Yay! I won! You can listen at
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/03/140157253/bluff-the-listener. After listening, I actually didn’t do as well as it sounded. I first thought it was A, but the audience booed, so I said B, even though it would fall apart when it rains, I just really hoped it wasn’t C. Well it was, a lifeguard being fired for not wearing a speedo. This apperently was really in the news, but due to camping, I never heard about it! Thanks to the audience, I still won!
From the guy with his eye on the sky, Travis...the camping lifeguard
Ok, my mom read this and told me that what I thought my have been misunderstood. Let me go back to the story, Roy Lester was a guard in New York. He wears a tightish swimsuit that goes almost down to the knees. This is what he normally wears when guarding, as compared to regular swimsuits, because regular swimsuits can slow him down. He had a choice between wearing a speedo, which will keep him moving fast, or failing by not doing the swim. He chose not to wear a speedo or a loose swimsuit, so he was fired.
A lifeguard should tested in whatever clothing they wish. If they wish to swim in a sweatsuit they can...and if they pass, then does it matter what they wear? They have proven that they can perform a rescue yet watch the water comfortably. His choice, and others, in swimwear should not prevent testing...just test on swimming ability. If he had dressed like this in prior summers, then he should be simply grandfathered in.
One of the city's swim requirement that they have listed is swimming 100 yards in 75 seconds. The lifeguard training I was given was that you must always be within a 25 second swim from any swimmers (45 seconds for swimmers with a lifejacket *shiver in horror*). I know that for myself I can swim 25 yards in 22 seconds with a lifeguard tube, 15 seconds without a tube while sprinting. There are two differences between a rescue swim and a regular timed swim. When doing a time swim you are keeping your head in the water, so you can move thru the water faster. During a rescue you must keep your head above water so that you can keep watch over your victim. You also normally have a tube under your arms or chest to keep ready until you get close to your victim. I should also mention I am only tested on 25 yards due to always being in a pool of that size, and I never taught myself how to do flip turns when becoming a lifeguard, so I can't do a further distance when being timed in a pool.
According to the Red Cross requirements (what I am certified under), there is no unassisted hearing or vision requirements, as so long as the candidate can perform the rescue. As long as the candidate is over 15, age has no impact behind initial certification.
I wish Roy luck and he gets his job back!
