Sociology LIFEGUARDS Ryan Johnson
I have chosen what is probably a very small subculture that is kind of a stretch within our society but nonetheless I think it is a group with an important role and used all over and in communities everywhere. The world of Lifeguarding. I’d say this group can fall into the category of a subculture, though most people wouldn’t think of it that way, but it does because for one they are obviously used in the overall culture of society for necessary reasons and to keep things safe. This group of individuals work with and include special values and signals/terms of there own to function as well as certain responsibilities and skills.
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The duties of a lifeguard include overseeing the safety of users or patrons of a certain body of water and it’s environment. These places might consist of a beach, a water park, or a swimming pool. Lifeguards, supporting the norms of the association or program they are under, are to be qualified strong swimmers, certified and trained in water rescue, using a variety of equipment and aids depending on the requirements of the particular venue (beach, swimming pool, etc.).
They are also expected to be capable of first aid and in some communities cleaning duties and maintenance of the facilities. The guards are to wear something bright and noticeable with clear markings to ensure that you can tell who they are and distinguish them from other people. Somewhere on their attire must be the label ‘Lifeguard’ and/or a red or white cross shown, the symbol of aid. Lifeguards are also obligated to carry or have available a safety flotation tube as a vital part of their equipment along with a variety of others at the ready such as a backboard, an AED, a whistle, first aid kit, oxygen, a breathing barrier, and gloves. This is the standard main equipment needed by lifeguards. Now that there’s a good sense at what the norms of a the common lifeguard is let’s look at the core values they are under. There is no doubt that the most significant value is safety when it comes to lifeguarding. Safety and the sense of duty and responsibility shape what a lifeguard’s purpose is made of. Lifeguards are there to encourage safe, fun-filled water enjoyment. They must not only be aware of the guest’s safety but their own as well considering how long a lifeguard can be exposed to the open sun, the chances of skin cancer and {text:soft-page-break} dehydration are more probable. Other values followed by guards are as simple as a sense of community, because though a lifeguard can be hired, many are also volunteers. Lastly, lifeguards have a value of professionalism and authority. Professional at doing their job effectively and efficiently, and being authoritative of the area they are supervising as well as rule enforcement for safety purposes.
The Term Paper on Community Emergency Preparedness
Natural disasters are a part of life and emergency situation occur more frequently than most people believe. After a disaster, how well a community can recover will greatly depend on how well they have been prepared in advance. Preemptive organization of resources and the responsiveness to emergencies can mean the difference between a community’s ability to regroup and recover, and the loss of ...
In the world of lifeguarding, like many other customs, subcultures, or jobs, there is it’s own unique array of terms and equipment that make up a nice list of vocab and symbols used to communicate and convey clear objectives. These things that make up a nice batch of symbols and meanings are made up of hand gestures, signals involving a whistle, and an arrangement of terminology and aid equipment, some of which I mentioned above. Lifeguards may use a whistle to communicate certain alerts to each other or the patrons. For example, one short burst of the whistle is used to get a patron’s attention, more than likely to enforce a rule, whereas two short bursts accompanied by a tap on the head or holding your hand to your head signals for your manager or to a fellow lifeguard to watch your zone. However one long burst means there is an emergency and going in for a rescue, where as two long bursts means a major emergency, call 911 (more than likely a spinal injury or something critical).
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Whistles are used so that the signals are loud and sharp so they can be heard over the crowds and to get the attention of all staff in case of an emergency. Some additional hand signals include holding a fist in the air, that is used to request assistance for a save, while spinning the hand with a finger outstretched in the air means to rotate positions. Other terms and actions commonly used are CPR, which means cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an emergency procedure for people in cardiac arrest. Also an AED, usually used combined with CPR, is a device used to administer an electric shock to the heart. Another common term is EMS, which is an acronym for emergency medical services. Most of the terms used come from a medical background so there is a connection to another ‘subculture’. One more item used is a backboard, to which a victim with a spinal injury is strapped in and moved out of the water to another location. As you can see there are quite a few terms assigned to this ‘subculture’ that make it unique.
{text:soft-page-break} Now the buildup of material and knowledge of this ‘subculture’ or empirical knowledge has a few sources, the first being media. More specifically the hit TV show from the 90’s, Baywatch. The show itself was centered around a group of Los Angeles county lifeguards who patrolled the beaches of Los Angeles County, California. I think this show has added to what there is today of the slight sex appeal in the whole role and image of lifeguard’s in general. That and the famous scene from the classic movie, The Sandlot, where a boy fakes a drowning (or actually almost drowns) to get a “kiss” from the attractive female lifeguard, where back then resuscitation didn’t require a barrier device. As those are good media examples, more practical sources would be from just swimming as a leisure activity in general or for exercise, as well as competitive water sports and swim instruction, because that’s where lifeguards get there purpose from.
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Emergency preparedness is vital for the safety and security of the general public. Disasters, according to Powers (2010), are events that cause damage to lives and property during which community resources cannot keep up with the demand. In the unfortunate event of a disaster, having a plan in place as to how a it will be managed allows for the smoothest possible outcome with the fewest amount of ...
The area in which we live in is not the only area that includes this ‘subculture’ as it has a role all over the globe, but that aside I think the response to it is strictly positive and encouraged. It is a means of assuring safety to the community for pools, beaches, and water parks everywhere. I think people are agreeing and supportive of this group, especially parents for the care and security of their children. The lifeguard crowd isn’t really too old at all, but isn’t fairly new as well. They are dated back to have originated in the early 1900’s where from there methods of resuscitation and protocols have changed a good measure here and there. This sign of change, improvement, and tweaking techniques, I think is a sign that the lifeguard community is indeed growing.
This assignment made me realize how deep and involved these small communities of subcultures within cultures really are when you really look into them and see the relationships to others around it and how they separate themselves but yet are still intertwined altogether. It was a good eye opener and an interesting way to view things especially when you take the whole cultural relativism term into account, seeing as I am a lifeguard myself.
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