Lifesaving in USA

USA: Quick Lifeguards in Herndon (VA)

The young lifeguards at the Herndon Community Center Pool rescued a participant in a water aerobics class. The aquatic exercise instructor and two lifeguards responded immediately to the first signs of distress.

They were able to get a water safe wheelchair down the indoor pool ramp quickly, without interrupting the other activities in this busy public athletic facility. The several children's swim classes, the lap swimmers and private lessons continued with minimal interruption.

The Herndon commanders swim program chief was also dispatched and the entire incident was dealt with professionally and efficiently, no doubt due to extensive training and vigilance.

While lifeguards and pool service employees get negative publicity when there is an aquatic accident, pool drowning or community center injury, it is important to catch these young workers when they are doing something right. In this case, their quick thinking and excellent training came to the aid of an older class participant in need.

Like all good lifeguards they are always ready to jump in and assist the swimmers.

Clothed Swimming Strengthens Spartans

By Reed Albers from Annandale, VA
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Odd training takes swimmers by surprise, but improves team's performance.

Before taking a leap into the pool for practice on Jan. 11, members of the West Springfield swim team take a second to make adjustments to their attire.

Check the goggles for fog, make sure the swimsuit is tied on and be sure to have a full set of clothing on.

"We've been wearing clothes in the pool and it's helping us get faster," senior Briana Rinaldo said. "It's a more difficult workout, but it's making us stronger."

So how does clothing make a swimmer more effective in the pool?

"It's building a natural drag," Head Coach Karen Spooner said. "We don't have all the equipment that bigger clubs have, so we're using [clothes] to create more resistance in the pool."

That's not to say the Spartan swim and dive team doesn't have equipment it could use, but the minimalist approach is part of a learning process for Spooner's team.

"We have kickboards and other equipment," she said. "But I wanted to teach the kids they don't need fancy equipment to get a good workout."

The workouts don't just feature shirts and shorts. "At one point, we were wearing gloves in the pool," senior Cort Rusliton said. "That made a huge difference. It was so much harder than you would think."

The sight of a swim team clothed in T-shirts and pants attracts attention from other teams practicing at the Audrey Moore Recreation Center in Annandale, but the swimmers say the training is working.

"You can feel the impact of the training when you don't have [clothes] on in the pool," senior Captain Ryan Scholobach said. "Your muscles don't get as tired quickly. You feel faster."

"Two of our toughest meets are coming up," Nickley said. "So we know Spooner will be stepping up practices even more."