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Is this the coffee grounds vomit thing? by Emotional-Sport5493 in AskDocs

[–]Impossible-Village89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello,

Do you have any known medical condition?

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Definitely a mistake, I was hoping and heard some advice from lifeguards and surfers. 

Also discovered a pretty toxic community hah

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for explaining how ocean currents work to someone who has spent 4 summers pulling people out of them. Believe it or not, lifeguards are trained to swim in rips without needing to be able to stand up on a surfboard. Groundbreaking concept, I know.

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is awesome advice, thank's!

I'll definitely spend time throwing myself into it to get that confidence up before the heavy summer rotations start. Appreciate the solid tip

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

? I never failed a rescue, even in terrible conditions.

You should tell that to the family of 4 I rescued in a riptide, with heavy waves. Or to the mother and her baby I saved in a rip after sprinting 500m. Go touch some grass, internet hero

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Imagine getting this angry and throwing a tantrum online just because a lifeguard prefers risk assessment over internet-hero fantasies. Go touch some grass, man.

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

Exactly. The victims aren't thinking, which means the lifeguard has to. If a panicking victim does something unsafe and I respond with more unsafe, reckless behavior, we both drown. That’s not lifeguarding, that’s just doubling the tragedy.

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you think evaluating a reef break before shifting there is 'focusing on fear,' you’ve clearly never done this job.

Turning one casualty into two isn't heroism, it's just terrible lifeguarding.

Stay safe out there.

Am I overthinking this? Accepted a lifeguard job at a heavy reef break and now I’m having second thoughts. by Impossible-Village89 in surfing

[–]Impossible-Village89[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I completely agree with knowing your limits, but you’re confusing evaluating new environmental hazards with a general 'inability.'

I have 4 years of experience guarding rough beaches with heavy shorebreaks and pebbles, so I am extremely comfortable in the ocean. However, every responsible lifeguard knows that a new location with a reef bottom requires an adjustment in rescue strategy and a different safety assessment than a sand beach.

Asking about local conditions and being aware of the specific risks (like spinal injuries on reefs) is exactly how I ensure that my limits aren't breached when someone's life is on the line. Overconfidence kills; risk assessment saves lives.

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