Annies, Cannonballs, and the World's Most Inconvenient Pool Furniture (Lifeguard Insight)

(Illustrative Only)

A lifeguard who swam
out to a stand to get a better view. 

Lifeguard training is no joke. Sure, from the beach it might look like we're just sitting in a chair working on our tan, but behind that whistle is a surprising amount of training.

During certification, instructors hide submerged "victims" throughout the pool. Thankfully, they're training mannequins—affectionately known as "Annies". The Annies get tucked into corners, placed on the bottom, or hidden where you don't expect them, forcing lifeguards to constantly improve their scanning skills. It is designed that way to show how our brains might skip over things and how prevetion helps.

Now imagine taking that challenge from a clear swimming pool to a lake or the ocean. Add waves, glare from the sun, changing currents, floating toys, and dozens of swimmers. Suddenly, spotting someone in trouble becomes a lot more complicated. Throw a bunch of active teens and movements and it takes some effort to monitor it all. 

Lifeguards don't just stare at the water—they're constantly scanning. We're counting heads, grouping families together, noticing where people were a few seconds ago, and watching for anything that seems out of place. Is that child simply swimming underwater, or have they been under just a little too long? Is someone splashing because they're having fun, or because they're in distress? Sometimes the biggest warning sign isn't frantic movement at all—it's no movement. A person who has struck their head, suffered a medical emergency, or quietly slipped beneath the surface may never wave for help.

The more you train, the better your brain becomes at recognizing patterns and spotting subtle changes. Experience teaches you to notice what doesn't belong long before it becomes an emergency.

A perfect example of prevention happened the other day. A group of teens had decided a bench in the swimming area was the perfect launch pad for backflips and cannonballs—even though they weren't supposed to be using it that way; or even be on it. One of the lifeguards repeatedly called out, "Off the bench!" The kids responded with the universal language of teenagers: pretending they couldn't hear.

So it was necessary to change tactics. One guard grabbed the rescue board, paddle out, and simply parked himself on the bench. No room for teens. :)

Problem solved.

The kids immediately found somewhere else to play (This is prevention). Sure, the lifeguard got wet, but we avoided possible injuries. Better yet, sitting on the lifeguard bench with the board gave him a higher vantage point, making it easier to monitor the entire area from the opposite angle while the kids played in a much safer location (One on beach and one way out there on the other end.). Likewise, with the rescue board they could close the gap between the water guard station and the victim faster. Its all about safety.

Sometimes the best rescue is the one you never have to make. And sometimes all it takes is a whistle, a rescue board, and the willingness to become the world's most inconvenient piece of pool furniture.

Lifeguard training sharpens brain dynamics in novices during drowning detection

• The study investigated how lifeguard training influences the brain activity of novice lifeguards while they identify potential drowning victims, focusing on the cognitive processes involved in rapid visual scanning and decision-making.
• Researchers found that structured lifeguard training improved participants' ability to recognize drowning-related cues more accurately and efficiently, suggesting that training enhances perceptual and attentional skills.
• Brain imaging revealed measurable changes in neural dynamics after training, indicating that the brain becomes more efficient at processing visual information associated with aquatic emergencies.
• The findings suggest that even novice lifeguards can develop expert-like cognitive patterns through targeted instruction, potentially improving surveillance effectiveness and reducing response times during rescues.
• The authors conclude that incorporating neuroscience into lifeguard education may help optimize training programs and ultimately improve drowning prevention and public safety outcomes.

Cahart, M. S., Smith, M. S., Sharpe, B. T., Williams, S. C. R., Hill, S., Talbot, J., Grazier, N., Lythgoe, D., & Smith, J. (2025). Lifeguard training sharpens brain dynamics in novices during drowning detection. Safety Science, 191, 106957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2025.106957