MANITOBA BRANCH

GUIDELINES FOR SIMULATED RESCUE SITUATIONS

Published by the Lifesaving Society – Manitoba Branch

Second Edition, August 2013 (KP/JS)

Please contact the Manitoba Branch should you find any errors or

omissions in this document.

The Lifesaving Society is Canada’s lifeguarding expert. The Society works to

prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water

Smart® public education, water-incident research, aquatic safety management

and lifesaving sport.

Annually, over 800,000 Canadians participate in the Society’s swimming,

lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership training programs. The Society sets the

standard for aquatic safety in Canada and certifies Canada’s National Lifeguards

– the professional standard for lifeguards in Canada.

The Society is an independent, charitable organization educating Canadian

lifesavers since the first Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion Award was earned

in 1896.

The Society represents Canada internationally as an active member of the Royal

Life Saving Society and the International Life Saving Federation, and is the

governing body for lifesaving sport – sport recognized by the International

Olympic Committee. _______________________________________________________________

® Lifesaving Society are registered trademarks of The Royal Life Saving Society

Canada.

Simulated rescue situations are used in the Lifesaving Society’s

programs to evaluate the skills, knowledge, judgment, and fitness

of a potential rescuer. These simulated emergencies have proven to

be the most valid tools available. True-to-life experiences would be

more valid, but a lifesaver may only experience one or two such

emergencies in a lifetime.

The instructor and examiner must consider these two points when

designing and presenting rescue simulations to lifesaving

candidates.

1. The simulation must be appropriate for the award item.

Instructors and examiners must make use of the Swim

Patrol and Bronze Medal Award Guide for the appropriate

content for a specific award item.

For teaching purposes, the instructor may include content

that exceeds the requirements of the award item as long as it

is consistent with the purpose of the item and does not

exceed the candidates’ capabilities.

o For example, if candidates can already meet the

standard for Bronze Medallion Item #15, you may

use victim types other than distressed or drowning

to make the rescue more challenging.

For examination purposes, the examiner must include only

the content defined by the Purpose, Description, Must Sees,

and Notes for the award item.

o For example, on an exam, including first aid like a

heart attack on Bronze Medallion Item #14 would

be inappropriate, since the Award Guide says the

victim must be non-breathing.

2. The information must be presented to the candidates in a way

that maximizes their opportunity to successfully perform the

rescue.

The instructor or examiner must provide the victims,

rescuers, and bystanders with all the information required

for their roles. The information must be presented in a way

that considers the limits imposed by short-term memory.

See below for the characteristics of short-term memory and

how to use pictures and situation cards to take into account

these characteristics.

Short-term memory is like a clipboard – it can only hold a limited

amount of information at a time. The capacity of short-term

memory is roughly 7 +/- 2 items. This means that on a good day, a

candidate may be able to temporarily store 9 pieces of information

in their brain. On the other hand, on other days, a candidate may

only be able to temporarily store 5 items.

In a typical practice or exam situation, the rescuer may need to

remember 10-15 pieces of information in order to correctly perform

the rescue, exceeding the amount of information most candidates’

short-term memory can retain. The victim, however, may only have

to remember 4-5 pieces of information, which is much more

manageable.

Information can be retained in short-term memory for an average of

60 seconds. After 60 seconds, the candidate will begin to forget

information. In most courses, victims are usually briefed first about

their roles, followed by the rescuers. Usually over 2 minutes has

passed before the rescue begins, so all of the candidates will begin

to forget information about their role in the rescue simulation.

After 60 seconds, the candidate begins to forget information about

the situation. This information is lost in the same order it was

received: first in, first out. When briefing rescuers and victims

about their roles, instructors usually provide the most important

information first followed by the less important items.

Unfortunately, this practice ensures that the more important

information is more likely to be forgotten by the candidate.

The characteristics of short-term memory can make it difficult for

the instructor or examiner to present an effective rescue simulation

in a way that maximizes the candidates’ chances for success. Two

effective strategies, however, can minimize this problem: Pictures

and Situation Cards. These techniques help improve the realism of

the rescue situation and consequently improve the learning

experience.

The brain treats a picture as only one piece of information, which

allows instructors and examiners to more easily present information

about a rescue simulation environment. The candidate should hold

on to these pictures until the simulation begins.

Aim to use pictures that include as many environmental factors as

possible. For example, a picture that shows a sunny day with a

gently sloping, sandy beach, calm water, bystanders on the beach,

cottages where a phone would be available nearby, and boats that

could be used as rescue aids.

One drawback to the use of pictures is that the picture cannot

contain unwanted information. For example, a picture of calm

water where rough water is desired would not be suitable. Because

the brain treats the picture as a single item is very difficult to ignore

incorrect information included in the picture.

Situation cards also allow instructors and examiners to work with

the constraints of short-term memory. For each rescue simulation,

the instructor prepares a Victim Card, Bystander Card, and a

Rescuer Card with the information required for the candidates in

each of these roles. The cards are given directly to the candidates,

who use them to refresh their memory with the information for

their specific role. The candidates keep the cards until the

simulation begins. The instructor or examiner would have a

duplicate set of cards to monitor and evaluate the simulation.

Sample situation cards can be found at the end of this document.

The Canadian Lifesaving Program does not train lifeguards. It

prepares candidates to respond to real-life situations where they

may have limited access to resources. Very few lifesaving rescues

are performed in pools where lifesaving candidates take their

courses.

Instructors and examiners should not attempt to fool the candidates.

Rather, candidates should be prepared through a variety of

simulated situations for possible real emergencies.

As candidates should be prepared for real-life emergencies,

instructors should avoid beginning a rescue simulation by saying,

“Ready! Go!” as this can lead to rushed rescues. A more useful

starting command would be to say, “Those are your simulated

conditions. When you are ready, rescue the victim(s) you see in the

water.”

Instructors and examiners should stress the use of rescue aids. It is

only appropriate for candidates to practice rescue simulations in

which no rescue aids are available in limited circumstances. For the

vast majority of rescues, candidates must experiment with various

rescue aids (e.g. personal flotation devices, lifejackets, pool

noodles, cooler lids, rope, and clothing).

Below are lists that give a variety of situations in which a lifesaver

might be required to perform a rescue. Instructors and examiners

should use various combinations from these lists.

Shallow

throughout

Shallow to deep

Deep to shallow

Deep throughout

Same as pool

Rough/whitecaps

Small waves

Flat/calm

Algae coloured

Poor clarity

Unknown bottom

Clear water

Weedy

Cold

Rocky bottom

Ice

Boating area

River (current)

Undertow

Pushed into water

Falls from boat

Was waterskiing

Stepped in hole

Falls in

Submerged

Wearing

lifejacket

Wearing medic-

alert

Speaks little

English

Adult, teenager,

or child

Was swimming

Has been

drinking

Diving

equipment

On air mattress

Clinging to boat

Two or more

victims

Weak

Tired

Non-swimmer

Injured

Unconscious

Non-breathing

Beach

Raft

Dock

Elevated pier

Sharp drop-off

River banks

Boat

Embankment

Backyard pool

Pool deck

In-water

Diving board

Various

elevations

Shore of a lake

Dock

Pool deck

A bridge high

above water

Bank of a river

Rocky shore

From a lifeguard

raft

From a lifeguard

chair

From a diving

board

From a starting

block

Bank of a cattle

dugout

Edge of a rock

quarry

Edge of a small

pond

Boathouse roof

overhanging

water

PFDs

Items of

clothing

Towels

Pool noodles

Throwing lines

Canoe paddles

Tree branch

Bystanders with

you

Bystanders up

on beach

Bystanders at

other end of

pool or dock

Bystanders in

water

Bystanders in

house

Phone in cabin

Phone in office

Phone in house

This table lists victim type and first aid content in the Swim Patrol Program, as can be found in

the Swim Patrol Award Guide. If a victim type or first aid is not listed in the table below, it is

not appropriate for the level.

1 Distressed swimmers, according to the Canadian Lifesaving Manual (2010 Edition) “can be novice swimmers with

limited swimming ability, tired or weak swimmers, and people who are ill or injured. This group also includes

swimmers who become disoriented after playing in or falling into the water” (p. 4-3).

This table lists victim type and first aid content in the Bronze Medals and Distinction programs, as can be

found in the Bronze Medal Award Guide and Distinction Award Guide. If a victim type or first aid is

not listed in the table below, it is not appropriate for the level.

2 Distressed swimmers, according to the Canadian Lifesaving Manual (2010 Edition) “can be novice swimmers with limited

swimming ability, tired or weak swimmers, and people who are ill or injured. This group also includes swimmers who become

disoriented after playing in or falling into the water” (p. 4-3).

3 Although in-water rescue breathing notes appear only in Bronze Cross items 12 and 13, in-water rescue breathing can be

performed whenever the rescuer is able to manage the airway, i.e. deal with vomit. Candidates are not expected to learn or to

demonstrate deep-water rescue breathing until Distinction.

Instructors and examiners are encouraged to share these behaviour tips with their candidates to

simulate realistic victim behaviour and responses. This information can supplement what is

found in the Canadian Lifesaving Manual so candidates can act appropriately when simulating

various victim types.

Drowning victims Be in a vertical body position

Move arms vigorously but below

the water

Do not cry for help

Have a panicked look on your

face: Eyes wide and look

frightened

As time progresses, make your

arm actions become slower as

exhaustion sets in

Ignore rescuer’s directions

When you know he or she is trying

to calm you down, simulate

exhaustion

Be a possible danger to the

rescuer4

If the rescuer comes too close to

you while you are struggling at the

surface, try to grab the rescuer

Distressed victims:

Weak, poor, or

tired swimmers

Try to get attention by waving

one or both of your arms and

calling for help

Use your arms and legs for

support

A varying degree of anxiety will

appear on your face depending on

how long you’ve been in

difficulty

Let your head go underwater

occasionally

Calm down once support is

provided

You may or may not respond to

instruction

You might be able to offer

assistance to the rescuer

You might be able to tell the

rescuer what happened depending

on your level of distress

Injured victims Display behaviours of a weak or

poor swimmer

Grasp the injured part or grasp

below site of injury

Exhibit pain in facial expression

Bleeding: Hold the injured spot

and provide information to the

rescue, or use a red marker to

indicate the wound

Arm/leg injury: Usually significant

pain. Hold the injured part

Unconscious

victims Usually face down in the water

and motionless. The non-

breathing victim turns his or her

back to the rescuer with head low

in the water and does not move.

When you hear the rescuer

approach, hold your breath and

either put your face in the water or

sink to the bottom.

Offer no assistance. Stay as limp

as possible and do not respond

unless the instructor or examiner

tells you to do so.

4 Be sure to follow appropriate safety supervision guidelines, e.g. “let go” signal, no jewelry in contact rescues

Rookie Rookie candidates do not have to perform a rescue.

Ranger Item 14 Rescuer on beach. Shallow water

becomes deeper.

Weak swimmer, follows

instructions

Star Item 15 Rescuer on beach with sudden drop

off 20 m out, a few waves

Non-swimming victim – swam out

too far and stepped off drop off

Bronze Star

Item 16

Both rescuers on dock, calm water,

clear or murky, deep water

Non-swimming victim – fell off a

floating toy and toy drifted away

Both rescuers on beach – gradual

drop-off

Victim cuts foot on rocks on

bottom of lake when swimming

down to bottom

Both rescuers at a

backyard/apartment pool

Non-swimming victim falls into the

deep end of the pool

Item 17

Rescuer on beach Victim in deep water –

unconscious, non-breathing

Rescuer on pool deck Victim in deep water –

unconscious, non-breathing

Bronze

Medallion

Item 13 Rescuer on dock or a pool deck

with deep water

Tired swimmer cannot swim to

shore, calls for help. OR Weak

swimmer who swam out too far OR

non-swimmer who fell off a

floating toy

Item 14

Rescuer at a backyard/apartment

pool

Victim floating face down in deep

water, close to side

Rescuer on dock, water murky and

deep

Victim floating face up near the

dock

Item 15

Rescuer on lake shore, water cool

and some waves, starts shallow and

becomes deep

Tired swimmer calls for help

Bronze Cross Item 12

Rescuer on beach, water murky,

depth as you find it

Two victims on a floating toy. Both

fall off of toy. One is a non-

swimmer and one can swim back

by themselves with a buoyant assist

Rescuer on dock, water clear or

murky and deep

Three victims in a small raft/boat

without PFDs. Raft sinks. One

victim is a poor swimmer who can

swim back with a floating assist.

One victim can swim back by him

or herself. The other inhales water

and goes unconscious.

Item 13

Rescuer on beach or dock, water

murky and deep

Unconscious, non-breathing,

beneath the surface in the deep

water

Rescuer at apartment/backyard

pool

Unconscious, non-breathing,

beneath the surface in the deep

water

Item 14

Both rescuers on dock Non-swimming victim. Feel off of

a floating toy and toy drifted away

Both rescuers on beach with a

gradual drop off

Victim gets a leg cramp and cannot

swim back to shore

Both rescuers on lake shore, water

cool with small waves, starts

shallow and becomes deep

Victim is tired and has mild

hypothermia

Item 15

Rescuer on lake shore, water cool

with small waves, starts shallow

becoming deep. Waves become

higher as rescuer is swimming back

with victim

Victim has a bleed on his foot and

feels panicked on the way back

Rescuer on lake shore, beach, or

dock

Victim is having trouble breathing

and goes unconscious once at the

point of safety

Rescuer on lake shore, beach, or

dock. Water murky and depth

unknown

Victim swims to the bottom and

twists his or her ankle. Pain

becomes more severe on the way

back

Distinction

Item 5

Rescuer at backyard/apartment

pool

Victim dives into shallow water

and hits head on bottom or side

Rescuer at beach Victim dives into a sandbar

Rescuer at dock Victim dives/falls in and hits neck

on rocks

Item 6

Rescuer on lake shore, water cool

with small waves, starts shallow

and becomes deep

Victim falls waterskiing – boat

does not stop for them. Victim has

major bleed on the arm from the

ski

Rescuer at backyard/apartment

pool

Victim has a heart attack or stroke

while swimming

Rescuer on dock and water

unknown

Victim jumps into water and breaks

leg on rocks

Rescuer on beach, sudden change

of depth

Victim who is a week swimmer

slips off of drop-off and cuts foot

on bottom. Begins to panic and

hyperventilate

Scene Description:

Rescuer’s friend falls off dock while trying to position the

boat. Note: the boat remains tied to the dock

Scene Description:

Rescuer’s friend falls off dock while trying to position the

boat. Note: the boat remains tied to the dock

You are on the dock with the rescuer. You are untrained

and cannot go in the water, but are cooperative and will do

whatever you are asked

Location

Any Lake

Aids available

Paddles in boat, 1 lifejacket

in boat

Weather

Sunny, no wind

Equipment & Bystanders

available

Cabin with phone 40 meters

behind rescuer

Other friends on dock and in

cabin

Water conditions

Calm, cold, murky, weeds

on bottom, meters deep

Victim type

Non swimmer

Rescuer position

Standing on dock

Age

Same as rescuer

Victim Position

In water within 1 meter of

dock

Special responses

Will grab onto aid if offered,

cannot swim back, can climb

onto dock with assistance

Scene Description:

You see your friend fall off dock while trying to position

the boat. Note: the boat remains tied to the dock

Scene Description:

You fall off dock while trying to position the boat. You

cannot swim. Note: the boat remains tied to the dock

Location

Any Lake

Aids available

Paddles in boat, 1 lifejacket

in boat

Victim type

Non-Swimmer

Weather

Sunny, no wind

Equipment & Bystanders

available

Cabin with phone 40 meters

behind rescuer

- Other friends on dock and

in cabin

Age

Same as rescuer

Water conditions

Calm, cold, murky, weeds on bottom, meters deep Special responses

Will grab onto aid if offered, cannot swim back, can climb

onto dock with assistance

Rescuer position

Standing on dock Victim position

In water within 1 meter of dock

Scene Description:

Person fishing on raft 25 meters from shore casts out and

overextends – falling in. The raft floats away. You do not

know this person

Scene Description:

Person fishing on raft 25 meters from shore casts out and

overextends – falling in. The raft floats away. You do not

know this person. You are coming down the path from the

cabin to the boat

You are untrained. You can swim. You are cooperative. Location

Any Lake

Aids available

PFD & fishing rod in hand

Weather

Warm sunny day, no wind

Equipment & Bystanders

available

Blankets, CB radio & a first

aid kit are in the cabin behind

rescuer

- Friends are coming down

from the cabin to the boat.

They are untrained but

cooperative

Water conditions

Calm warm murky. Starts

shallow then becomes

deep

Victim type

Non-swimmer – not wearing

a PFD

Rescuer position

On shore looking down at

lake waiting for your

friends to pick you up to

go fishing. You are

clothed in shorts & a t-

shirt

Age

Adult

Victim Position

In water 25 meters from

shore

Special responses

Victim can kick feet when

offered PFD

Scene Description:

Person fishing on raft 25 meters from shore casts out and

overextends – falling in. The raft floats away. You do not

know this person

Scene Description:

Fishing on raft 25 meters from shore casts out and

overextends – falling in. The raft floats away.

Location Any Lake Aids available

PFD & fishing rod in hand Victim type

Non-swimmer, not wearing PFD

Weather

Warm sunny day, no wind Equipment & Bystanders

available Blankets, CB radio

& a first aid kit are in the

cabin behind rescuer

Friends are coming down

from cabin to the boat.

Untrained but cooperative

Age

Adult

Water conditions

Calm warm murky. Starts shallow then becomes deep Special responses

Can kick feet when offered PFD

Rescuer position On shore looking down at lake waiting

for your friends to pick them up to go fishing. They are

clothed in shorts & a t-shirt

Victim position

In water 25 meters from shore