Welcome to Episode 8 of The LIFESAVING CHRONICLES podcast! Join Dave Kotz and Anna Unruh from the National Safety Training Center as they go deep into the essentials of preparing for a Lifeguard Instructor Trainer Academy (LGIT) or a Water Safety Instructor Trainer Academy (WSIT) offered by the American Red Cross.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The importance of having the latest Lifeguard Instructor Manual and other essential materials.
- Tips for managing and organizing your course materials.
- What to pack for the academy, including water gear and note-taking supplies.
- The benefits of networking and learning from fellow participants.
- How to prepare for practice teaching sessions and the significance of knowing the Red Cross materials and methods.
Whether you're a seasoned instructor or new to the field, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you succeed in your instructor-trainer journey.
Contact David Kotz
- Email: info@nstc.net
- Phone: 908-502-0600
About The Lifesaving Chronicles:
Hey there, lifesaving educators! I'm David Kotz, your host and the founder of the National Safety Training Center. Join me as we embark on a bi-monthly journey, each session packed with approximately 30 minutes of rich content tailored for American Red Cross and American Heart Association educators like you—CPR/First Aid instructors, Lifeguard instructors, EMT instructors, and any current or aspiring lifesaving educating entrepreneurs who are passionate about saving lives. We'll dissect current events, explore teaching strategies, and review lifesaving techniques. But that's not all! We want you to be a part of the conversation. Got a topic or an incident you're itching to discuss? Send it our way, and let's tackle it together on the show. Gear up for an educational ride with The LIFESAVING CHRONICLES.
Watch us as a video podcast on YouTube!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
Thank you.
David Kotz (00:05):
Dave Kotz again from the National Safety Training
Center.
I'm here with Anna Unruh.
Anna and I work together atNational Safety Training Center,
where we offer a huge variety ofclasses.
Today, we want to talk to youabout applying to a lifeguard
instructor trainer academy or awater safety instructor trainer
academy and what you need to doto prepare.
(00:27):
So Anna, I want to give you aquick opportunity to give us
your background.
You haven't been on yet.
This is your first time.
Anna Unruh (00:32):
I became a Red Cross instructor in 2008 in Athens,
Ohio.
Got to do CPR first aid for CPRPro Rescue.
It's the RTE, and I neverremember what it stands for
anymore.
David Kotz (00:46):
Responding to emergencies.
Anna Unruh (00:48):
I became an instructor out in Athens, Ohio
as a graduate student, and thenthrough a whim decided, hey, I'm
going to go into some aquaticsclasses just for my recreation
degree.
Took a WSI class and then alsotook a lifeguarding class and
had some amazing instructorsthat really pushed everyone to
their peak.
Also got to do early wildernessfirst aid before it became a
(01:11):
national program when I wasvolunteering in Maryland.
And then in 2012, I was theaquatics representative for the
state of Nebraska for the RedCross for a short period.
Shortly after, I became alifeguard instructor, and then
after that they were starting towork on some of the academy
outlines, so I got to go throughboth the WSI and the LGA.
(01:34):
WSIT, LGIT academies early on.
I since retook those, so thatway I would have the up to date
information.
And, yeah, got to be an educatorfor a short span.
David Kotz (01:47):
I was going to say how we met,
Anna Unruh (01:49):
Oh, yeah.
David Kotz (01:50):
As the Red Cross was searching for additional
educators- those are the peoplethat actually teach the
instructor trainer academies.
So Anna and I were in a class.
Oh my goodness.
How many years ago was it?
Anna Unruh (02:01):
Uh, it was about seven.
David Kotz (02:05):
We were a group of eight or nine people that were
basically being trained to beeducators for both water safety
instructor and lifeguardinstructor trainers.
So that's where we met.
So this is very apropos.
We have been through theacademies.
We have taught the academies andsome of us have gone through
the, we've gone through themagain.
(02:25):
And I actually, I'm so old thatI remember what happened before
the academies.
So we've got the history of it.
What we want to talk to you guysabout today is how to prepare
for an academy.
There's a little bit of mysterythat goes on with the academies
and what happens there.
We want to pull the curtainback, show you what happens at
(02:47):
the academies and help youprepare for them to maximize
your success.
So Anna, what like stuff do youneed to bring to the academy
with you?
Anna Unruh (02:58):
Alright, so first of all, going to acknowledge that
the Lifeguard Instructor manualthat they just released this
year in 2024 is a beast.
And so, you need to know how tomanage that.
My tip is that since the academyis based on the instructor led
outline, you need that portionabsolutely in paper so that you
(03:23):
can follow along.
If you need appendices andthings- if you're flying in,
maybe digital, you're going tohave to flip through a lot still
to know where those pages are.
But you're actively going toneed skillsheets, all those
scenarios, so there's a lot ofappendices that you do need.
So you need the instructor led,and then any materials that the
instructor led references.
(03:43):
All of those multiple rescuerskill scenarios.
All the skill sheets, all thoselittle pieces.
But as far as do I need theblended learning manual?
You don't need that manual tofollow along, but you do need to
know where it is and where theoutline is.
David Kotz (03:57):
So I'm going to go out on a limb and make a
recommendation.
I believe they actually requirenow that you bring the entire
printed manual, which again, 960some odd pages is a beast.
Anna Unruh (04:10):
If you are flying, you will be checking a bag.
Period.
End of story.
Even if you're only bringingpart of it you're checking a
bag.
David Kotz (04:16):
So if you're going to check a bag, check a big bag,
bring the whole flipping manualwith you.
It's three inch binders.
It will help you dramatically tohave that.
Now that doesn't mean to say youcan't have a digital copy as
well for all you young digitalpeople.
Great.
But having the hard copy will beinvaluable to you as you go
(04:37):
through the academy.
Your educators will demand thatyou use that paper copy and be
able to flip back and findthings.
So the next question is, do youtry and print 960 some odd pages
on your printer?
Like one back there?
No.
Do you go to Staples and havethem printed?
(04:58):
You can, but you're not going tolike it.
Best solution, go to the RedCross store and order it there.
Anna Unruh (05:03):
You're also going to be guaranteed to get the newest
one if you're ordering throughthe Red Cross store.
Recently had just an instructortraining that somebody's Oh, my
boss handed me this one.
It's that's not the current one,buddy.
You got to have the most up todate one.
So bringing your facilitiescopy; not a great option,
especially with just this newestrelease, so unless you are
absolutely sure that you havethe newest, most up to date
(05:27):
stuff, don't take the facilitycopy, order your own personal
copy.
David Kotz (05:31):
And I think we've both had the experience where
people show up at an academy andthey have the instructor manual
that's two versions ago and thenthey look all embarrassed.
Oh, we've been using that.
Oh dear.
No.
Anna Unruh (05:44):
I just reused the cover from the ancient one, and
I gave someone a heart attack.
The inside's a current, but theoutside makes people worry.
Don't do that.
David Kotz (05:53):
Gotcha.
So remember, at the academy, theinstructor manual is definitely
important.
The instructor trainer guide,you're also going to need.
Again, that's less pages, Ithink it's two or three hundred,
but you're still going to needthat.
You're going to end up withmultiple manuals open on your
desk.
So instructor manual, instructortrainer guide, or ITG, I don't
(06:16):
know if you need the participantmanual or not...
Anna Unruh (06:18):
I believe, check your emails when you're accepted
into the academy.
We're going to default to thatof whatever you are officially
told...
goes.
But our experience isparticipant manual, you could do
a digital because somebody'sfollowing along during a
practice teaching.
It's also good for you toreference so that you can find
the pages for when you present.
We'll get to those in a moment.
But you do need to have it,available in some form.
(06:41):
So you do need a participant'smanual.
David Kotz (06:43):
My recommendation, if you're already schlepping
that big suitcase, get the hardcopy, bring it with you.
You will be everybody else'shero when you have the material
and everyone else is trying tofigure out the wifi connection,
why the technology won't work.
Bring the hard copy.
There's one other thing which isnew in the current R24 program
that we haven't had before,which is the deck guide.
(07:06):
That's a- it's on waterresistant.
Anna Unruh (07:09):
Yes.
David Kotz (07:09):
There've been complaints that people, when
they dunk the thing in the pool,they say it doesn't really dry
off.
That's not what it's designedfor.
It's water resistant, notwaterproof.
So having the deck guide withyou will just help.
Are all those things containedin the instructor manual?
Yes, but the deck guide willdefinitely help having that on
the deck.
Anna Unruh (07:28):
It's also very visual which is nice to have
that skill walk through with thepictures next to it when you're
doing a teach so that you cansee exactly what should be going
on.
I will let you know that thepictures, as you go through,
this is part of getting familiarto your stuff, not in the exact
order that they are in themanual.
There's a couple that areflipped.
(07:49):
No big deal, but you just needto know that as you're going
through your manual so that whatmatches up and what doesn't.
David Kotz (07:54):
So at this point, I'm going to let out one of the
secrets to the instructortrainer course, the becoming an
instructor trainer is all aboutknowing the material and being
able to use those coursematerials.
Knowing the lesson plans, usingthe lesson plans.
That's what it's about.
You need to be able to do twothings to be successful as an
IT.
You need to be able to have thelifeguarding skills or the water
(08:17):
safety instructor skills.
It doesn't mean you can't, youhave to be able to swim.
You have to be able to be alifeguard at the standard.
But knowing the materials iscritical.
If you show up and you open thebook for the first time on day
one, things won't go well.
Anna Unruh (08:33):
And for the water safety instructor side of
things, you're so used to just-You're coming in, you might have
had some teaching experiencebefore, you need to know the Red
Cross materials and methods.
So don't wait until the academyto read through and know where
everything is.
Please make sure that you gothrough your materials ahead of
time.
Even as an experiencedinstructor, you have to know- So
(08:54):
you're going to make sure thatyou have your water safety
instructor manual, you're goingto have your swimming and water
safety manual, you're going tohave your water safety
instructor trainer guide.
So you'll have all of those.
You need to have all three inorder to make it successful.
And you will, this is the watersafety and swimming and water
safety book.
Highly recommend keeping that asjust buying the book because
(09:16):
you're gonna flip through that,there's gonna be a lot of
references trying to go page topage electronically, while I
have seen it done efficiently.
Everyone's going to be moreconfident that you found the
right page when you can easilysee it or again if somebody's
didn't make it in their flightor something and you have that
extra copy, now you can shareeasier and flip through and back
(09:37):
and forth.
David Kotz (09:38):
Even for water safety instructor, just
lifeguarding have the printedcopy of the manuals.
Your experience will be muchbetter.
Trust us.
What other supplies?
So we got the manuals down.
What other supplies do we needto bring with us to the
academies?
Anna Unruh (09:54):
Everyone's got their own note taking style.
So make sure that whatever you,if you've been assigned things
to read or do in advance, thatyou have done those and that
you've highlighted, marked,Sticky tabbed, whichever works
best for you through your book,so that way you know what you're
doing and where your informationis and you can find it quickly.
And then as you go through thecourse, again, having
(10:15):
highlighters, pens, pencils,whatever it is, as you go
through.
I was great at doodlingdemonstrations of things that I
liked that someone did on themargins of my book, so that way
I could replicate it later.
So if there were key words orfun songs, or the songs are not
so much for lifeguarding, buthey, if somebody comes up with
something I'm able to note thosedown and I encourage even during
(10:37):
like water safety instructor,have a way to take notes shortly
after.
A couple practice teachings orthings, because you're going to
pick up things from other peopleand you want to be able to
remember them.
I got to teach a water safetyinstructor course, where we had
a person that was making upsongs through the course for all
their skills, and it was great.
(10:58):
And I'm sitting there as theinstructor trainer writing down
the notes, and then people wouldask me for my notes later
because they wanted the songtoo.
So make sure you have a way torecall tips and tricks that you
are picking up from others,because that's also part of the
experience.
David Kotz (11:11):
Actually, let's highlight that right now because
truly that is one of the hugebenefits to the academy style of
training instructor trainers.
You're going to have people fromaround the country and
internationally as well thatwill be at your academy.
You will learn what they do andyou will be amazed at some of
the things that they do.
(11:32):
They'll take away some of thethings that you do and that
learning is one of the keybenefits of hosting these
academies.
You have 10 people all fromdisparate areas that all bring
their particular experiences tobear.
Anna Unruh (11:46):
And beware that like some skills, this is a weird one
because I went down to anacademy in Texas and there were
some like tips and tricks that Ihad never seen before in my
region, and then I bring themback to my region because I'm
teaching, and so people now havesome different ways that they
can do skills.
So that way they can get througheverything.
So being open to everything,once in a while they're a little
(12:07):
surprised because again youhaven't seen it before, but then
you see how well it works andyou're like, oh.
I get it now.
And a little bit with that, sowe covered some of the classroom
stuff.
So you got to have your printmanuals, you got to have ways to
take notes, highlight prepareyourself for your teachings, but
you also need water gear.
So you want to have somegoggles, WSIs, especially
(12:27):
lifeguards.
It's nice to have them butyou're not going to use them as
much, if at all.
Still have a set, just in case.
And then you're going to be inthe water for hours.
Again, this is not just littlehopping in and out, hours,
especially the WSIT academies.
Lifeguards, you got a good chunktoo.
You need to stay warm.
(12:48):
So however it is that you aregoing to stay warm for being in
the water, whether you'rewearing a rash guard, or if
you're getting a shorty, or ifyou're getting a neoprene style
jacket, like whatever it takesto keep you warm, because that
will make a difference in yourperformance.
If you are freezing, it's goingto be harder to do things.
I got to see that in academywhere somebody like, once we
made them warm, was so much moresuccessful.
David Kotz (13:09):
What's a shorty?
Were you insulting me as someonewho's short?
Anna Unruh (13:13):
believe the shorties are the like, Shorts and short
sleeve zip up stuff that goesover the swimsuits.
I do not have one.
I have a jacket.
I wear swim shorts.
Or,
David Kotz (13:22):
mini wetsuit type thing.
feel so much better.
Anna Unruh (13:25):
Yeah, I even have they make swim yoga pants.
Or you can just wear reallyclean yoga pants.
Something to keep your body heatin you.
David Kotz (13:32):
So just remember you're going to be swimming
primarily in a competition pool.
They like to keep thecompetition pools mid seventies
when you're standing around,whether that's for lifeguarding,
you're doing skills and drills,or for WSI, where you're doing
skills and drills too.
That's a lot of standing waterabsorbs heat 25 times faster
than air.
(13:52):
You're going to get cold.
So dressing appropriately isdefinitely a good
Anna Unruh (13:58):
I'd recommend at least three towels whether those
are three that you bring becauseyou're driving or if you check a
big suitcase or if you'reborrowing your hotel towels
gotta stay warm.
So make it work.
Again, two towels minimum.
I highly recommend three.
Something to help you stayinsulated.
Swim caps, sure, they lookgoofy, but they work.
(14:18):
So definitely do that.
Also helps keep your hair out ofthe way during anything
backboarding.
I'm going to recommend thatyeah, Dave doesn't have that
problem.
But then you don't have to worryabout the hair sweep quite as
much as you go through.
So yeah, whatever's gonna work.
David Kotz (14:30):
If you do have long hair, just be prepared to manage
that, whether a swim cap, extrahair ties, whatever the case may
be.
Some pools have more restrictiverequirements for long hair than
others.
I don't know anything about
Anna Unruh (14:41):
Yeah, I haven't run into those yet.
That's just me having taughtlong enough that hey, a braid
tends to work better long termthan a ponytail, but ponytail's
still functional.
Bun is like the standard go to.
But yeah, also swim caps,regardless of who you are, just
as a way to manage heat.
David Kotz (14:56):
Super cool.
All right.
So I think we've covered likeeverything we need to bring to
the academy.
And I always want to highlight.
Thing that I didn't bring that Iwish I had brought.
Post it notes.
You can have different colors,sizes, whatever works for you,
but the post it notes were agame changer.
I learned that from someoneelse.
There's always a Staples nearby,you can get post it notes, but
(15:17):
bring a little brick and you'llbe a happy person.
Anna Unruh (15:19):
snacks would be the other thing.
Again, long days, lots of timein the water and it depends on,
like, how many people you haveand how close you are to
schedule on how long your lunchbreak is.
So you may or may not be able tobop out and get something.
Highly recommend grabbingsomething so that you can bring
in lunch regularly.
Inquire as if there's going tobe a microwave or not.
You might find that out day oneand then be able to adjust what
(15:41):
you're doing for the rest of theweek.
I was lazy and would just buylike snack stuffs and then PB& J
it all the way through the week.
David Kotz (15:48):
I agree.
Bring your lunch.
Prepare for the academy.
Have some lunches prepared;bring them with you.
There is not enough time duringthe academy to go out to lunch.
That will not happen.
You will be much better servedif you have your lunch you'll be
able to rest and recover andprepare for your next session.
If your lunches are preparedalready, you don't have to go
(16:10):
figure out what you're doing forlunch that day.
Anna Unruh (16:13):
If you are a caffeine person, bring your
caffeine stash for the day.
Hydrate.
David Kotz (16:18):
A warm caffeine?
Are you cold caffeine?
Do you need diet cokes or morecoffee or whatever those what's
those crazy energy drink things?
Anna Unruh (16:25):
There's so many.
I legitimately brought a travelhot pot that collapses down and
was making tea and we hadseveral people that were sharing
in that.
David Kotz (16:35):
I liked that.
Anna Unruh (16:36):
If you are trying to use tablets or computers to
follow along and keep yourmaterials.
There may not be enough outletsfor everyone.
That's the other reason for hardcopies by default, is Even if
you have, are super familiar,super fast with technology, you
may not be able to charge it,because the educators take
priority on whatever outlet isthere, and if there's only one,
(16:58):
because you're stuck in anexercise room, or, there was one
that was just a very small glassmeeting office, they get the
priority.
David Kotz (17:05):
You remember the racquetball court?
The Rutgers, there was aracquetball court.
That's where we did the classin.
And how many outlets are in aracquetball court?
Anna Unruh (17:13):
You still need the paper.
David Kotz (17:14):
Do I travel with a small power strip?
Yes, I do.
Especially the USB chargingstuff.
I make friends by having USBports available.
All right, we got our stuff.
How do we then take all ourstuff and how do we prepare to
ensure maximum success?
What are some tips and tricks?
Anna Unruh (17:30):
Alright, so for practice teaching, which last
that I knew they sent out aheadof time instead of day of
because that gets a littlehectic.
So you should know what you'reteaching, what your assignment
is, before you get there.
You should have plenty of timeto prepare for it by getting
your materials, going through,reading through it a couple of
times, and also if you areconfused as to what's going on,
(17:54):
email and ask those questions.
Because it's very common forpeople to go but I thought I was
teaching this part.
Verify.
Send them your highlighted notesand here's what I'm doing.
Am I on the right track?
And then that way, if you'renot, and trust me, the educators
love seeing that.
You're not being like a goodytwo shoes.
They like knowing that you'reprocessing the material in
advance.
(18:14):
They like knowing that you careabout it.
So that way, if you do cause amisstep, they're like, we
remember this person and thatthey are trying and they are
processing to the best of theirability.
You get a little bit of grace ifyou are showing that initiative
in trying to prepare and then ifyou have questions please ask
them.
David Kotz (18:31):
Let me just echo what you're saying.
If you're given an assignment toteach a topic, whether it's one
rescuer CPR or whatever the casemay be, finding that exact spot
in your instructor manual or theIT guide and going through that
can be confusing because theremay be a skill drill that deals
with one rescuer CPR.
There may be a putting it alltogether drill.
(18:52):
There may be the initialtraining for it.
So just understanding whereexactly that takes place can be
confusing.
Get to the right spot.
Verify it with your educator.
This is where you want me tostart?
This is what you want me tocover from this part to that
part?
That demonstrates a very goodeffort and will be much
appreciated by everyone.
Anna Unruh (19:10):
And then on the WSI side, the WSIT side, you will be
expected to create lesson plans,so if you are doing- because
part of the setup is thatsomebody does their practice
teach and you evaluate them, sowe get down to, there's layers
upon layers, we'll see if we canget a visual to help it out.
But if you are in a WSITacademy, if you are acting as a
(19:33):
WSI candidate, you have tocreate a lesson plan for your
little tiny skill.
Do that because it helps theperson that's the WSIT candidate
evaluating that to accuratelyshow their skills, as well.
And it shows yourprofessionalism to fully create
that and not just do I'm doingthis and this is the one thing
(19:55):
that came before and this is theone thing that came after.
No, full lesson plan, make itlook pretty.
it can be handwritten.
It just needs to be fully donewith realistic times and things
because that's the type offeedback that you'll want.
David Kotz (20:07):
That's one of the key differences between the two
academies, the WSIT versus LGIT.
The LGIT, the lesson plans areall there.
If you try and create your ownlesson plan do that.
It's happened.
It happens in almost everyacademy.
Do not write a lesson plan atLGIT.
They're all there.
We did it for you.
Anna Unruh (20:26):
It does say to create lecture notes, so I will
let you know in the currentpacket, it says to create
lecture notes.
That's just a reminder for youas to what you're teaching.
It's trying to get you so thatyou're so familiar with your
stuff that you don't need yournose in the book, but you still
need to follow the book.
You'll want to also be preparedand know what the skills are
supposed to look like for everylevel, because you will be
(20:49):
evaluating somebody on ifthey're teaching the appropriate
skill, the appropriate level, iftheir holds are appropriate to
the skill being taught, becauseI've seen some creative people
do that.
Lessons where it's okay, I'mgoing to do this.
And you're like, no, they'rebrand new shiny.
They can't- they're a level oneand you're teaching at a level
four.
So have your reference points ofwhat should be expected in each
(21:12):
level for the skills you'reevaluating.
So that way you can givefeedback to that person and show
your attention to detail bypointing out like, Oh this is a
level, whatever.
They're able to do this, andthis about this time.
David Kotz (21:27):
This challenge for water safety instructors-
because not every water safetyinstructor in their normal
course of business teaches alldifferent levels.
Some may be focused on mommy andme type of stuff, basic swimming
instruction, and others may becompetitive coaches that don't
do mommy and me.
So there's a wide variety, butyou need to have that broad
(21:50):
exposure to be successful atWSIT academy.
Anna Unruh (21:53):
We'll get into the practice teaching in a little
bit, but being aware of what youare teaching and also what you
are observing.
So you need to be prepared forboth because there will be a
feedback thing where you watchsomeone else teach and you need
to be able to follow along inyour manual, in the manual that
they are using to teach or inthe WSIT, the lesson plan that
(22:14):
they're following along toteach, but you still need to
know those skills and whatlevels, so you're still looking
at a lot of manuals.
I use a waterproof clipboard, soI can store all my materials
when I'm not teaching.
I highly believe in eitherZiplocs or page protectors that
are taped at the top.
So that way I can see and dothings.
I'm also probably the biggestproponent of I like grease
(22:36):
pencils.
That's correct.
I have this many.
That is how fan big of a fan Iam.
These are reusable ones too.
So I have a plastic case onethat I can refill.
I can make notes on thelaminated one, and then if I
need to transfer that tosomething else.
Also, if somebody has a jump incomponent, step back.
Because your sheet's about toget splashed.
(22:56):
So make sure that you aremobile.
That when you're observingsomeone, you're not seated on
the deck, that you can move,see, and hear everything.
And again, we'll touch more onthe practice piece side when we
get there.
David Kotz (23:09):
Hey folks, it's Dave Coates from the National Safety
Training Center.
Wanted to say thank you so muchfor watching episode eight of
the life saving chroniclesstandby, where we continue this
conversation in episode nine, sowe learn more about taking a
lifeguard instructor, trainer,or WSI instructor trainer
academy from the American redcross.
(23:31):
Remember, please like share andsubscribe to our channels.
Appreciate all your help.
Look forward to seeing you onepisode nine.
Thanks!
Thank you.
David Kotz (00:05):
Dave Kotz again from the National Safety Training
Center.
I'm here with Anna Unruh.
Anna and I work together atNational Safety Training Center,
where we offer a huge variety ofclasses.
Today, we want to talk to youabout applying to a lifeguard
instructor trainer academy or awater safety instructor trainer
academy and what you need to doto prepare.
(00:27):
So Anna, I want to give you aquick opportunity to give us
your background.
You haven't been on yet.
This is your first time.
Anna Unruh (00:32):
I became a Red Cross instructor in 2008 in Athens,
Ohio.
Got to do CPR first aid for CPRPro Rescue.
It's the RTE, and I neverremember what it stands for
anymore.
David Kotz (00:46):
Responding to emergencies.
Anna Unruh (00:48):
I became an instructor out in Athens, Ohio
as a graduate student, and thenthrough a whim decided, hey, I'm
going to go into some aquaticsclasses just for my recreation
degree.
Took a WSI class and then alsotook a lifeguarding class and
had some amazing instructorsthat really pushed everyone to
their peak.
Also got to do early wildernessfirst aid before it became a
(01:11):
national program when I wasvolunteering in Maryland.
And then in 2012, I was theaquatics representative for the
state of Nebraska for the RedCross for a short period.
Shortly after, I became alifeguard instructor, and then
after that they were starting towork on some of the academy
outlines, so I got to go throughboth the WSI and the LGA.
(01:34):
WSIT, LGIT academies early on.
I since retook those, so thatway I would have the up to date
information.
And, yeah, got to be an educatorfor a short span.
David Kotz (01:47):
I was going to say how we met,
Anna Unruh (01:49):
Oh, yeah.
David Kotz (01:50):
As the Red Cross was searching for additional
educators- those are the peoplethat actually teach the
instructor trainer academies.
So Anna and I were in a class.
Oh my goodness.
How many years ago was it?
Anna Unruh (02:01):
Uh, it was about seven.
David Kotz (02:05):
We were a group of eight or nine people that were
basically being trained to beeducators for both water safety
instructor and lifeguardinstructor trainers.
So that's where we met.
So this is very apropos.
We have been through theacademies.
We have taught the academies andsome of us have gone through
the, we've gone through themagain.
(02:25):
And I actually, I'm so old thatI remember what happened before
the academies.
So we've got the history of it.
What we want to talk to you guysabout today is how to prepare
for an academy.
There's a little bit of mysterythat goes on with the academies
and what happens there.
We want to pull the curtainback, show you what happens at
(02:47):
the academies and help youprepare for them to maximize
your success.
So Anna, what like stuff do youneed to bring to the academy
with you?
Anna Unruh (02:58):
Alright, so first of all, going to acknowledge that
the Lifeguard Instructor manualthat they just released this
year in 2024 is a beast.
And so, you need to know how tomanage that.
My tip is that since the academyis based on the instructor led
outline, you need that portionabsolutely in paper so that you
(03:23):
can follow along.
If you need appendices andthings- if you're flying in,
maybe digital, you're going tohave to flip through a lot still
to know where those pages are.
But you're actively going toneed skillsheets, all those
scenarios, so there's a lot ofappendices that you do need.
So you need the instructor led,and then any materials that the
instructor led references.
(03:43):
All of those multiple rescuerskill scenarios.
All the skill sheets, all thoselittle pieces.
But as far as do I need theblended learning manual?
You don't need that manual tofollow along, but you do need to
know where it is and where theoutline is.
David Kotz (03:57):
So I'm going to go out on a limb and make a
recommendation.
I believe they actually requirenow that you bring the entire
printed manual, which again, 960some odd pages is a beast.
Anna Unruh (04:10):
If you are flying, you will be checking a bag.
Period.
End of story.
Even if you're only bringingpart of it you're checking a
bag.
David Kotz (04:16):
So if you're going to check a bag, check a big bag,
bring the whole flipping manualwith you.
It's three inch binders.
It will help you dramatically tohave that.
Now that doesn't mean to say youcan't have a digital copy as
well for all you young digitalpeople.
Great.
But having the hard copy will beinvaluable to you as you go
(04:37):
through the academy.
Your educators will demand thatyou use that paper copy and be
able to flip back and findthings.
So the next question is, do youtry and print 960 some odd pages
on your printer?
Like one back there?
No.
Do you go to Staples and havethem printed?
(04:58):
You can, but you're not going tolike it.
Best solution, go to the RedCross store and order it there.
Anna Unruh (05:03):
You're also going to be guaranteed to get the newest
one if you're ordering throughthe Red Cross store.
Recently had just an instructortraining that somebody's Oh, my
boss handed me this one.
It's that's not the current one,buddy.
You got to have the most up todate one.
So bringing your facilitiescopy; not a great option,
especially with just this newestrelease, so unless you are
absolutely sure that you havethe newest, most up to date
(05:27):
stuff, don't take the facilitycopy, order your own personal
copy.
David Kotz (05:31):
And I think we've both had the experience where
people show up at an academy andthey have the instructor manual
that's two versions ago and thenthey look all embarrassed.
Oh, we've been using that.
Oh dear.
No.
Anna Unruh (05:44):
I just reused the cover from the ancient one, and
I gave someone a heart attack.
The inside's a current, but theoutside makes people worry.
Don't do that.
David Kotz (05:53):
Gotcha.
So remember, at the academy, theinstructor manual is definitely
important.
The instructor trainer guide,you're also going to need.
Again, that's less pages, Ithink it's two or three hundred,
but you're still going to needthat.
You're going to end up withmultiple manuals open on your
desk.
So instructor manual, instructortrainer guide, or ITG, I don't
(06:16):
know if you need the participantmanual or not...
Anna Unruh (06:18):
I believe, check your emails when you're accepted
into the academy.
We're going to default to thatof whatever you are officially
told...
goes.
But our experience isparticipant manual, you could do
a digital because somebody'sfollowing along during a
practice teaching.
It's also good for you toreference so that you can find
the pages for when you present.
We'll get to those in a moment.
But you do need to have it,available in some form.
(06:41):
So you do need a participant'smanual.
David Kotz (06:43):
My recommendation, if you're already schlepping
that big suitcase, get the hardcopy, bring it with you.
You will be everybody else'shero when you have the material
and everyone else is trying tofigure out the wifi connection,
why the technology won't work.
Bring the hard copy.
There's one other thing which isnew in the current R24 program
that we haven't had before,which is the deck guide.
(07:06):
That's a- it's on waterresistant.
Anna Unruh (07:09):
Yes.
David Kotz (07:09):
There've been complaints that people, when
they dunk the thing in the pool,they say it doesn't really dry
off.
That's not what it's designedfor.
It's water resistant, notwaterproof.
So having the deck guide withyou will just help.
Are all those things containedin the instructor manual?
Yes, but the deck guide willdefinitely help having that on
the deck.
Anna Unruh (07:28):
It's also very visual which is nice to have
that skill walk through with thepictures next to it when you're
doing a teach so that you cansee exactly what should be going
on.
I will let you know that thepictures, as you go through,
this is part of getting familiarto your stuff, not in the exact
order that they are in themanual.
There's a couple that areflipped.
(07:49):
No big deal, but you just needto know that as you're going
through your manual so that whatmatches up and what doesn't.
David Kotz (07:54):
So at this point, I'm going to let out one of the
secrets to the instructortrainer course, the becoming an
instructor trainer is all aboutknowing the material and being
able to use those coursematerials.
Knowing the lesson plans, usingthe lesson plans.
That's what it's about.
You need to be able to do twothings to be successful as an
IT.
You need to be able to have thelifeguarding skills or the water
(08:17):
safety instructor skills.
It doesn't mean you can't, youhave to be able to swim.
You have to be able to be alifeguard at the standard.
But knowing the materials iscritical.
If you show up and you open thebook for the first time on day
one, things won't go well.
Anna Unruh (08:33):
And for the water safety instructor side of
things, you're so used to just-You're coming in, you might have
had some teaching experiencebefore, you need to know the Red
Cross materials and methods.
So don't wait until the academyto read through and know where
everything is.
Please make sure that you gothrough your materials ahead of
time.
Even as an experiencedinstructor, you have to know- So
(08:54):
you're going to make sure thatyou have your water safety
instructor manual, you're goingto have your swimming and water
safety manual, you're going tohave your water safety
instructor trainer guide.
So you'll have all of those.
You need to have all three inorder to make it successful.
And you will, this is the watersafety and swimming and water
safety book.
Highly recommend keeping that asjust buying the book because
(09:16):
you're gonna flip through that,there's gonna be a lot of
references trying to go page topage electronically, while I
have seen it done efficiently.
Everyone's going to be moreconfident that you found the
right page when you can easilysee it or again if somebody's
didn't make it in their flightor something and you have that
extra copy, now you can shareeasier and flip through and back
(09:37):
and forth.
David Kotz (09:38):
Even for water safety instructor, just
lifeguarding have the printedcopy of the manuals.
Your experience will be muchbetter.
Trust us.
What other supplies?
So we got the manuals down.
What other supplies do we needto bring with us to the
academies?
Anna Unruh (09:54):
Everyone's got their own note taking style.
So make sure that whatever you,if you've been assigned things
to read or do in advance, thatyou have done those and that
you've highlighted, marked,Sticky tabbed, whichever works
best for you through your book,so that way you know what you're
doing and where your informationis and you can find it quickly.
And then as you go through thecourse, again, having
(10:15):
highlighters, pens, pencils,whatever it is, as you go
through.
I was great at doodlingdemonstrations of things that I
liked that someone did on themargins of my book, so that way
I could replicate it later.
So if there were key words orfun songs, or the songs are not
so much for lifeguarding, buthey, if somebody comes up with
something I'm able to note thosedown and I encourage even during
(10:37):
like water safety instructor,have a way to take notes shortly
after.
A couple practice teachings orthings, because you're going to
pick up things from other peopleand you want to be able to
remember them.
I got to teach a water safetyinstructor course, where we had
a person that was making upsongs through the course for all
their skills, and it was great.
(10:58):
And I'm sitting there as theinstructor trainer writing down
the notes, and then people wouldask me for my notes later
because they wanted the songtoo.
So make sure you have a way torecall tips and tricks that you
are picking up from others,because that's also part of the
experience.
David Kotz (11:11):
Actually, let's highlight that right now because
truly that is one of the hugebenefits to the academy style of
training instructor trainers.
You're going to have people fromaround the country and
internationally as well thatwill be at your academy.
You will learn what they do andyou will be amazed at some of
the things that they do.
(11:32):
They'll take away some of thethings that you do and that
learning is one of the keybenefits of hosting these
academies.
You have 10 people all fromdisparate areas that all bring
their particular experiences tobear.
Anna Unruh (11:46):
And beware that like some skills, this is a weird one
because I went down to anacademy in Texas and there were
some like tips and tricks that Ihad never seen before in my
region, and then I bring themback to my region because I'm
teaching, and so people now havesome different ways that they
can do skills.
So that way they can get througheverything.
So being open to everything,once in a while they're a little
(12:07):
surprised because again youhaven't seen it before, but then
you see how well it works andyou're like, oh.
I get it now.
And a little bit with that, sowe covered some of the classroom
stuff.
So you got to have your printmanuals, you got to have ways to
take notes, highlight prepareyourself for your teachings, but
you also need water gear.
So you want to have somegoggles, WSIs, especially
(12:27):
lifeguards.
It's nice to have them butyou're not going to use them as
much, if at all.
Still have a set, just in case.
And then you're going to be inthe water for hours.
Again, this is not just littlehopping in and out, hours,
especially the WSIT academies.
Lifeguards, you got a good chunktoo.
You need to stay warm.
(12:48):
So however it is that you aregoing to stay warm for being in
the water, whether you'rewearing a rash guard, or if
you're getting a shorty, or ifyou're getting a neoprene style
jacket, like whatever it takesto keep you warm, because that
will make a difference in yourperformance.
If you are freezing, it's goingto be harder to do things.
I got to see that in academywhere somebody like, once we
made them warm, was so much moresuccessful.
David Kotz (13:09):
What's a shorty?
Were you insulting me as someonewho's short?
Anna Unruh (13:13):
believe the shorties are the like, Shorts and short
sleeve zip up stuff that goesover the swimsuits.
I do not have one.
I have a jacket.
I wear swim shorts.
Or,
David Kotz (13:22):
mini wetsuit type thing.
feel so much better.
Anna Unruh (13:25):
Yeah, I even have they make swim yoga pants.
Or you can just wear reallyclean yoga pants.
Something to keep your body heatin you.
David Kotz (13:32):
So just remember you're going to be swimming
primarily in a competition pool.
They like to keep thecompetition pools mid seventies
when you're standing around,whether that's for lifeguarding,
you're doing skills and drills,or for WSI, where you're doing
skills and drills too.
That's a lot of standing waterabsorbs heat 25 times faster
than air.
(13:52):
You're going to get cold.
So dressing appropriately isdefinitely a good
Anna Unruh (13:58):
I'd recommend at least three towels whether those
are three that you bring becauseyou're driving or if you check a
big suitcase or if you'reborrowing your hotel towels
gotta stay warm.
So make it work.
Again, two towels minimum.
I highly recommend three.
Something to help you stayinsulated.
Swim caps, sure, they lookgoofy, but they work.
(14:18):
So definitely do that.
Also helps keep your hair out ofthe way during anything
backboarding.
I'm going to recommend thatyeah, Dave doesn't have that
problem.
But then you don't have to worryabout the hair sweep quite as
much as you go through.
So yeah, whatever's gonna work.
David Kotz (14:30):
If you do have long hair, just be prepared to manage
that, whether a swim cap, extrahair ties, whatever the case may
be.
Some pools have more restrictiverequirements for long hair than
others.
I don't know anything about
Anna Unruh (14:41):
Yeah, I haven't run into those yet.
That's just me having taughtlong enough that hey, a braid
tends to work better long termthan a ponytail, but ponytail's
still functional.
Bun is like the standard go to.
But yeah, also swim caps,regardless of who you are, just
as a way to manage heat.
David Kotz (14:56):
Super cool.
All right.
So I think we've covered likeeverything we need to bring to
the academy.
And I always want to highlight.
Thing that I didn't bring that Iwish I had brought.
Post it notes.
You can have different colors,sizes, whatever works for you,
but the post it notes were agame changer.
I learned that from someoneelse.
There's always a Staples nearby,you can get post it notes, but
(15:17):
bring a little brick and you'llbe a happy person.
Anna Unruh (15:19):
snacks would be the other thing.
Again, long days, lots of timein the water and it depends on,
like, how many people you haveand how close you are to
schedule on how long your lunchbreak is.
So you may or may not be able tobop out and get something.
Highly recommend grabbingsomething so that you can bring
in lunch regularly.
Inquire as if there's going tobe a microwave or not.
You might find that out day oneand then be able to adjust what
(15:41):
you're doing for the rest of theweek.
I was lazy and would just buylike snack stuffs and then PB& J
it all the way through the week.
David Kotz (15:48):
I agree.
Bring your lunch.
Prepare for the academy.
Have some lunches prepared;bring them with you.
There is not enough time duringthe academy to go out to lunch.
That will not happen.
You will be much better servedif you have your lunch you'll be
able to rest and recover andprepare for your next session.
If your lunches are preparedalready, you don't have to go
(16:10):
figure out what you're doing forlunch that day.
Anna Unruh (16:13):
If you are a caffeine person, bring your
caffeine stash for the day.
Hydrate.
David Kotz (16:18):
A warm caffeine?
Are you cold caffeine?
Do you need diet cokes or morecoffee or whatever those what's
those crazy energy drink things?
Anna Unruh (16:25):
There's so many.
I legitimately brought a travelhot pot that collapses down and
was making tea and we hadseveral people that were sharing
in that.
David Kotz (16:35):
I liked that.
Anna Unruh (16:36):
If you are trying to use tablets or computers to
follow along and keep yourmaterials.
There may not be enough outletsfor everyone.
That's the other reason for hardcopies by default, is Even if
you have, are super familiar,super fast with technology, you
may not be able to charge it,because the educators take
priority on whatever outlet isthere, and if there's only one,
(16:58):
because you're stuck in anexercise room, or, there was one
that was just a very small glassmeeting office, they get the
priority.
David Kotz (17:05):
You remember the racquetball court?
The Rutgers, there was aracquetball court.
That's where we did the classin.
And how many outlets are in aracquetball court?
Anna Unruh (17:13):
You still need the paper.
David Kotz (17:14):
Do I travel with a small power strip?
Yes, I do.
Especially the USB chargingstuff.
I make friends by having USBports available.
All right, we got our stuff.
How do we then take all ourstuff and how do we prepare to
ensure maximum success?
What are some tips and tricks?
Anna Unruh (17:30):
Alright, so for practice teaching, which last
that I knew they sent out aheadof time instead of day of
because that gets a littlehectic.
So you should know what you'reteaching, what your assignment
is, before you get there.
You should have plenty of timeto prepare for it by getting
your materials, going through,reading through it a couple of
times, and also if you areconfused as to what's going on,
(17:54):
email and ask those questions.
Because it's very common forpeople to go but I thought I was
teaching this part.
Verify.
Send them your highlighted notesand here's what I'm doing.
Am I on the right track?
And then that way, if you'renot, and trust me, the educators
love seeing that.
You're not being like a goodytwo shoes.
They like knowing that you'reprocessing the material in
advance.
(18:14):
They like knowing that you careabout it.
So that way, if you do cause amisstep, they're like, we
remember this person and thatthey are trying and they are
processing to the best of theirability.
You get a little bit of grace ifyou are showing that initiative
in trying to prepare and then ifyou have questions please ask
them.
David Kotz (18:31):
Let me just echo what you're saying.
If you're given an assignment toteach a topic, whether it's one
rescuer CPR or whatever the casemay be, finding that exact spot
in your instructor manual or theIT guide and going through that
can be confusing because theremay be a skill drill that deals
with one rescuer CPR.
There may be a putting it alltogether drill.
(18:52):
There may be the initialtraining for it.
So just understanding whereexactly that takes place can be
confusing.
Get to the right spot.
Verify it with your educator.
This is where you want me tostart?
This is what you want me tocover from this part to that
part?
That demonstrates a very goodeffort and will be much
appreciated by everyone.
Anna Unruh (19:10):
And then on the WSI side, the WSIT side, you will be
expected to create lesson plans,so if you are doing- because
part of the setup is thatsomebody does their practice
teach and you evaluate them, sowe get down to, there's layers
upon layers, we'll see if we canget a visual to help it out.
But if you are in a WSITacademy, if you are acting as a
(19:33):
WSI candidate, you have tocreate a lesson plan for your
little tiny skill.
Do that because it helps theperson that's the WSIT candidate
evaluating that to accuratelyshow their skills, as well.
And it shows yourprofessionalism to fully create
that and not just do I'm doingthis and this is the one thing
(19:55):
that came before and this is theone thing that came after.
No, full lesson plan, make itlook pretty.
it can be handwritten.
It just needs to be fully donewith realistic times and things
because that's the type offeedback that you'll want.
David Kotz (20:07):
That's one of the key differences between the two
academies, the WSIT versus LGIT.
The LGIT, the lesson plans areall there.
If you try and create your ownlesson plan do that.
It's happened.
It happens in almost everyacademy.
Do not write a lesson plan atLGIT.
They're all there.
We did it for you.
Anna Unruh (20:26):
It does say to create lecture notes, so I will
let you know in the currentpacket, it says to create
lecture notes.
That's just a reminder for youas to what you're teaching.
It's trying to get you so thatyou're so familiar with your
stuff that you don't need yournose in the book, but you still
need to follow the book.
You'll want to also be preparedand know what the skills are
supposed to look like for everylevel, because you will be
(20:49):
evaluating somebody on ifthey're teaching the appropriate
skill, the appropriate level, iftheir holds are appropriate to
the skill being taught, becauseI've seen some creative people
do that.
Lessons where it's okay, I'mgoing to do this.
And you're like, no, they'rebrand new shiny.
They can't- they're a level oneand you're teaching at a level
four.
So have your reference points ofwhat should be expected in each
(21:12):
level for the skills you'reevaluating.
So that way you can givefeedback to that person and show
your attention to detail bypointing out like, Oh this is a
level, whatever.
They're able to do this, andthis about this time.
David Kotz (21:27):
This challenge for water safety instructors-
because not every water safetyinstructor in their normal
course of business teaches alldifferent levels.
Some may be focused on mommy andme type of stuff, basic swimming
instruction, and others may becompetitive coaches that don't
do mommy and me.
So there's a wide variety, butyou need to have that broad
(21:50):
exposure to be successful atWSIT academy.
Anna Unruh (21:53):
We'll get into the practice teaching in a little
bit, but being aware of what youare teaching and also what you
are observing.
So you need to be prepared forboth because there will be a
feedback thing where you watchsomeone else teach and you need
to be able to follow along inyour manual, in the manual that
they are using to teach or inthe WSIT, the lesson plan that
(22:14):
they're following along toteach, but you still need to
know those skills and whatlevels, so you're still looking
at a lot of manuals.
I use a waterproof clipboard, soI can store all my materials
when I'm not teaching.
I highly believe in eitherZiplocs or page protectors that
are taped at the top.
So that way I can see and dothings.
I'm also probably the biggestproponent of I like grease
(22:36):
pencils.
That's correct.
I have this many.
That is how fan big of a fan Iam.
These are reusable ones too.
So I have a plastic case onethat I can refill.
I can make notes on thelaminated one, and then if I
need to transfer that tosomething else.
Also, if somebody has a jump incomponent, step back.
Because your sheet's about toget splashed.
(22:56):
So make sure that you aremobile.
That when you're observingsomeone, you're not seated on
the deck, that you can move,see, and hear everything.
And again, we'll touch more onthe practice piece side when we
get there.
David Kotz (23:09):
Hey folks, it's Dave Coates from the National Safety
Training Center.
Wanted to say thank you so muchfor watching episode eight of
the life saving chroniclesstandby, where we continue this
conversation in episode nine, sowe learn more about taking a
lifeguard instructor, trainer,or WSI instructor trainer
academy from the American redcross.
(23:31):
Remember, please like share andsubscribe to our channels.
Appreciate all your help.
Look forward to seeing you onepisode nine.
Thanks!
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