Lifeguards Texting While on Duty: What to do?

[Gary Thill]

I started a discussion about this on Twitter several days ago and got some really good feedback that I wanted to share here. Several high profile cases are in the news of drownings happening when guards were distracted with cell phones or other portable devices. What's your policy? Don't have one? See what others are doing.

Here's the Twitter conversation as a starting point:

Seems like lifeguards should NOT be allowed to have cell phones on duty. Too much
distraction, temptation to text, etc. What's your policy?

jeffhammond First warning verbal...second warning..the fun begins @Dorv RT @Dorv @aquaticsintl @jeffhammond Its fun, isn't it, Jeff?

 

jeffhammond @aquaticnick @aquaticsintl I have zero regrets about a handful of guards who have lost nice phones due to being drilled

 

Dorv @aquaticsintl Issue is with management. You've got to monitor that like you would anything else. Guard will get away with what you let them.

Dorv @aquaticsintl I actually don't understand why its a major issues. At most, they can be used while on break period. End of issue???

revcgriff @aquaticsintl We need to create a #tag for this issue. I have a feeling this will be a major issue for Aquatic professionals #guardphoneuse

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revcgriff @aquaticsintl Cell phones and laptops have become such an issue at my facility that My guards are not allowed to have them in the building.

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Dorv @aquaticsintl Oh, HECK no. I love it when I find out that lifeguards have cellphones in their hipacks/pockets. VAT drill time, baby!

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RedwoodsGroup @aquaticsintl It only takes 10 seconds for a child to (silently) slip under water. How long does it take to send a text? No phones on duty!

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aquaticnick @aquaticsintl my Guards aren't even allowed to use their phones while clocked in. If I caught them on stand the phone'd probably get wet!

[Jim Wheeler]

Fire them!

[Greg Narramore]

Hi Jim,

Our Policy "No electronic devices while on the clock, i.e. they are not to be used from prior to you start time until you are off work" - if you need to call for a ride for after work, can use the facility hard line. If someone needs to contact the employee in an emergency, they are to call the pool office.

Fired a few so far, haven't had to for about two years now. One Lifeguard had a "Father" who was an attorney and we still prevailed.

Greg

[Jenelle Dawn Lockard]

I tell my college swim class that I have yet to teach a cell phone to swim therefore they can not come to class until they learn to swim. Same for guards. :0)

[Peg Loomis]

very nice! :)

[Ginger Upshaw]

I think only a small portion can be contributed to management issues. I agree we need to watch the guards, but when we aren't around they are going to do what they are going to do. For the most part phones are allowed on down time (until it becomes a problem) and are to be out of sight but absolutely NO phone while on the stand. If we suspect/see one..drill time!

[Dana]

Wow. I'm part of the millennial generation. I was born in '86. I have a 20 yd pool 200+ strong lesson program with about ten guards. My guards were born '80-'92. It is a major problem for me if someone doesn't have a cell phone (God help me if I need to find them!).
Simple cell phone policy for only when the pool has people, first time, verbal warning and scare. 2nd, formal, written warning. third is fired. I've yet to fire anyone in over a year.
If my guards need me and I'm not within yelling range, everyone knows the speed dial to my cell phone. It's in my suit if I'm not in the pool.
If someone's late, confused, early, questioning, etc, and they think I might be in the pool, they text my phone. I text my Saturday lessons staff every friday to remind them of any notes or schedule differences.
Cell phones are the same as anything else to read. If it takes your eyes off the pool, it's a BIG problem.

Thank God for cell phones!

[Jeanne-Marie Kavanagh]

I'm a bit older than you but my between my guards and my own teenagers I have found texting to be essential in dealing with the 16-24 year old population. I have about 25 active year round staff and another 10 college seasonal staff. No one checks email with any regularity, they don't answer the phone and quite often I need to get a message to them when I know they are in school or otherwise occupied. Text allows for a written record with a time stamp and without a pocket full or desk full of notes about coverage situations etc. and I don't have to do that part of work during my non-work hours just to be able to reach them. That being said... I lead the way by example. Phones are NOT allowed on deck during lessons, period. During lifeguard only lap swim shifts guards are allowed to freely use a phone, text, do homework while NOT in the stand and NOT performing any specific secondary duties. The senior lifeguard on duty has discretion to delegate secondary duties when I am not here and is responsible for supervision. I have NOT had a problem, there is mutual respect. I have also NEVER considered pushing one of my guards in the pool for ANY reason and I am a bit appalled that I see that "solution" in several posts. I first decided to be a lifeguard (when I was 13) after I was rescued from the pool when I was injured from being shoved into the pool while I was standing poolside. Any distraction (phone, book , magazine, laptop) will be removed from the deck by me or the senior guard IMMEDIATELY (a simple "put it away" or "I'll put that in the office for you"). Any deriliction of duties could result in temporary loss of hours for any staff, even being sent home on the spot. An accumulation of infractions or any serious violation will result in loss of job. Like so many lifeguard issues, prevention through a clear rule and consistant enforcement are the answer here.

[Stephanie L. Segovia]

If I know they have a phone on them, they get skills tested - bye-bye phone. First time write up and sent home. After that, they are looking for a new job.

[Cara Calkins]

Phone + Guarding = TERMINATION. PERIOD.

[Susan Bennett]

I asked my lifeguarding class what should happen if a guard was seen using a cell phone in any way. Several answered that the phone and guard should get wet, rather like some of the others here have suggested. However, one guard candidate suggested digging a hole at the beach and burying it out of the sight of the guard in question. Very creative!

[Barbara Limbo]

I grew up without cell phones however understand that cell phones are a part of the current employee's lifeline. They have a need to be connected and see nothing wrong with that. I do have a problem with their feeling of entitlement to this type of communication. I agree that my staff will get back to me via text within seconds vs. leaving them a message. I have tried everything to get them to realize that a cell phone has it's place and it is not on the deck. We do not allow them in the guard office either as it is a "fish bowl" for the public to see what the staff is doing on their scheduled break. I have not resorted to pushing anyone in the pool but can say it has crossed my mind. As full time staff member, we have our cell phones and it is hard to explain the double standard to them. It is an issue that has become a battle of wills. My suggestion is at your staff meetings have them give input to policy about cell phones. That is my next step, as we have a harder time monitoring this issue in the summer than in the winter. Make them agree and sign! They know the policy then they have no battle later.

[Ginger Upshaw]

Agreed! Signing a policy is a good way to go about this. That way the rules and consequences are set before them and there is no excuse later. As far as the double standard, I face the same problem. I am the Aquatics Coordinator, my director is over 2 facilities and leaves this one for me to manage. In my circumstance they have to understand that I am often on call for the other pool. Any issues that arise last minute I am texting / responding to my boss. I don't know your situation, but maybe you could explain to them something of that effect. You have people you have to answer to just like your guards answer to you.