Cork Beachguards Train for the Unexpected

By Conor Ryan, Inchydoney Beachguard Team.

When the Flags come down at the beach a  lot of work goes on behind the scenes to keep our beachlifeguard team in ship shape!!  

On July 17^th beach lifeguards from West Cork beaches Inchydoney, The Warren, Owenahincha, Garretstown, Garrylucas and Fountainstown congregated at the Inchydoney Lifeguard Station before beginning our first group training session of the lifeguard season. The first portion of the training session was led by former beach lifeguard and current Irish Water Safety Beach Lifeguard Instructor Diarmuid Ó Donnabháin. 

We began by analyzing some video rescue clips. It was helpful to have the opportunity to discuss the various scenarios as a group and learn from each other.  Our group consisted of various levels of experience so it was a great learning ground for the newer beachguards.  

It was very clear from the clips we watched that the lifeguard team in them was very well drilled and everyone knew their role and remained calm. This was something we then worked on replicating as we practiced CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) in small groups. We had a number of stations set up, each one providing a different spin on CPR, ranging from performing CPR on infants to using an oxygen bag.  Everyone enjoyed this and welcomed the chance to get involved.

Next came the water training, this was led by long serving lifeguard John Williams. We started with some possible scenarios lifeguards may come across and practiced same.  This was a good physical workout while revising our emergency procedures! 

The channel at Inchydoney Beach is a dangerous location for swimming. Here we practiced escaping from the clutches of a drowning victim.  We have to remind people on a regular basis not to swim in the channels at Inchydoney Beach.   This exercise also provided us with on the spot experience of how powerful the rip currents in Inchydoney can be. 

For our next exercise, we completed a simulated rescue on the far side of Inchydoney beach. This consisted of a run across the entire beach followed by a swim to the “casualty” who we then brought back to the shore. Some lifeguards ran while carrying a rescue board and paddled to the “casualty” so that we could see if that would be faster than running and swimming to them. Bringing a board turned out to be the more efficient method for that particular rescue. 

To wrap things up on a fun note,  (as we were rapidly losing sunlight),  we all linked arms and legs and together did what I can only describe as “human chain sit ups.” We all left in high spirits having completed a challenging,  educational and thoroughly enjoyable training session. 


Hopefully, we won’t have to put these skills into practice this summer, but if we do at least we know we’re well prepared.😊