While it may appear that lifeguards have it easy, they have one of the hardest jobs, especially in the summer when beaches, pools, and waterparks are full of all levels of swimmers.
If you’ve ever watched a lifeguard on duty, you may have noticed them making some bizarre movements as they monitor their area. Keep reading to learn what those movements actually mean!
Over the summer, Miranda Kerckhoff captured two lifeguards at Parrot Island Waterpark in Fort Smith, Arkansas performing maneuvers that may look strange to some, but to others like Kerckhoff, it was a sign of relief.
In the TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 13 million times since it was uploaded in July 2024, two lifeguards are seen quickly nodding their heads as they walk around the zone they’ve been assigned to watch.
Although their behavior might look bizarre, what they’re doing is actually extremely important for everyone’s safety.
“i know an ellis lifeguard when i see one,” one person commented on the video.
The lifeguards were participating in the Ellis scanning method. According to Jeff Ellies Management, a company that provides lifeguard training among other services, Ellis scanning is a surveillance technique used by lifeguards to scan their area for people in distress. Lifeguards are encouraged to move their entire head, not just their eyes.
This practice is also used in conjunction with the 10/20 standard, meaning lifeguards have 10 seconds to scan their area and 20 seconds to respond and rescue.
“This standard is paramount to our lifeguards and helps us maintain the company-wide goal of ZERO drownings.”
This looks like an excellent way to keep watch, but I can only imagine how tiring it must be! Have you ever heard of this method before? If not, please share.
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