The sound of a long whistle blast signals an emergency. As an aquatics first response team, we are well aware that this means we have an unconscious victim in the water with a suspected neck or back injury, and time is everything. We have 4 to 6 minutes before the victim will suffer brain damage because of lack of oxygen, and a wrong move could mean paralysis for life. Under that pressure, every muscle is tense and our hands are shaking. Within 30 seconds the primary lifeguard has the victim in a stabilized position in the water. After 60 precious seconds have passed, the EMS has been summoned and other guards have responded, backboarding the victim and securing him/her into a stabilized position. Within 180 seconds the victim has been removed from the pool. We begin cycles of breaths and chest compressions, knowing that we beat the 4 minute mark by only a few seconds. Now the circulation of oxygen is critical until an AED or paramedics have arrived.
We do this every day, because every day it is our job. Thankfully today it was a drill. Yesterday it was a drill. And the day before that it was a drill. Some complain that we are wasting our time preparing for an event that may never come. But we know that if it did come, we won't regret the 5 minute drills that added up to hours of our time. It would all be worth saving one life.
Is it any wonder that the angels rejoice over the salvation of one person?
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