Lifeguards want action plan

James says emergency plan in the works

Carr Pool will soon be safe after a long time without a definite emergency action plan.

An anonymous letter arrived at the desks of the directors of athletics and recreation, the dean of students, and the office of the president three weeks ago. This letter raised concerns about the lack of an emergency action plan for Carr Pool and inservice training for College lifeguards. The letter was also displayed on the president's bulletin board behind Cox Administration Building.

Citing the recent death of James Gilchrist, an elderly Oberlin resident, in Philips' sauna, the letter pointed to a "lack of safety" in the current training procedures. "When the man was found, the lifeguard on duty could not give CPR because there was blood in his mouth and she did not know where the CPR masks were kept," said the letter. An emergency action plan and a little inservice training could have remedied the situation.

"An emergency action plan is nothing more than a list of specific steps to be taken in an emergency," said the letter, "An inservice can be a few hours of training that include basic, yet important information." According to the author, neither of these safety precautions exist at Carr Pool.

"It is necessary that we have an action plan," said junior Gretchen Hanger, Carr Pool lifeguard.

Interim director of the recreation center, Laura James, is currently trying to address all concerns. "I am aware of the problem. We had to analyze the lifeguard situation and it is being corrected now," she said. "When I first began as interim dean I did not see one. I observed a great need for a plan."

Until there is an official emergency action plan, James proposes to maintain safety in Carr Pool by "getting enough guards on board and getting them to follow procedures and being more alert."

A previous lifeguard had been hired and was scheduled to work without attending an inservice training session. "This really made me wonder [about training procedures]", said the lifeguard, who agreed to speak with the Review on the condition of anonymity.

"It was a mistake for me to schedule her for that day," said James. "I retracted my actions and told this person to work with this group of students." James was referring to a group of upper-class, veteran lifeguards. "We have senior lifeguards that follow the system, but do not follow my expectations [of training new lifeguards]," said James.

Lifeguards have also expressed other concerns of safety.

"There have been improvements in the work ethic," said junior Nicki Atkinson, "but [Laura James] is ignoring some problems as well." Some lifeguards were concerned with having a lack of necessary inservice training or suitable equipment to perform their job."The red rescue tubes are in disrepair. Some are coming apart and others are missing ropes. There was one save where I couldn't find a proper tube," said one lifeguard.

James expressed her ongoing challenge to improve working conditions as she familiarized herself with the new position, citing that no one can fix everything at once.

"Since I have been the director the gym has been a safer place to work out. There have not been a whole lot of incidents this year," said James.

Hanger agreed. With former Director of the Recreation Center Jeff White's resignation this past summer, came some administrational changes. "When Jeff White was the director," said Hanger, "we could do homework and sit and work on the job. James has the place more organized and tightly run."