Lifeguards from the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre showed off their safety skills at Perth’s HBF Stadium when they picked up second in the 2017 Pool Lifeguard Challenge last Thursday.
A total of 17 teams competed in the challenge, up from nine teams the previous year, with Mandurah performing admirably to finish in second place behind Riverton Leisureplex’s team two and ahead of Geraldton Aquarena who came in third.
The event, sponsored by the Leisure Institute of WA and facilitated by Royal Life Saving WA, has been held annually since 2007, with the aim of testing lifeguard’s skills and encouraging the continued improvement of lifeguard teams at aquatic centres across WA.
Mandurah has regularly featured a team in the event.
Team members compete in team relays, obstacle courses, swimming skill challenges and safety skill challenges, including a CPR test.
A theory exam follows the challenges, and the day ends with an acted out emergency scenario.
Teams go into a lock-down room so they are unaware of the scenario unfolding for the competing team out on the pool deck, and no-one can ever be sure what to expect from this part of the challenge.
Mandurah finished first in the life saving scenario.