All About Training to be a Lifeguard at Disney

Okay so I am very, very sorry for not posting anything in a while.  I have been extremely busy with everything here at Disney.  I think I can finally say that I have gotten into my new routine though.

So in the past month, a lot has happened.  I left off at the beginning of the Ellis Lifeguard Training Class so I will start there.  This training was a total of three days for a total of 24 training hours.  On the first day, we learned many different rescues to perform when alone in the water.  These included the "Front Drive", "Rear Hug", "Duck Pluck", and then modified versions of these three.  We also learned CPR and all that for the adult and child.  Day two consisted of practicing more CPR and learning how to perform it on an infant.  We also practiced rescues using the backboard and trauma bag.  The trauma bag has an oxygen tank and an AED in it so we learned how to use those as well as when to use them.  Later in the afternoon we learned your basic first aid and then it was time to head home to study/practice.

The last day of training is a full day of testing.  We started out reviewing CPR.  After that we went right into our written multiple choice test.  This was made up of 60 questions.  I am proud to say I only got three wrong.  After the test we went into CPR test outs.  We were given a scenario by an instructor for each an adult, a child, and an infant.  We performed each accordingly.  This took up a little bit of time because there was 37 of us in this training class.  After CPR, we ate lunch.  Then we got back into our teams of three or four from the previous day so we could practice a little bit for our group test outs.  We practiced using the trauma bag and the backboard rescues. 

The way the group test outs work was that the pool was split in half so that two groups would go at a time.  The groups being tested were sent inside so the rest of the class could get ready.  The instructors picked a couple of "victims" and then everyone would get in the pool to be the "guests".  When the instructor gave the appropriate signal, the victim it corresponded with would begin his/her task.  This could have been anything from pretending to drown, being unconscious, or to having a spinal injury.  Everything was random, that way there was no predicting what scenario you would get.  My group got a surprised girl who was having a hard time staying above water and then the one I jumped in for, an unconscious child.  For this one, we had to get the victim out of the pool with a backboard and use the trauma bag.  Everything went well and we "saved" the child.  After all of the groups had finished we went inside to fill out paperwork and then that was that.  We became licensed lifeguards! WOO!!

I had one day off and then I was off to the "Spirit of the Islands" Orientation at Caribbean Beach Resort.  Here we learned about the resort, took a tour, and got our costumes.  The lifeguard costume is pretty generic but I like it.  We wear a red swim suit, red shorts, a white polo, and then black shoes, black sunglasses, and a red hat.  All of the Disney Lifeguards where the same costume so guest can easily identify us.  The costume also consists of a whistle and a hip-pack that we received on the first day of training with Ellis.

After Orientation, I had one day off and then it was time to begin my On-Site-Training.  This was three days of training at Caribbean Beach, where I learned the ropes of being a lifeguard at this resort.  My trainer was really awesome and we had a lot of fun throughout those three days.  On day one, we were there for the opening of the pool so we helped with that and I learned how it is all done.  We also practiced being on stand and joined in on the Dance Party that takes place on the pool deck every afternoon. 

On day two, I learned how the pool closes and what those procedures are.  I also practiced VAT testing, which is a type of training that continues randomly throughout your time as a lifeguard.  This is when a silhouette of a person is place somewhere in the pool and you have to spot it and treat it as if it were a real person.  If you spot a VAT, you have to blow one whistle, turn off the waterslide, and jump in to retrieve the silhouette.  This tests to make sure we are always watching our water.

Throughout the first two days, we walked around the resort and I became familiar with the area.  I learned all of the island names and which buildings correspond with what color.  On the third day, I had to test out again.  This one is known as KAPA.  I had to perform CPR, take a written test of multiple choice questions specific to the resort, and then be on each of the stands with one VAT dropped without me being aware of it.  I passed everything with flying colors and became the newest lifeguard of Caribbean Beach. 

I have now been there fully on my own for almost three weeks.  I absolutely love my co-workers, coordinators, and managers.  They are a very fun group of people to work with and make going to work very enjoyable.  I have been working about 30 hours a week so far but that will soon be increasing because the pool will be open more hours as we head into the peak season.  I have rescued two children so far and retrieved one VAT.  I have a lovely tanline on my feet from the gorgeous Crocs I wear everyday.  I'm even starting to get the polka dots on the tops of my feet from the little holes.

So far everything is good as a lifeguard.  If there are any specific questions that I did not answer about this role, feel free to ask me in a comment.  That's it for now.  Thanks for reading!!