Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the effects of rescue swimming on lifeguard cardiorespiratory system assessed based on heart rate (HR), lung ventilation (VĖ), oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) and blood lactate concentration (LA). Furthermore, we also investigated the possible impact of the rescue equipment of the towed diver on the lifeguard physiological overload and towing speed. Exercise variables were measured in lifeguards aged 25.5 ± 6. years before and immediately after the swimming a distance of 50 m with a person in tow with or without diving equipment. There were no significant effect of different protocols of towing on V̇O₂. The type of towing protocols have a significant effect on HR, VĖ/V̇O₂ ratio, and blood LA levels. The towing time and the average towing speed during simulated rescue operation were significantly different depending on the type of the towing person’s equipment. Towing a diver wearing only a dry suit significantly reduces the towing time, increases towing speed and may be result in better exercise tolerance and less fatigue for rescuer compared to towing a diver in a full classic or wing diving set.