The weight of the world rests on every lifeguard’s shoulders. This is especially felt by the 15- to 18-year-olds working their first job, taking on the life-and-death responsibility at the local municipal pool or waterpark.
That’s how Matt Haynes sees it, so his top mission is ensuring that every lifeguard has all the tools they could possibly need. Formerly with the American Red Cross’ Aquatics Examiner Services’ undercover audit program, Haynes is now a national subject matter expert and trainer with the Red Cross, traveling the country to speak at aquatics conferences. He’s also one of the contributors to the 2017 Red Cross lifeguarding manual and its four associated books.
Although he says he’d never have volunteered for the public-speaking side of the job, it’s given him the chance to uncover a new skill and thus reach thousands with the message: Take a hard look at your policies, procedures and signage … and empower your lifeguards!
The habit of doing things as they’ve always been done is a common weakness at pool facilities, Haynes says. Lax onboarding of new guards as well as a tendency to merely pass the outdated procedures baton from one manager to the next are symptomatic of an industry in need of continuous education. Closely following the new science and technologies for aquatics safety and rescue, Haynes is serious about his high-profile role to share best practices that help pool operators protect more lives.
Relating to the audience as a peer, Haynes draws compelling pictures. “At every sink in a hospital you see handwashing instructions,” he’ll say on stage. “If even doctors and nurses require a reminder of something so basic, why not our lifeguards who are in charge of saving drowning swimmers, performing CPR and using an AED?”
One of his most noteworthy career achievements has emerged from serving as a key liaison in the Red Cross’ collaboration with consulting firm Counsilman-Hunsaker. The result is the recently released Life Guard Management App, a cloud-based, Model Aquatic Health Code-compliant tool that not only tracks in-service training and certification information but, thanks to Haynes’ involvement, contains the full lifeguard management program. And because it’s in the cloud, updates and new features will be readily accessible to anyone who has the license.
He is committed to a life mantra of doing work that makes a difference.
“The Red Cross has over 100 years of water safety,” he said, “and to be a small part of that legacy is just unbelievable.”