How Lifeguards Implement Backboards And Other Vital Equipment

Whenever we least expect them, any sort of accident can and will happen for no reason at all. Part of the reason they really are so serious is for this very reason. Measures can not be taken to protect against them since mishaps can never be anticipated. The location of any incident is usually critical when needing proper medical treatment. An individual standing in soft grass that will lose consciousness will likely not suffer the same trauma as one who slips and falls while climbing up the side of a mountain. But if a person were to pass out in the middle of the street, or while swimming, for instance, the location itself would likely cause severe injury or even bring about their death. Because of this, we can prepare for a number of accidents. We have lifeguards on call where a lot of people are swimming, not only because the act of swimming itself can be dangerous, but because if someone has a medical accident, even one totally unrelated to the water itself, the water can easily still kill them. Lifeguard equipment including the rescue tube, the CPR mask, along with the lifeguard backboard all have a hand in protecting the lives of swimmers.

A board built to support the body, a backboard or otherwise referred to as a spine board is used when spinal injuries are presumed. Because moving a man or women with a broken bone or a spinal injury might cause more damage and even paralysis or death, keeping them immobile is crucial. A backboard allows the individual to be carried to an ambulance and moved to a hospital facility with virtually no substantial risk of further injury related to movement. Backboards will have handles on both sides where two or more people would be needed to transport the person out of danger and most boards will be larger than the average body. Additionally, they are most commonly built out of plastic currently instead of wood, so that they require little maintenance to keep them clean of potentially unhealthy bacteria, and keep them structurally sound (as wood can decay).

A lifeguard backboard is not commonly used without one or more other pieces of equipment. To hold the person securely in place on the board, straps are used. A neck brace is required besides the backboard in really serious cases where there could be a spinal injury related to the back and neck. To keep the patient's head motionless, if a neck brace is not available, typically a head immobilizer can be used along with the backboard. Both can be purchased in a variety of sizes for children and adults, where the backboard and neck braces can also be found with colored straps as a way to easily organize them.

Lifeguard devices are normally only used in public swimming or water-sporting locations, including pools, lakes, or the ocean. Lifeguards are trained in first aid, and are required to be strong swimmers, but they can also have additional qualifications based on the location, even serving as primary emergency medical service personnel every now and then.

If you own a property with a pool area or near a beach, then having a good inventory of equipment like the lifeguard backboard is crucial for those worst-case situations. All the vital equipment can be purchased and mailed to anyone with the right distributor at affordable prices regardless of what your needing for your specific location. Makes sure your swimmers are safe and secure all year round by equipping your lifeguards with the latest and most helpful devices.