While rules, regulations and even laws can attempt to change misguided human behavior, most people continue with actions that they know inherently carry the risk of negative consequences. These actions, such as texting while driving and now, in aquatics, texting while guarding lives, is going to continue to be a problem.

It's just another example of why now is the time for the aquatics industry to embrace drowning detection technology such as the Wahooo Swim Monitor System or Poseidon.

Because in the end, it's not about the reason why a drowning victim was missed, be it a text message, an attractive bathing suit or distractive patron. It's about preventing it from happening at all, despite the inefficiencies of human behavior.

Saw one of our Gaurds checking their phone, but not texting. This would be a good article to share.

This would easily be solved by the employers banning cell phones on the job. I work in an office these days and only check my phone on breaks or at lunch. If something is important enough to interrupt my work, then I can get a phone call at my work number. Pools, Rec centers, etc should just require that their employees leave their phones in their lockers during shifts. If they can't do that, then they won't have a job.

I personally don't have a problem with my guards texting on the job. They've been stiffed with low wages for so long it's basically volunteer work at this point.

That is an extremely inappropriate comment by Liz. F. No matter how low the wage, even if you are working for free, if you are taking on the responsibility of being a Lifeguard, you are being negligent if you are looking at a phone. You took the certified course, and you represent that company and how they taught you-at no time is texting while guarding okay. Just imagine if a child drowned under your supervision and you had been texting at the time- I know I could not live with that guilt.

Wow! Why are the guards allowed to have their phones with them in the first place. Our pool NO PHONES while on the clock, no phones while on the chair, fired if you do. Simple!

I am appaled that some people think texting on the job is ok. Texting on ANY job especialy when you cater to a Patron is not OK. As a responsible lifeguard, you learn that being alert is most important or else if you fail, your license/certification must be revoked. and Liz F, if you were my pool supervisor you'd be fired right about now.I don't live by black and white rules but this is one that needs to be enforced otherwise serious consequences will follow.

This is a tough one. At times, I feel like it's ok for my lifeguards to be sending quick texts, but if they put all their energy into texting, this is just wildly irresponsible. There must be a good middle ground in this conversation.

At elifeguardtraining.com/texting we have a discussion board for those interested in addressing this issue. Technology is going to become of greater and greater importance to our lives. Perhaps the desire for lifeguards to text could be used as an advantage.

This whole issue is actually pretty simple to take care of:

Since banning cell phones outright will never work as parents of teens will always use the excuse, 'How will I get ahold of my child if there is an emergency?' and adult guards over age 18 demanding the freedom to have access to their phone at all times.

Here is how to manage the issue:
1. Set up an area where guards may use their cell phones during break times. The lifeguard break room is usually a good place for this as it usually is out of eye sight of customers. Have a common table or desk where the guards are required to place their phones when out of the break room. Other than outside of the gate that surrounds the pool, this is the ONLY area in which guards my use their phone to call or text.
2. Have a 'swim to work' policy. This policy is pretty simple: guards must swim to their next station. This means that the guard gets in the water from their current station (or lifeguard break area) to the next station. The guards must actually put their whole body and heads underwater at some point. No falling for the 'trying to keep my towel dry' trick of wrapping the phone in the towel and holding it overhead. Obviously, all of the stations are still being manned during these transfers so there shouldn't be any issue of an unmanned station. If enforced, this policy works because there are very few waterproof phone on the market.
3. By having a specific place for the guards to keep their phones, the manager on duty can simply count the number of phones on the table and immediately see whether there are fewer phones than there are guards on duty.
4. Have all guards and the parents of minors sign an agreement that a phone being used outside of a specified area will result in immediate termination.

I thought I could avoid weighing in but after the comments from Liz and Leif, I decided to comment. After I picked myself up from the floor.

There is NEVER and excuse for texting on duty. Have you looked at the number of deaths during texting? One is too many. Leif, this is not a 'hard one' at all.

Cliff, the convoluted process to allow staff to check phones is another knee jerk reaction at finding ways to make sure the youth of today 'feel good about themselves'. I don't care how good you feel about yourself while you are working. I care that the patrons in the pool feel GREAT whilst and after they leave my facility. What utter crap that staff need to text on duty and need to have their feelings coddled. I have run my current pool for nearly 17 years and have great staff. They know the expectations of the job and they get other benefits as an employee. One of them is not texting on duty.

Watch the video 'A Series of Events'. Show it to your staff. It follows a young boys last moments of life before he sinks dead to the bottom of a guarded pool and is missed for 5 min 15 sec by the lifeguards. And they weren't texting. A patron brought him to the surface of the shallow end, where he had been, directly in front of a lifeguard. See if at the end, it is a 'hard one' to decide if staff should text on duty. See if any amount of money paid to the family will bring back their dead son.

I sincerely hope that Liz was being a crap-disturber and isn't working in any capacity at a pool, and that Leif is a 'new-to-running-a-pool-larger-than-the-backyard-wading-pool Supervisor'. If you are running pools, I would like to know where so I don't ever send my children there.

I'm with Rebecca.

You're at work, being paid. That's your responsibility. Not personal time. No texting.

Some lifeguard ever did that and a kid died on their watch, would they be ok with that?

Rebecca, Mark and ALL the PROFESSIONAL lifeguard supervisors out there....

We are creating the employees of today and giving them skills for tomorrow. Hold your ground, set your standards high, keep at it. KNOW that people come to your pools because they are safe.

It is not an unrealistic expectation to have employees who focus on their jobs, who enjoy their work environment, who can perform when it is needed. My employees KNOW that cell phones, notebook computers, readers or anything other than a job necessity is NOT allowed on the guard stand. Technology does not replace a qualified, competent and attentive guard.

Yes, emergencies happen at guarded facilities. But significantly less happen when the lifeguards are not distracted and they are trained to do their jobs.

The reference was made to 'A Series of Events' video. It is still available and a great training tool created by Kevin Johnston and used by some of the predominant aquatic trainers in the field. It can make a difference in how your staff perceives there responsibilities.

Keep at it, WE are PROFESSIONALS

Wow, this one is so simple I can't believe there needs to be this much discussion about it:

Rule #1: NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED ON DECK

Rule #2: Guards who break Rule #1 are FIRED!

Any questions?

@ Rebecca and Mark: My points clearly do not allow for phones to be on the deck and certainly not on the guard stand. Point #2 shows how to prevent exactly that. If the guard is dry upon ascending the guard stand or the deck, clearly they didn't 'swim' to work and need to be sent home replaced with another guard for the day. If caught with phone on the deck or stand, they get fired.

The reason for having a place to text and talk is that the guards do get 10-15 minute breaks throughout the day just like most other employees in other professions. Other employees in other professions also log onto Facebook, MySpace and Twitter during business hours but while on personal break. And the guards do this texting and talking out of sight of the patrons unless outside of the fence where they are clearly not working.

What the guard does on their own time is their business, (within all laws etc). I'm simply referring to anything that takes away their focus and attention while on duty.

The safety and enjoyment of the customer has to be paramount, especially the safety.

Rebecca: How do I get my hands on the video 'A series of Events'?
I googled it and can't find it.

To get a hold of the ASI CD, email Kevin at: aquaproklh@aol.com. He will get you all the information you need to purchase it, plus it comes with an in-service training format (background information, talking points, etc.)

Karen: Got it, thanks

Fire them if they don't adhere to a no phones policy. If it's allowed then the supervisor's and the facility are responsible for negligent homicide.