Mr Lim Kim Han enjoyed his holiday job as a lifeguard so much that upon graduation four years ago, he signed on to be a full timer with Atelier Aquatic Safety Pte Ltd.(Photos by Aik Chen)
Lifeguards are truly lifesavers in every sense of the word. According to the International Lifesaving Federation, over a million lives worldwide are saved each year by these first responders.
It requires a combination of skills and diligence to take on the role of someone who can monitor their surroundings, save those in need and assist the public. As International Lifeguard Appreciation Day (Jul 31) approaches, Mr Lim Kim Han, 27, Senior Lifeguard and Lifeguard Instructor at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, offers an insight into his work at the swimming facility — so that we can all enjoy our laps with peace of mind.
Being a competent swimmer is not the only requisite
Aquatic safety and risk management protocols may differ from organisation to organisation, but the set adopted by Singapore Sports Hub does not focus on swimming speed. “The important thing is to be able to maintain your swim throughout a rescue effort,” says Kim Han. “In addition, lifeguards here need to be able to tread water and dive in a specific way in order to perform certain rescue techniques.”
This training is provided by international aquatic safety and risk management consulting firm, Ellis & Associates, and all lifeguards at Singapore Sports Hub will be required to complete this course to become a rescue professional here.
Conducted in both theory and practical lessons, the syllabus teaches skills such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using the automated external defibrillator (AED), giving first aid and executing the different types of rescue techniques. The training also includes special facilities lifeguarding skills used in different water zones, such as Splash-N-Surf and Diving Pool at Singapore Sports Hub. The certification is renewed every year as a refresher to keep lifeguards updated on the latest life-saving measures.
Lifeguards take self-care seriously
Being a lifeguard requires self-discipline, within the job and out of it. Staying professional is important as one must constantly engage with members of the public; and being alert is not just about having an extra cup of coffee.
“Personally, the key to staying alert when on duty is ensuring our personal health is maintained, like having sufficient rest the night before and having a well-balanced diet,” shares Kim Han. Lifeguards must also take extra care of their mental health, as they may have to cope with psychological stress due to encounters with difficult patrons or with life-and-death situations.
There is career growth
Kim Han, who started out as a Singapore Sports Hub lifeguard as a student holiday job, found himself so inspired by his work that upon graduation, he signed on to be a full-timer with Atelier Aquatic Safety Pte Ltd, the lifeguard service provider that Singapore Sports Hub works with. Within 4½ years, he moved up the ranks to take on the role of a Senior Lifeguard.
“Career progression is one of the contributing factors that has kept me motivated, because I get to do more than just lifeguarding,” says Kim Han who is also a Lifeguard Instructor. “It’s fun whenever I welcome a new batch of lifeguards. I’m always looking back at my own teaching materials to see how I can make it more engaging and interesting for them, while reaching our objectives of preventing accidents and saving lives,” he says.
Lifeguards do not just sit and watch people swim
Kim Han dismisses one of the most common misconceptions about lifeguards: “The reason why we sit on the highchair is so that we can cover an extensive view and scan areas where we would be unable to while standing.”
The purpose of sitting on a high chair is so that a lifeguards can scan areas where he/she would be unable to while standing.
Besides looking out for swimmers across two pools at Singapore Sports Hub — the OCBC Aquatic Centre and Splash-N-Surf — Kim Han’s duties include leading his team of lifeguards and ensuring every member is performing their duty in their respective zone of protection area. He also checks the safety equipment and responds promptly to various activations, “be it operations, first aid, customer service or other miscellaneous matters”. He adds, “In case of an emergency, we’re the first point of contact for instruction to be disseminated to the public. If something needs to be resolved or fixed, we will be the ones to contact the appropriate staff for rectification. So yes, we’re doing a lot more than just looking at people swimming.”
Safety First
Kim Han shares five measures that all swimmers should observe when they are in the pool area.
Senior Lifeguard Kim Han advises swimmers to never run when in the pool area.
- Always walk, don’t run. “When patrons exit the pool and walk on the deck, water drips onto the floor. This causes the swimming pool deck to become slippery.”
- Do not drink alcohol and swim. “Alcohol can lead to an altered sense of distance and the feeling of disorientation and confusion in the water.”
- Stay in a pool area that is within your swimming abilities. “Whenever in doubt, patrons are welcomed to seek advice from lifeguards on the choice of lane to swim.”
- Diving is prohibited. “Due to light refraction, it is not possible to gauge the actual depth of the pool by simply looking at it. To prevent neck, head or spinal injuries, non-competitive swimmers should never dive or plunge into the pool, regardless of the depth.”
- Don’t hold your breath under the pool without professional supervision. “Refrain from performing underwater breath-holding, as it may lead to shallow water blackout. If there is really a need to carry out such an act, always be supervised by a trained professional.”
