1st Edition

The Science of Beach Lifeguarding

Edited By Mike Tipton, Adam Wooler Copyright 2016
    312 Pages 76 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Continue Shopping

    The World Health Organization’s recently published Global Report on Drowning found that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide—making the information presented in this new book an important part of the global effort to reduce this health risk.

    Written by leading researchers and academics from around the world, The Science of Beach Lifeguarding focuses on the scientific evidence that underpins what is taught to and practised by beach lifeguards. It is the first book to pull together all the different areas involved in beach lifeguarding and evaluate their evidence base.

    An accessible and informative reference underpinned by the best current research, the book’s key themes cover the context of beach lifeguarding, the physical environment in which lifeguards work, medical aspects, practical lifeguarding techniques, physiological standards for lifeguards, safety education, and future developments in beach lifeguarding.

    The book presents groundbreaking work quantifying the scientific rationale behind a universally accepted fitness standard. It supplies an in-depth examination of the risks and hazards associated with the beach environment, including rip currents and cold water immersion.

    The book includes a state-of-the-art review of drowning and a comprehensive chapter on first aid. Detailing the recently announced 2015 European Resuscitation Council Guidelines, this book is a must-have for beach lifeguards, beach lifeguard managers, search and rescue personnel, paramedics, sports scientists, health and safety practitioners, and occupational health practitioners.

    HISTORY AND CONTEXT

    History of Beach Lifeguarding
    Chris Brewster

    Lifeguard Effectiveness
    Julie Gilchrist and Christine Branche

    Data, Risk Analysis and Evaluation: Their Role in Advancing the Science of Beach Lifeguarding
    Michael Wright

    PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

    Beach Types, Hazards and Risk Assessment
    Andrew Short and Adam Weir

    Science of the Rip Current Hazard
    Robert Brander and Tim Scott

    Cold Water Immersion
    Mike Tipton

    MEDICAL ASPECTS

    Injuries and Risks While Lifeguarding
    Peter Wernicki and Christy Northfield

    Beach Lifeguard First Aid
    Kevin Moran and Justin Sempsrott

    Drowning
    David Szpilman

    Resuscitation Techniques for Lifeguards
    Joost Bierens

    PERFORMANCE

    Recognition, Vigilance and Surveillance Techniques
    Jenny Smith

    Lifeguard Swimming Performance in Surf
    Mike Tipton and Andrew Byatt

    STANDARDS

    Medical Standards for Beach Lifeguards
    David Anton

    Eyesight Standards for Beach Lifeguards
    Polona Jaki and Mike Tipton

    Occupational Fitness and Strength Standards for Beach Lifeguarding
    Tara Reilly and Mike Tipton

    SAFETY EDUCATION

    Beach Safety Education: A Behavioural Change Approach
    Michael Wright

    Beach Safety Education
    Kevin Moran

    Establishing Beach Safety and Lifesaving Programmes in a Developing Country
    Norman Farmer and Thomas Mecrow

    FUTURE THOUGHTS

    Emerging Technologies in Beach Lifeguarding
    Ian Greatbatch and David Livingstone

    Index

    Biography

    Edited by:

    Mike Tipton, professor, Human & Applied Physiology, Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport & Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, UK. Educated at the Universities of Keele and London, professor Tipton joined the University of Surrey in 1986. After 12 years at the Robens Institute and European Institute of Health and Medical Science he moved to the University of Portsmouth in 1998. In addition to his university positions, professor Tipton was based at the Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) from 1983 to 2004 and was Consultant Head of the Environmental Medicine Division of the INM from 1996. He has spent over 30 years researching and advising the military, industry and elite sports people in the areas of thermoregulation, environmental and occupational physiology and survival in the sea. He has published 500 scientific papers, reports, chapters and books in these areas.

    Professor Tipton was a consultant in survival and thermal medicine to the Royal Air Force and UKSport. He sits on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Medical & Survival Committee, and the Ectodermal Dysplasia Society’s medical advisory board. In 2004, professor Tipton was made an Honorary Life Member of the International Association for Safety & Survival Training in recognition of his work in sea survival. He chaired UKSport’s Research Advisory Group and now sits on the English Institute of Sports’ Technical Advisory Group. Professor Tipton chairs the Energy Institute’s Health Technical Committee; he is a Trustee of Surf Lifesaving GB and Senior Editor of the journal "Extreme Physiology and Medicine." Professor Tipton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, he provides advice to a range of universities, government departments, industries, medical, search and rescue and media organisations.

    Adam Wooler, director, Rescue Marine Services Ltd; former head of Lifeguarding, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, UK; and chief executive, Surf Life Saving Great Britain, UK. Adam has considerable experience and expertise in lifeguarding, having instigated the establishment of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Lifeguard service, as well as a background in academic research. He earned an MPhil from the University of Plymouth, Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University and Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Nova Scotia Canada. Following the award of a Rotary Scholarship to New Zealand and the Antarctic, Adam completed extensive research at the Universities of Wellington in New Zeland and Perth, Western Australia before returning to become the chief executive of Surf Life Saving GB. After a move to the RNLI in 2000, Adam instigated a partnership with the Universities of Portsmouth and Plymouth to conduct ground-breaking research into the field of beach lifeguarding. Following a further three-year secondment as CEO of Surf Life Saving GB, Adam returned to the RNLI as Head of Coastal Safety & Research establishing the Operations Research Unit. Although Adam left the RNLI in 2012 he continues to act as an external supervisor for PhD students at the University of Plymouth and has co-authored several papers on lifeguard-related research.