Pool Lifeguard Challenge 2016

The 2016 Pool Lifeguard Challenge was held today at the HBF Stadium outdoor pool, with nine teams competing, from as far afield as Geraldton and Mandurah, to test their lifeguard skills.

The event, sponsored by Commercial Aquatics Australia and the Leisure Institute of WA, and facilitated by Royal Life Saving WA, has been held annually since 2007, with the aim of testing lifeguard's skills and encouraging the continued improvement of lifeguard teams at aquatic centres across WA.

The nine teams competing this year came from Fremantle and Mandurah who entered two teams each, Beatty Park, Bayswater, Craigie, Cannington and Geraldton.  The Geraldton team deserves special mention as they left home at 3am to travel down to Perth, competed all day and then travelled home in the afternoon.

The day began with races involving swimming, manikin tows and CPR response, and Fremantle's teams showed their speed and skill, showing themselves to be the team to beat.

The races were followed by computerised CPR manikin tests, before all the fun really began with the afternoon's emergency scenarios.

Staff from Royal Life Saving put on their best acting display, role playing your average day at a public aquatic centre, with aquarobics activities, lap swimming, general water play, a lost child, and a patron becoming unconscious in the water and requiring CPR.

The teams showed incredible poise and calm nerves under pressure and all did themselves and their centres proud.

At the end of the day the top three teams were, Fremantle Team Two in third place, Fremantle Team One in second place, while Mandurah Team One took out the trophy with an amazing performance in the Emergency Scenario which saw them receive a 100% score.

Congratulations to all the competing teams for your fantastic performance, and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.