Publication Information
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Publication
International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education
Publish Date
Abstract
While the importance of lifeguards in providing immediate and effective basic life support (BLS) in drowning has been well reported, not a lot is known about how lifeguards perceive the relative value of CPR as a lifeguard skill, their training in it, and the likelihood of resuscitation being successful. A self-complete questionnaire was completed by 252 volunteer surf lifeguards at 16 surf beaches in the Greater Auckland,NZ region. Results show that most lifeguards (65%) had received training in the 3 months before the survey, 83% were willing to perform CPR, few (9%) had used CPR in an emergency, and many had a realistic expectation of the likelihood of CPR being successful. Recall of CPR compression rates (86%) was very good but initial steps at an emergency scene were less accurately recalled. Ways to address the misconceptions reported in the survey through enhanced training programs are discussed.
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