Trying to Certify as a Lifeguard

[monster]

Day 3.
Mostly classroom. mostly CPR. Piece of cake -my certification only expired a few days ago so I helped train more than learn. Also, before we actually go to the training, while we were doing the Bloodborne pathogens protection bit -a classmate passed out, keeled over and hit her head, so the instructor, the other adult student and I (all first aid/cpr certified already) dealt with that to provide a real-life example for the class including removal to hospital by ambulance.

The last bit was backboarding for suspected spinal injuries in the pool. I rock at that. The teenagers are uncoordinated and do not see beyond their immediate point of focus. This does not bode well for this task. there are some advantages to being older/more experienced! This was supposed to be the hardest part, but I found it easy -as long as I was in charge and not the victim (I nearly slid off the board sideways back into the pool but half over the curb when they were lifting me. The usually chilled instructor sounded a little panicky. I had my eyes shut -seemed wisest.

We ended with half an hour to practice our weakest skills. I did pool exit. I am so close to doing it, but and battered and bleeding from the attempts. I think my buoyancy is actually part of the problem. I watch the others do it and they all bob down then push up and forwards. i can't get down so much and am forced up and back or straight and can't get control over it. And it's not being "bigger" beest is "bigger" too and he sinks like a stone. But it is probably a female thing.

Anyway, I did exit the pool from 5.5 feet by pushing off the bottom -but showing I have the body strength to haul myself out once I can get up far enough to get my arms straight, and the instructor went back and read the directions and we have agreed that they do not insist that I can't use the ladder as long as I am not delayed or exhibiting weakness, so I will just swim my vicitm to right next to the ladder