Responding to aquatic facilities

The primary and fundamental responsibility of a local EMS system is to provide prehospital care to the citizens of the community. Therefore, each community must have a system in place to ensure continual, efficient prehospital care. There are a variety of levels of EMS education, which include first responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic, along with other components, including the emergency medical dispatcher, other healthcare providers and specialty care centers. In order for a community to provide and ensure continual, efficient prehospital care, the components must work together in a well-planned and coordinated effort. If lifeguard personnel are expected to respond to respiratory, cardiac and spinal-injury incidents within their aquatic facilities, they must be included within this comprehensive community EMS system. Therefore, fire, rescue and other prehospital EMS agencies must coordinate their efforts and training responsibilities with the local lifeguard services in their area.