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THE business of saving lives can provide a rewarding career opportunity for Bahrainis wanting to make a splash in the leisure industry.
In the distant past locals enjoyed a seafaring career on the dhows diving for pearls but today’s generation of fit youngsters is ready and able to jump into the water to help swimmers who find themselves in difficulty.
The latest lifeguard recruits at the island’s multi-million dinar attraction in the desert, The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park Bahrain (LPOD), have been taking part in an intense training programme as the park opens its doors to the public for the new season.
This season LPOD has been instructing a team of 35 local and expat lifeguards, of which four are women. Issa G Asmar, LPOD’s assistant general manager and head of operations, has trained hundreds of lifeguards in his 13 years of being involved in the waterpark business.
He said: 'We always say that a good lifeguard rarely gets wet, as he prevents any incident before it happens.
'We work hard at the park on identifying a weak or non-swimmer as those are the high-risk patrons. Spreading awareness is a big factor in preventing drowning and that is why we train our team on a daily basis as well as before the opening and at the end of each season with several refresher courses during the winter.
'We are planning to prepare 40 more lifeguards at a later stage as the summer season takes off.'
During a 60-hour training course, spread over 15 days, the aspiring lifeguards undergo several sessions. Firstly, the applicants are tested on their prowess in the water to make sure they have the basic standards needed to start such a course.
Candidates who pass the initial tests move on to the second stage which features a number of topics including how to prevent accidents, identifying risk swimmers, scanning the park, casualty handling, learning several rescue methods in deep and shallow water, water life support and spinal management.
After this session is completed, the participants focus on other sections such as first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the use of automated external defibrillators as well as health and safety.
To successfully complete the course and gain certification standard the candidates are tested on all that they have learned.
The park is proud of its safety record and has reached out to the community to share its expertise in the field.
In recent years there have been numerous fatalities involving children who have drowned during the summer months in private pools or playing in the sea. As a result, the LPOD water safety team regularly holds water safety courses to teach people how to swim as well as to save themselves and others in water-related incidents.
Mr Asmar added: 'Completing the lifeguard qualification course is not only rewarding but it also provides individuals with key life skills such as first aid, CPR and rescue techniques, to name but a few.
'Also working as a lifeguard and holding the qualification looks good on anyone’s CV for whatever job they may be applying for in the future. It demonstrates that they are a team player and can work in a position of responsibility.
'I believe that the first attraction for a person to apply as a lifeguard at LPOD is the place itself as it is a fun place to work. Working as a lifeguard not only provides an excellent part-time or full-time working opportunity it can be a great stepping stone in the leisure industry.
'I have several friends who started working as a lifeguard and are now running companies and water parks at this very moment. I should know, because I am one of them!'
