Dive Deep, Save Lives

In a traditional PE class, it can be very competitive. In Lifeguarding, it is more informative by teaching valuable life-saving skills.
Lifeguarding has been offered as a class at Silver Creek High School since the pool opened four years ago. It has become an important and enjoyable class for students and teachers. Lifeguarding teaches how to save others from drowning and what to do in first aid and CPR.
Casey Allin, a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, takes the lifeguarding with Sara Whitely, one of the coaches at the school.
“I enrolled in this class to become a lifeguard, but to also get CPR certified, which will help me access other job opportunities like EMS ambulance,” Allin said.
Each student has a different reason for taking Lifeguarding as a class. Allin considered a future career that required CPR training.“I wanted to become part of the ski patrol,” Allin says. “I think that lifeguarding is a great way to get started and obtain your certification, making it easier to get hired.”
Allin enjoys being able to swim, but he also appreciates the social aspect of the smaller class size, making it easier to get to know people.
Being in a lifeguarding class involves teamwork. You have to be able to communicate and make sure everyone works together so you can properly save a life.
Sacorra Heinrichs, a senior at Silver Creek High School, takes the Lifeguarding class “I took this class because I believe it’s a valuable skill to be able to save a life,” Heinrichs says. “The students work together as a team during the dual rescue. We practice saving each other in the water and use backboards to safely get people out of the pool.”
The test requires swimming 300 yards in a pool. Students must dive approximately five feet to retrieve a 15-pound brick and tread water for two minutes without using their hands. The test also covers dual and single CPR for both adults and infants, along with a written test.
Whitely enjoys coaching lifeguarding because it offers a unique experience compared to other physical classes at Silver Creek. The small class size allows students to have fun while swimming, all while learning important life skills. Plus, it provides an opportunity for the students with valuable job experience.
“Lifeguarding is a set of life skills and a gateway into what it’s like to have a real job when you become an adult, as it teaches you to be responsible for others,” Whitely says.