Lifeguards compete for bragging rights
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on August 3, 2005 1:45 PM
Wayne County's lifeguards will be competing for awards and bragging rights tonight. The first ever Wayne County Lifeguard Challenge will be held at the Mina Weil Park swimming pool, 235 House St., beginning at 6:30 p.m.
It is being sponsored by the Goldsboro Family YMCA and the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
There will be several activities including a front crawl approach stroke relay, rescue tube relay with passive victim, submerged victim rescue, lifesaving carry relay with brick, ring buoy toss, spinal injury management, submerged resuscitation, biggest splash, bad lifeguard competition and treading with brick.
Lifeguard teams of four persons will be judged by certified YMCA and Red Cross lifeguard instructors. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place ($100 and $50 certificates towards rescue supplies or guard apparael) and third place. All participants will receive a certificate.
Cindy Umstead, local Red Cross health and safety director, said the purpose of the challenge is to "increase awareness and visibility of the Red Cross and YMCA lifeguards throughout the county who work within our communities to maintain a safe aquatic environment.
"It gives the lifeguards an opportunity to get together and compete against each other. It will also showcase and judge skills and professionalism of our lifeguards."
Mrs. Umstead said a lifeguard's job is an important one every day. "They sit out there and watch the kids and make sure they are safe in the water," she said.
She said the Family Y and Red Cross want to make this an annual event.