.
Injured Diver Neglected by Texting Lifeguard
January 18th, 2012
A post from David Nagel, a West Bend Loss Prevention representative: Last week while at my son’s diving sectional I witnessed a female diver sprain her ankle as she was coming down on the board during her very first dive. When she came up to the surface of the water she was struggling and could barely swim to the …continue reading the rest of Injured Diver Neglected by Texting Lifeguard
Resusci Anne: The Sad Story Behind the CPR Doll
December 9th, 2011
Do you know CPR? If so, you’ve probably shared an intimate moment with Resusci Anne. After all, 300 million people across the globe have been trained on the Resusci Anne CPR doll.
But did you know Resusci Anne is modeled after …continue reading the rest of Resusci Anne: The Sad Story Behind the CPR Doll
How to Prevent Real Drownings, Not the Baywatch Kind
October 20th, 2011
A lifeguard’s job is to sit around, twirl a whistle, and wait for a swimmer to splash and yell loudly as soon as they need to be rescued. Of course I don’t think that, but I would imagine that is the way a large portion of society views guarding. And can you really blame them? If you look at the way Hollywood has dramatized drownings, it isn’t difficult to reach the conclusion that lifeguarding is a piece of cake.
Unfortunately, spotting a distressed swimmer is no where near as easy as it looks on Baywatch. In order to prevent real life drownings …continue reading the rest of How to Prevent Real Drownings, Not the Baywatch Kind
Rescue Ready at Retirement Age
September 19th, 2011
Last Thursday the New York Times published A Test Keeps Lifeguards Fit For Duty, a well-written tale of the steps some of New York City’s more “mature” lifeguards take to stay in tip top shape. The timing of the article couldn’t have been better, as we were busy putting the finishing touches on the seventh installment of the Ten Commandments of Effective Lifeguarding.
This brand new Lifeguard Commandment video addresses the importance of lifeguards always …continue reading the rest of Rescue Ready at Retirement Age
Are You Swimming in a Toilet?
August 31st, 2011
E. Coli outbreaks across the country have been compromising the health and well being of swimmers this summer. This dangerous bacteria has been linked to dozens of hospitalizations. Thirteen people were hospitalized after visiting a state park in Pennsylvania. According to an article on FoodSafetyNews.com, “eight of the swimmers had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening …continue reading the rest of Are You Swimming in a Toilet?
