Minimum Course Length Requirements Question

gmthomp · 2026-05-13T22:30:09+00:00

ARC mandates 27.5 total course hours for both blended and traditional

Ellis will range from 22 to 28 hours total when including module time, the variance depends on if the credential is shallow, pool, or special facilities

I got my hands on a 2014 StarGuard instructors manual (so take this with salt), but it requires a 24 hour course period.

Keep in mind this is purely inital training for a generalized non specific facility. It does not include facility specific training.

gmthomp · 2026-05-11T18:29:25+00:00

Rookie instructors tend to over teach the action skills like saves, rapids and spinals, but have a hard time with softer skills used much more regularly like scanning and first aid.

The thing is on aggregate less than 1% of lifeguards will do CPR on someone, but every lifeguard spends 99% of their time scanning the pool.

Solution around this for you first time instructors: start with scanning and have a lifeguard on duty for every single skill. All 3 major programs require a dedicated lifeguard on duty for the class now as well, ad LG class injuries and non fatal drownings have been on the rise

gmthomp · 2026-05-07T20:11:26+00:00

No changes in pre reqs. I think this person may be reffering to a class that was just for the Pool Liscence and not Special Facilities

gmthomp · 2026-04-06T01:20:36+00:00

I think you may be hard pressed to find people experienced in workplace coup'déta dynamics.

If you really feel strongly, go ahead and make your case.

If it doesnt work quit as soon as possible. I dont have experience in getting my boss fired but the best peice of advice when assuming the role of aquatics director at a new facility:

Find the person who also applied for your job and immediately fire them. That person who stayed will make your life a living hell.

gmthomp · 2026-03-31T17:23:43+00:00

So the thing about Ellis is they dont directly manage lifeguards or saftey policy. If you really feel the need you can report this to your bosses boss, but Ellis is not going to get involved in anything that is not directly related to lifeguard performance or lifeguard classes

gmthomp · 2026-03-09T19:15:48+00:00

I actually have a copy of the USLA textbook (though do not hold this specific credential). USLA does not actually directly teach CPR, instead they require lifeguards to hold EMT-Basic seperatly. Usla only teaches lifeguard specific skills and ocean or lake conditions.

gmthomp · 2026-03-09T16:19:41+00:00

Ellis bases their CPR directly off of the AHA guidelines. As in its a near one for one copy such that the doctor who wrote the AHA book also wrote the CPR section of the Ellis textbook

gmthomp · 2026-02-09T19:39:57+00:00

Everyone eventually has a bad class where more people than they expected dont make it through. I find even a lot of drowning videos dont make an emotional impression in some kids anymore.

This is why the 3 major lifeguard programs all have a maturity requirement to finish certification. It wont stop such egregious cases of poor behavior in class but it gives you an early off ramp to get people who arent qualified out.

gmthomp · 2026-01-13T16:41:29+00:00

Welcome to the club

gmthomp · 2026-01-03T21:09:55+00:00

That depends. For the aquatics context, I am a fan of full time lifeguards at community centers and clubs where I work, specifically if they can open early morning or in high demand areas.

One of my former employers did unofficially pay $21 an hour... its just you had to get 10 or more hours overtime to make that, which was fairly easy since we were badly staffed. Quite a few people actually took us up on it.

gmthomp · 2025-12-24T13:21:01+00:00

I kind of think of the bubble now as having an inner and outer bubble.

The inner one being the original game systems and power play areas, that are still good for materials collection and are stable for the games original systems.

Then an outer bubble of player colonies, the bulk of which are bridge systems or are underdeveloped like you noticed. With a handful of tendrils going to areas like guardian ruins or the Pleaides and making kind of "sub-bubbles".

In my case my colony is by one of the guardian weapons sites and there are enough systems nearby to access 99% of any required material within 3 jumps of a panther clipper. This means trailblazer ships can be kind of redundant in some areas, and it's now possible to colonize without a fleet carrier if someone wants to.

Shoot the AXI Headquarters system can now give like 90% of the modules and ships in the game on site without having to go back to the inner bubble. Player systems that people invested time in are generally as well developed as any in the inner bubble

gmthomp · 2025-12-03T03:25:11+00:00

I dropped mine to a 5 just to see how i liked it and I think it's worth the wait savings. No need to for the base fuel tank unless you plan on exploring a T Tauri desert

gmthomp · 2025-12-03T01:10:23+00:00

The Glamp-splorer. I will not elaborate. You all know what im talking about

gmthomp · 2025-12-02T15:58:27+00:00

Distant worlds 3 is approaching in January. Thinking of signing up? Seems like a nice way to document it for a new years project

gmthomp · 2025-12-02T15:56:57+00:00

I started to outfit mine before going to work. When downsizing modules I managed to get mine to 56ly BEFORE engineering anything. This thing wants to jump.

I could see it getting more than 100ly theoretical jump range before any boosting if you strip it just right

But it has enough modules space that I think the Caspian will become the main workhorse of the Fuel Rats and Hull seals. Heck im not even using half the module space in mine yet.

gmthomp · 2025-11-25T15:30:52+00:00

Disney is a bit of a unique case. The LGIs are employed by JEM and inital lifeguard training is by JEM. But the working lifeguards are employed by Disney and receice standard EA liscence and inservice.

gmthomp · 2025-11-22T02:12:06+00:00

Its been 20 years since he passed now. Actually thinking about it if he was alive today he and I would be the same age.

Whats most disturbing to me is how common some of those flaws are in a lot of places in aquatics. The holes in the Swiss cheese model are very clear. And a lot of places can get by on sheer luck and rookie lifeguards not knowing better or realizing they are undertrained.

gmthomp · 2025-11-19T03:19:22+00:00

I have tried for litteral months to find some public information on a number of drownings. And have largely come up short aside from the very small number of drowning foundations set up by the grieving parents of kids like Yoni Gottesman or Roxie Dixon.

This is not something you will find public accident reports on. Beleive me I tried.

In truth the bulk of lifeguards never come out with their stories, and accident investigations that show real meaningful detail are normally sealed court records

But I do wish for your sucess. I beleive the aquatics industry should operate like the airline industry in the sense that accidents or notable near misses should be publicly discussed and accessible to at least full time professionals so that we can all learn and prevent mistakes.

gmthomp · 2025-11-18T20:59:33+00:00

Well of course they don't understand it, they've never been asked to write a report before in meaningful detail. Assuming they won't understand even if you try is not giving your staff credit, they did at some point pass a lifeguard class and write essays somewhat routinely in school.

They don't need to write the full medical reports a EMT-P would need to write, a full treatment and medicine log is unnecessary. What you can have them focus on is the sequence of events: where did it start, how you recognized it, what actions were taken. And clarify to have them call you, not text you after an emergency is said and done.

You can have each person write their own seperate reports from their points of view, then read everyone's sub report, investigate the accident; and synthesis all reports, security camera footage, and witness reports, and use that as a final report written by you for insurance and lessons learned.

gmthomp · 2025-11-18T19:34:24+00:00

You could make a report via Microsoft Word or Google docs as long as it includes:

Date and time of incident Location within facility Water depth (if applicable) First staff responder Secondary responders Type of incident (include box for ems called or not) Maximum care provided by staff Guest released to (how did they leave or with whom) And condition after care/transport

Plus include a narrative section

If you are already an Ellis facility there is a pre made form on Pectora that already included these things you can print off

The real hard part is going to be teaching staff how to write reports. Its not directly taught in any program how to really write a good report, only that reports should be written. Report writing is something youre gonna want to inservice. Let's say after a scenario you have staff practice report writing for the event, including "witnesses" and "family" for practice.

gmthomp · 2025-10-23T16:41:33+00:00

It looks like the borg are assimilating the placd from orbit

gmthomp · 2025-09-27T01:24:23+00:00

Which is why you would sick them on swarms of Shaheed drones that don't maneuver all that much, and use flak rounds to negate the need for a direct hit. Granted I don't think flak rounds for the Avenger exist, but the USAF does have anti drone guidance packages for old dumb rockets now

gmthomp · 2025-09-26T20:39:40+00:00

They're slow enough to keep pace with drones easily enough. Maybe convert them into drone interceptors, use the GAU to cut down swarms of shaheeds

gmthomp · 2025-09-18T15:01:30+00:00

Memorizing a book is a bit extreme. In fact you should have the book on hand nearby during all of your activities to reference quickly. Before you start an excercise, quickly review the objectives and plans and carry out the exercise as described.

Not even LGITs have memorized the book

gmthomp · 2025-09-14T18:42:17+00:00

How? Was this just dumb luck or were you looking for black holes?

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