Saving Lives: Union lifeguards share the importance of their role

Lifeguard Skills and Importance of Water Safety

Aly Heggemann has been working as a lifeguard at the Union Splash-N-Swimplex for four years. She finds fulfillment in knowing that she is helping people and doing good. Although she has only had to use her lifeguard skills once, back in 2020, she believes that her experience has prepared her for a future career in the medical field. Heggemann recently completed her first year at Rockhurst University in Kansas City and plans to pursue a career in healthcare.

Lifeguard Training and Skills

Lifeguard certification classes cover a range of safety skills and techniques, including accident prevention, scanning, guarding techniques, emergency systems, rescue skills, first aid in the aquatic environment, spinal injury management, open water dangers, legal responsibilities, and pool management. Heggemann explains that lifeguards are trained to perform various tasks such as treading water without using hands, swimming with a tube, retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool, and providing basic CPR and first aid.

Union’s lifeguard training is done in-house but aligns with the training offered by Gateway Region YMCA. The YMCA lifeguard certification requires individuals to pass a swim test and demonstrate physical competency and knowledge of rescue skills. Lifeguards must be able to tread water, swim different strokes, perform surface dives, and respond to incidents or emergencies promptly.

The Importance of Water Safety and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Water safety is a critical aspect of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Drowning is a preventable cause of death and a significant public health issue worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning claims the lives of 236,000 people each year and has caused over 2.5 million deaths in the past decade. In the United States alone, there are approximately 11 fatal drownings and 8,000 non-fatal drownings annually.

Children are particularly vulnerable to drowning incidents, with infants under one year old facing a high risk of drowning in bathtubs and home swimming pools being the primary sites for drowning among children aged one to four. Natural bodies of water also contribute to a significant number of drownings in children aged five to 14. Water safety measures, including swimming lessons and constant supervision, can help prevent these incidents.

Recognizing the importance of water safety, the WHO designated July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about the consequences of drowning and provide strategies for preventing such incidents.

Ensuring Water Safety at Union’s Splash-N-Swimplex

At Union’s Splash-N-Swimplex, lifeguards play a crucial role in maintaining water safety. Despite the calm and relaxed environment, lifeguards must remain vigilant and continuously scan the water to ensure the safety of swimmers. While drownings may occur more frequently than people realize, lifeguards at the pool have successfully prevented severe outcomes by promptly responding to incidents.

Heggemann emphasizes the importance of parental involvement and swimming lessons in promoting water safety. She recommends parents to work with their children in the bathtub or pool and consider enrolling them in swimming lessons. Union’s Splash-N-Swimplex offers swim camps, private lessons, and group lessons to facilitate skill development and water safety awareness.

By prioritizing water safety and providing lifeguard training, Union’s Splash-N-Swimplex contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). These efforts help reduce drowning incidents, promote physical and mental well-being, and create a safe and enjoyable environment for swimmers.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. No Poverty

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
• Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

3. Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.

4. Quality Education

• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.

13. Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:

– SDG 1: No Poverty

– SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

– SDG 4: Quality Education

– SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

– SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

– SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

– Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

– Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

– Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.

– Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

– Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:

– Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

– Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.

– Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.

– Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.

– Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.

– Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table