Im going to be a Lifeguard during the 3 month programme.. going out in May.. i was just wondering who else was doing the same job as me? you doing any training or anything in the build up to going over? you got any preferences on where you would like work within Disney? just thought itd be an interesting topic
Hi, Im going to be a lifguard too, im currently doing my NPLQ, but that was in the pipeline before i had my Disney interview. Other than that im going to the gym and hitting the weights hard to try and sort out the mess that Christmas food and drink has left me! Im going over on the 4th June. See you there, Mat
I'm goin over on the 25th June so u lot will have been there a while when i get there. You dont need any qualifications i don't think but i've got my lifeguard award for the uk and have been workin as a lifeguard for about 4 years it wont mean a think when i get over there which is a bit annoying! gonna hit the gym too so i can try and mask the pale skin that we have a become acustomed to living in blighty, don't wanna be known for reflecting the sun!!!! Wanna work at a water park if possible, more to do.
I havent even answere those questions myself have i.. dunno if your curious about my preferneces but here goes.. iv been hacking the training recently especially because my girlfriend is out there and i have a lot more time now.. not a good swap at all but i must do sumthin to while away the time before we are reunited lol so im goin the gym about 4 times a week, go swimmin on the weekend and alternate each night of the week with either a jog or playing football.. i may aswell put this time to good use hey.. us lifeguards must look presentable and LIKE WE COULD ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES haha ;D personally im not too bothered where im posted.. but the water parks aint top of my list... wouldn't mind manning one of the lakes within disneyworld or one of the busier swimming pools.. but then agen as long as im there im more than happy to do anythin they ask of me..
Hey Eh Thinking that i should start fitness training or something. The gym, swimming, jogging and football? I was just going to do swimming a few times a week and i wasnt even going to start that till i was back at Uni (which'll be Feb). Oh well i'll be the lazy one Well i've got my bronze medallion (a lifeguard award) though i havent ever really used it. I did a placement for 10 weeks with a swim club and thats about it. However firstaid is a big part of my life and i've been doing it for 10 years in September (scary). It mainly involves attending events and taking care of anyone who gets hurt. I'm at my local teams football matches most weeks and concerts in the city whenever they happen. I'm hoping to get placed in one of the water parks but anywhere in the sun would be good. I'd prefer the water parks cause i think they open later than the hotel pools and i'm not a morning person Mhairi oh forgot to mention i'll be going out there for the 4th of June and leaving from Glasgow
Hey, I lifeguarded Blizzard Beach last summer and I'm a probationay NPLQ Trainer/Assessor. I can say that those of you with some experience, you really have an advantage. You don't need a UK qualification, as they train you from stratch, but the inital training course is quite intense if you have never trained before; they try to cover a lot of content in only three days. A lot of people fail the course first time round, but you are allowed to do it a second time and whilst it isn't held against you, passing first time is obviously best and experience makes this easier! Even though experience helps, there are some differences from the English courses. Ellis, who run the training courses, are an "interesting" organisation; they are very, erm, proud of their programme and spend a considerable time insulting other training providers, particuarly the American Red Cross. Parts of the CPR protocols deviate from the international standards, which are followed quite closely here. One thing NPLQ holders will find very different in the insistence on using a torpedo buoy (which they call a rescue tube) for every type of rescue. I like torpedo buoys for certain difficult conscious casualties, but for spinals, they are a real pain. Their methods of spinal stabilisation are also different (to those who've done NPLQ, think a head splint roll in 8ft of water...), and personally I thought less secure... The difference that was very positive is the insistence of maintaining the scan of the pool; in this country, lifeguards often over-focus on the reactive elements of their job at the expense of the proactive. Disney and Ellis won't allow this; you will be properly watching your zone the whole time. Unknown Ellis people come round and randomnly video you whilst you are lifeguarding, to ensure you are watching it properly. Additionally, they drop "shadows" that resemble bodies onto the bottom of the water, whilst the park is open, to ensure that you are watching. In terms of scanning, I've never seen better lifeguarding than at Disney. Despite my dislike of certain elements of the training, I really loved the summer; it certainly was the most enjoyable lifeguarding I've ever done! If it wasn't for the visa being once only, I would've been at the interviews this year! Michael, unfortunately you won't be on a lake, though it certainly looked fun! Lake Patrol is a qualification on top of the basic lifeguard one, and ICPs aren't there long enough to progress to it. Smightlymazmad, the hotel pools are actually lifeguarded earlier than the parks, if I remeber right. Apart from the odd Extra Magic Hours for Disney Resort Guests at Typhoon Lagoon, the water parks won't open later than 7.30pm (and you could be starting at 8am!). The hotel pools, however, can be lifeguarded from 8am through to 10pm. From talking to resort guards, the water parks are more "exictable" - there are many more rescues taking place in them. Theres also more variety, given the wave pools, slides, etc. Andy
