Peak swimming season requires more preparedness from lifeguards who save lives. For those in charge of lifeguard teams and coastal search and rescue missions, each year brings new challenges.
When updating equipment, lifeguards and lifeguard teams need to consider the following elements.
- Portability & Mobility
- Safety & Prevention
- Adaptability & Durability
- Heat & Water Resistant
- Easy-To-Clean
Common Injuries At Beaches
Lifeguards at beaches are trained and certified to handle an array of water-related injuries, as well as handle medical emergencies with life-saving procedures. They must be familiar with rescue techniques as well as the equipment needed to cover some common beach injuries, which include:
- Heatstroke
- Major Cuts
- Broken Collarbones
- Dislocated Shoulders
- Jellyfish Stings
- Spinal Injuries
Consider ensuring that everyone on your team is capable of quickly treating these kinds of conditions and has access to the right emergency contacts. Below is equipment that meets the standard for any good lifeguard.
1. Rescue Skid Units
In situations where ambulances cannot reach the beach, rescue skid units can easily maneuver through crowds and navigate sandy beaches. These UTVs can reach people promptly, and the most durable and reliable beach rescue skids hail from KIMTEK’s MEDLITE Transport collection.
2. Rescue Tubes
Just like you may have seen on Baywatch, lifeguards who see swimmers in distress run out with rescue tubes under their arms or dragging behind them. Over the years, tubes have been made lighter and easier to port and can carry more floating weight as lifeguards swim people to the shore to render aid.
Make sure all lifeguards know where the rescue tubes are and how to access them. When someone’s life is in danger, seconds count.
3. Spineboards
Also known as backboards, these are key pieces of equipment used to rescue beachgoers who suffer water injuries, are unconscious, or aren’t able to support themselves. Today’s models have head immobilizers to prevent further damage in situations that may involve brain injuries.
4. Automated External Defibrillators
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are critical tools lifeguards use. They provide emergency heart restarts to those suffering from cardiac arrest while swimming and needing rescuing.
Lifeguards should only use defibrillators only in extreme cases. Afterward, beachgoers can be quickly taken to the location of an ambulance, which typically requires lifeguard medical skid units.
5. Rescue Boats
Rescue boats allow lifeguards to conduct water rescue operations and are stocked with essential rescue equipment, emergency supplies, and medication. These boats allow rescuers to quickly reach swimmers in danger and return them to the shoreline. From there, they can transport them to one of their rescue skid units for further transport to an ambulance or render aid on the scene.
Need Beach Safety Skid Units Or Other Water Rescue Gear?
At KIMTEK Corporation, we specialize in producing and delivering lifeguard medical skid units for rescue MEDLITE® Transports. Our team is ready to answer your questions, help you find the UTV skid unit for your specific needs, offer lifeguard safety tips, and much more. Contact us today to talk with a representative at KIMTEK.
