What documentation should a lifeguard maintain after an incident?

Maintaining a report that details what occurred during an incident, the responses taken, and any medical treatment provided is crucial for several reasons. First, this documentation ensures an accurate record of events, which can be critical for understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident and for evaluating the effectiveness of the response. Detailed reports can serve as valuable tools for reviewing and improving safety protocols, training procedures, and emergency response strategies.

Additionally, having a formal record is essential for legal and liability purposes. If there were any injuries, an accurate report can provide necessary information to medical personnel, insurance companies, and legal representatives should any disputes arise. Proper documentation also aids in accountability, ensuring that all lifeguards and personnel involved can provide reliable accounts of their actions and decisions during the incident.

In contrast, keeping a personal diary may lack the formal structure and detail required for an official report, verbal accounts might easily be misremembered or miscommunicated, and logs of pool attendance, while important for operational purposes, do not capture the specifics of an incident response. Each of these alternatives fails to fulfill the comprehensive documentation needed after an incident.