retired_nini59

As some of you will know, and most probably don't I started lifeguarding this summer, up until now nothing major has happened and the job has just entailed cleaning and stopping kids from messing around etc.

Then this Saturday a little boy, who must've been around 5 years old actually drowned and stop breathing, but fortunately came around after cpr. I had 10 minutes before going on pool (the pool where the drowning occurred), so went to the far pool to watch some water polo. Anyway I heard the triple whistle which means 'lifeguard going in' and turned around to see one lifeguard running from his position to the far end of the building (to hit the alarm), so I ran down to that pool as fast as I could, it was pretty exciting at first as I didn't know what was going on until I got a lot closer and saw the little boy being pulled out of the water.

At this point my excitement turned to semi-panic, I wanted to help but there wasn't much I could do, the alarm had been hit, someone had gone to call an ambulance, and someone else was just starting CPR, so despite being there within seconds of the kid being pulled from the water I was a bit redundant. Anyway I decided to go and get a mask in case it was needed, which I got but it was useless as it had no valve to blow into anyway, plus I never would've used it anyway, the masks are too fiddly for my liking, especially on a child.

As I was the closest to the incident apart from the lifeguard already doing CPR I would've been due to take over after 2 minutes, so at this point I was stood right behind the lifeguard doing CPR and looking down at a kid lying on the poolside not moving and not breathing. All I could think was that he'll start breathing soon, as I couldn't imagine watching a little child die right in front of me. The other lifeguard did the rescue breaths and nothing happened, so he started compressions and after a few the child coughed up a load of water, but he still wasn't breathing, so a couple more breaths were given then loads of water came spurting out of the nose and the kid came around. I was very relieved as I knew if I'd have had to start CPR then it probably would've been too late by that stage.

All this happened in less than a minute and I didn't really have time to process it all then, as soon as the kid was breathing I got everyone out of the way and emptied what was left in the pool (which I should've done earlier perhaps but I was too engrossed in the situation), back up arrived and so I then went to cover on one of the other pools whilst the girl there went to meet the ambulance. They came not too long afterwards as the hospital is quite close. Somehow we managed to get all the pools back open within a few minutes of the kid being taken to hospital, which I'm not sure was the best thing to do tbh as a few of the lifeguards were shaken up by it. I on the other hand was very calm and totally unaffected which makes me feel a bit weird now tbh. Even the lifeguard who had to do the CPR was back on poolside within a few minutes I think. I guess in a way it stopped us thinking about it too much, I was working all day Sunday and whilst it was at the back of my mind it didn't affect my job, other than possibly making me more alert.

Then today when I was back in uni I couldn't stop thinking about it, which is quite probably because my lectures are so boring. But I hadn't talked to anyone about it until today, even at work not much has been said at all. Apparently they are going to do an investigation into what happened, as well as a police investigation, and they are bringing in a counsellor, though no-one in management seems to have communicated this to us, which isn't very good.

Anyway analysing it now at the time I felt totally useless and would've much preferred to be the one doing CPR, but looking back I'm glad I didn't have to, as if he hadn't come round I'm not really sure how I would've coped. Lifeguarding can be a rather boring job, but from now on I think I'll appreciate the boredom a little more

retired_metcalfl

Bloody hell, I'd be utterly rubbish in that sort of situation, probably just start crying or something

retired_charytine

Poor kid. :thdn:

retired_yesmoncar

good story :thup:

Glad you didn't have to give him CPR. How **** must someone feel giving CPR to someone who dies? Could you ever forgive yourself?

retired_kris10nicole

Which pool do you work at, Alex?

Ansthenia

Glad the little chap is ok :thup:

And also quite impressed that despite you being on the scene within a matter of seconds there were plenty of lifeguards already on the scene.

If I was to start drowning I would want to do it at your swimming pool tbh.

retired_dbaguado

wp to the lifeguard btw

retired_yesmoncar

Was the lifeguard at fault btw for not spotting he was in trouble before it got to a serious stage?

retired_nini59

I doubt you would, at the time the adrenaline is just so high, I think I'd be fairly comfortable doing CPR on an adult and always thought that it wouldn't be a problem in any situation as I know it back to front and inside out, but the fact I couldn't didn't what to do with regards to everyone gathering around when it was happening, makes me think that with that much tension I might forget to tilt the head back, or pinch the nose, or do the 5 rescue breaths first, though after seeing someone else revive a child I'll probably be more re-assured if it does happen to me as I'll know it does work if you take your time and do it properly.

Like I say at the time I was getting ready to take over if needed, and the thought crossed my mind that he might die, then quickly it was replaced with the thought that he would definitely survive, quite possibly a subconscious effort to make sure that if I did have to do CPR that I wouldn't panic, and would in effect treat it like a dummy, which at the time it was seemed little more than someone doing CPR on a dummy.

I think it's afterwards when you might break down, I don't know what would've happened if he hadn't survived. I expect there'd be quite a few off sick right now, and the centre would probably closed.

On another point they really should teach CPR in school, it's so easy and there's no reason why everyone shouldn't at least know how to do it.

retired_g_stull

Does your job offer any kind of counselling for situations such as this? Might be good to have a chat through, as it's clearly weighing on your mind. See it as closure?