Abstract
This study aimed to identify the factors that may prevent an early response to a drowning episode and the lifeguard perceptions about the critical signs possessed by a drowning victim. Study 1: The level of lifeguard surveillance (n=29) was video recorded prior-, during- and after two simulated drowning episodes that occurred in 7 Polish aquatic facilities. Study 2: A survey assessed the lifeguards’ perceptions about the critical signs they would expect from a drowning victim to be alerted (n=236) and the criterion χ2 was used. Results: The sampled lifeguards were not able to perform effective surveillance of bathing pools because they were unable to identify the simulated victims due to failure in maintaining an organized scanning strategy and because they were placed at the shallow side instead of being spread around the pool. Water safety organizations need to undertake major updates in their manuals and education. Aquatic facilities need to introduce daily operating procedures that would involve weekly staff training, frequent lifeguard rotations, application of various models and continuous professional development. Finally, the aquatic facilities patrons should not depend their safety only on lifeguards.