Chapter 3: Equipment PDF

Chapter 3: Equipment Since an emergency can occur at any time it is essential that you have the appropriate equipment and that it is in proper working order. Rescue equipment, your uniform, first-aid gear and other daily use equipment are essential for duty. Employees who fail to have their uniform...

Chapter 3: Equipment Since an emergency can occur at any time it is essential that you have the appropriate equipment and that it is in proper working order. Rescue equipment, your uniform, first-aid gear and other daily use equipment are essential for duty. Employees who fail to have their uniform and equipment will be sent home. All guards will be responsible for personal equipment as well as other guarding equipment on the way to, from, and at their beaches. Treat all equipment as if you paid for it yourself because if you break or lose anything the cost will be deducted from your next paycheck(s). Patrons are not authorized to use equipment or to sit on rescue boards, lifeguard chairs or boats. You should report any loss, theft, or damage of property promptly to the beach office. Section 1 - Personal Equipment 1.1 Uniform The City of Evanston will provide all staff with their required uniforms. Uniforms allow patrons to identify you as an employee of the City of Evanston. Do not modify your uniform in any way. Lifeguard related staff must wear their uniform at all times while at work, even when they are on break. Male staff must wear a shirt at all times, unless swimming or completing an activity in the water Female staff are not allowed to wear anything, including a second swimsuit, (one piece or two piece) under their issued lifeguard uniform swimsuit. Staff are not permitted to wear their uniform while off duty unless immediately traveling to or from their shift. Anytime staff is actively lifeguarding or operating a vessel, hair must be kept tied back (if past the shoulder) to keep the hair out of the eyes. 1.2 Sunglasses It is recommended that all staff wear sunglasses for eye protection from the sun. Lifeguards, sailing and aquatics staff should wear polarized sunglasses as they help to reduce glare from the water, allowing you to see under the surface of the water. 1.3 Cold Weather Gear The Lakefront’s weather can vary throughout the day. Bringing some extra warm weather clothing is suggested for all staff. All staff are entitled to a windbreaker, a pair of sweatpants, sweatshirt and beanie. Guards are also welcome to layer under their uniform, but keep in mind when lifeguards are in chair you are expected to be able to enter the water quickly regardless of your clothing. 1.4 Food/Water Hydration is essential especially when working outdoors. Bring a reusable water bottle everyday. As you may not have time or the option to get food, it is important to have food with you to eat during breaks. 1.5 Sunscreen Staff should use waterproof/resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours. Sunscreen application will be documented at the beginning of each staff shift with the use of a Sunscreen Log. It is also recommended that staff wear a City of Evanston hat as a 3rd form of sun protection in addition to sunglasses and a hat. 1.6 Protective Equipment - Lifeguard Related Positions, Camp, and Sailing The following items will help keep rescuers safe in emergency situations.  1.6a First-Aid Fanny Pack At all times, it is required that you carry a fully stocked, first-aid fanny pack. The fanny pack will contain equipment necessary for any emergency, where the lifeguard must provide direct care. The first aid fanny pack must include: A Pocket Mask, Nitrile Gloves, Band-Aids, Alcohol Wipes, Gauze, and Roller Gauze all enclosed in zip-lock bags to protect them from water and sand. While they are provided for you it is your responsibility to make sure you have all the items and they are in good condition. Your stock should be replaced anytime you use an item. A supervisor will provide you with new items from the beach office supply when needed. 1.6b Nitrile Gloves Nitrile (non-latex) disposable gloves are used in any situation involving first-aid care, blood, or picking up hazardous materials. To remove your gloves, begin by partially removing one glove. With the other gloved hand, pinch the first glove at the wrist, being certain to touch only the outside of the first glove-and start to roll it back off the hand, inside out. Leave the exterior of the fingers on the first glove exposed. Use the still-gloved fingers of the first hand to pinch the wrist of the second glove and begin to pull it off, rolling it inside-out toward the finger-tips as you did with the first glove. Continue pulling the second glove off until you can pull the second hand free. With your now-ungloved second hand, grasp the exposed inside of the first glove and pull it free of your first hand and over the now-loose second glove. Be sure that you touch only clean, interior surfaces with your ungloved hand. 1.6c Micro-shield/Pocket Mask A pocket mask should be used whenever performing rescue breaths, when a BVM is not available. This barrier device will limit exposure to body fluids. Your pocket mask should always be kept in your fanny pack. 1.6d BVM BVM or bag valve mask is a device with a facemask attached to a ventilation bag containing a reservoir. This device is used when there is more than one person present to help deliver air to the victim. The BVM resuscitator is used to manually provide mechanical ventilation in preference to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (either direct or through an adjunct such as a pocket mask). A BVM has a reservoir which can fill with oxygen while the patient is exhaling in order to increase the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the patient to nearly 100% as opposed to the much less percentage delivered from a rescuer’s lungs. 1.6e Personal Flotation Device (PFD/Lifejacket) While on any vessel, staff shall wear a properly fitted, USCG certified PFD.The PFD shall be worn properly, with all buckles, straps, and zippers securely fastened. 1.7 Personal Property Your belongings are your responsibility. Be smart about what you bring to the beach. Personal belongings often are left unattended when emergency situations occur. Lifeguards should not have any personal belongings, including cell phones, in the chair while on duty. Section 2 - Daily Equipment Equipment Checked-Out from Beach Office Each of the five beaches has its own dedicated equipment; some of which is checked out at the start of each day by the beach manager and then returned at the end of the day. 2.1 Two-Way Radios Communication Radios are provided for all beaches, camp locations, the dog beach, Church St. Boat Ramp, and supervisors. Any staff with a radio must make sure that it stays on their person and is kept on  and functioning at all times. Never leave your radio anywhere unattended. The two-way radio is the beach's first line of communication with the beach office, supervisors, and Fire Dispatch. 2.2 Shack Key Used to open and lock the beach shack where the beach equipment is stored. Occasionally, when notified by the beach office these keys are used to open or lock the bathrooms. 2.3 Cell Phones Cell phones are only given to Lighthouse and South managers. They are used when radio transmissions have too much interference. Cell phones should be on “loud”. Cell phones are checked out of Dempster St Beach Office 2.4 Tablet Tablets include daily log sheets, incident reports, first aid reports, jump reports, missing person reports, and in-service and mock drowning logs. It is to be charged overnight, at the end of each shift. Tablets will be used by Supervisors. Section 3 - Beach Equipment The following beach equipment is stored and locked in the beach shack each night. The setup of the beach is vital to the emergency response because in high-stress scenarios guards should know where all equipment is located. 3.1 Rescue Tubes Rescue tubes are used in every water rescue situation. A minimum of three rescue tubes (more on busier days) should be tied in rescue ready formation on the east side of the primary chair. When secondary and tertiary lifeguard chairs are in use, they should have their own, additional rescue ready tube(s). This specific rescue ready position includes a slipknot and will be taught to each guard during beach training. 3.2 Spinal Board/Backboard Used in emergency situations when an injury to the spine, neck, head, or back is suspected. During operational hours the backboard should be placed on the north side of the primary chair with the head facing east. The buckles should be buckled underneath the board, so they are easily accessible in emergencies. 3.3 Rescue Board & Rescue Paddle Boards The rescue board is used in long distance water rescues. It is to be stored on the south side of the primary lifeguard chair with the nose pointing east. 3.4 Signs There are multiple types of signs placed on the beach each day. The first are the blank coverings which attach to the large “No swimming allowed" signs on the back of each lifeguard chair. When lifeguards are on duty, they cover the “NO” on this sign, thus alerting patrons that swimming is allowed. The second sign is an A-frame sign that should be placed at the entrance before the gate attendant. Information on the sign such as the date, temperature, and water conditions should be filled out on days when the water is open. On days when the water is closed, there is another A-frame sign that says “water closed” that should be set up at the entrance. 3.5 First Aid Bag The First-Aid Bag is kept at each beach and from open to close should be located in a known, easily accessible spot, typically at the ripper station or gate area. In any emergency situation the First-Aid Bag should be brought by one of the responders. Its contents include the AED, a larger supply of the equipment  found in the fanny pack as well as eye wash, hemostatic gauze pads, insect sting relief pads, medical tape, scissors, tweezers, ice packs, ammonia packs, a bag valve mask. 3.6 Megaphone The megaphone is used to inform patrons of rules, weather, beach/water closings, and emergency situations. 3.7 Binoculars Our secondary and tertiary emergency response areas extend far out into Lake Michigan, so binoculars are needed to see swimmers, objects, and vessels in distress at a distance. 3.8 AED All beaches are given an AED or Automated External Defibrillator which will be kept in the first aid bag at all times during the day. 3.9 Mask/Fins All beaches will have a set of masks and fins. The masks and fins are to be used by either a manager or a strong swimmer in the event of a deep-water line search. The mask and fins will be stored in the shack and must be brought down to the main chair daily. 3.10 Rescue Can While individual beaches are not supplied with rescue cans, lifeguards may use them on rescue duty or for deep water rescues when swimming long distances is required. Rescue cans are similar to rescue tubes, except they are hollow and made of hard plastic. A rescue can is far more buoyant than a rescue tube. Swimming with them is easier as there is less drag, but rescuing passive and active victims becomes more difficult with them. 3.11 Beach Warning Flags Each beach will be equipped with beach warning flags that will be placed in the middle chair to notify beach patrons of water conditions. A red “No Swimming” flag should be placed in the chair when the water is closed to swimming due to hazardous conditions or when the beach is closed for the day. A yellow flag should be used when swimmers need to take extra caution or the swim area has been modified. A green flag should be used when conditions are favorable. Section 4 - Rescue and Recreational Motorboats The City of Evanston motorboats are used by the Fire Department, Supervisors, Aquatic Camp, and Sailing Staff. All staff should be aware of their names and typical uses. 4.1 Marine 21 Marine 21 is a 21 foot Brunswick Boston Whaler Guardian commercial rescue boat outfitted with two outboard 115 horsepower 4-stroke engines. This boat is the primary rescue boat for the Evanston lakefront. It is operated by Evanston Fire Department members and provides support to the lakefront staff by patrolling unguarded areas, responding to emergencies, providing assistance to boaters and enforcing rules and regulations on the water. 4.2 445 445 is a 17-foot Boston Whaler with a single 90-horsepower 4-stroke engine. It will be used by Aquatic Camp staff for recreational use and as an Assist Vessel for Sailing staff to assist both rental watercraft and watercraft that have launched from Dempster Street. 4.3 436 436 is a 17-foot Boston Whaler with a center console and a single 90 horsepower 4-stroke outboard engine. It is used by Sailing Staff as an Assist Vessel for the Evanston Lakefront. 4.4 431 431, or the "Tahoe," is a 17-foot ski boat with a 115 horsepower 4-stroke outboard engine. It is used by Aquatic Camp staff to pull tubers and water skiers. 4.5 427 427 is the City’s newest addition to the fleet. It is a 17-foot Boston Whaler with a center console and a single 90 horsepower 4-stroke outboard engine. It is used by Aquatic Camp staff as the secondary recreational boat to pull tubers and water skiers. It is used by Sailing Staff as an Assist Vessel for the Evanston Lakefront. 4.6 Vessel Operations Protocol Those operating vessels must be 18 years or older, have received boating training, and should have a boat license. The Parks and Recreation vessels are to be used only for Aquatics Camp activities, sailing lesson instruction, and for basic on water assistance of rental watercraft or watercraft that has sailed/paddled from Dempster Street Beach that is within sight range of the Dempster Street Beach Office. In the event of any vessel in distress or vessel needing assistance not fitting the above situations, EFD shall be requested and notified immediately. The Parks and Recreation vessels are not rescue watercraft, and shall not be used as such without the direction from Marine 21 or EFD command staff. No boat shall travel further north than Lighthouse Beach or south of South Blvd Beach. Boats involved in activities with campers in tow on a tube or skis shall remain south of the NU landfill where they are visible from the Beach Office. All persons on board any boat must wear properly fitted and secured PFDs at all times. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. All boats will adhere to the buoy line restrictions unless conducting appropriate activities. When inside the buoy line boats shall not create a wake. No non-employees shall be on the boat except for those who were needing assistance. All USCG regulations governing watercraft shall be followed at all times If there is a boating accident involving one of our boats: COE accident report, Illinois DNR boating accident report, both must be filled out and submitted to proper authorities. https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Documents/BoatingIncidentReportForm.pdf