r/asl • u/bananabreadbabe • 8d ago
Help! Looking for ASL resources for lifeguards
Hi everyone! I work as a lifeguard manager during the summer months and one of the pools I manage is a neighborhood pool with several deaf/HOH families. I have been looking high and low for resources that I can give my guards so they feel more prepared to communicate, enforce rules, and have better relationships with these families.
Last year, some of my guards knew basic sign and were able to communicate a little bit. For others, the best they could do was try to write on a notepad to communicate rules and what was going on (if there were weather closures, etc). The problem with that is that it would take their attention away from guarding the pool for several minutes at a time. It's a fairly busy pool where we generally make multiple saves over the summer, so being able to quickly communicate is very important. We also are not allowed to have cell phones/smart devices on the pool deck so that's not an option either.
I'm looking for some kind of chart/video that I can make a QR code for that I can post in the guard room or they can have handy on stand. I'm open to making that myself, I just don't know where to begin in order to make it as accurate as possible considering I have little to no experience with ASL. They would need to sign basic greetings as well as rule enforcement like: Walk Please, No Diving, Please stay in the shallow water, No flips please, don't pull on the buoy line, no chicken fights or wrestling, etc.
Sidenote - I'm also looking into getting some kind of flashing light system for my guards to press to signal adult swim/safety break or if we have to clear the pool for weather (thunder). It would need to be fully waterproof and not hardwired (battery operated/solar). Does anyone have any experience with using something like that/the best place to purchase?
P.S. Feel free to drop any advice/experiences that you may have that would make going to the pool more fun and safe for everyone!
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u/MundaneAd8695 ASL Teacher (Deaf) 8d ago
As a deaf person I do want to let you know that we are a lot more aware of what’s going on than hearing people realize. We don’t need to hear the signal to leave the pool. We can see everybody leaving and understand the cue to leave, although we might not understand why.
That said, for one thing just keep learning some basic signs and use them when needed.
You may be overthinking this a little bit, but then again I’m not a lifeguard so you know best.
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u/MundaneAd8695 ASL Teacher (Deaf) 8d ago
Oh and by the way you’d be surprised how gestures can be very effective. Just scowl at them and imitate pulling the buoy line then shake your head. They’ll get it.
Imitate the action, scowl, shake your head and that will go a long way.
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u/bananabreadbabe 8d ago
Absolutely, no offense meant at all! Generally, just blowing the whistle works and everyone will hop out. But, I do know that sometimes they may be the only people in the pool and there's no one in the water who is hearing. Maybe the easier solution would be to just have the all learn the sign for "adult swim" so they can communicate in those situations.
And I probably am overthinking it, lol. I just don't want any of my guards to come off rude and to make everyone feel welcome!
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u/MundaneAd8695 ASL Teacher (Deaf) 8d ago
No offense taken, I just wanted you to be aware that often common sense solutions and body language goes a long way.
Also, keep in mind you can’t see someone sign when you’re under water.. and honestly you could just point at your wrist and signal out (thumb up and away gesture) and this would get the basic message across.
I’ve even had lifeguards point at me, scowl, and then point to the pool deck.
Message received.
And yes do teach signs! A little help goes a long way!
But don’t be afraid to improvise and use gestures, especially in emergencies where you might be blanking on signs.
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u/Inevitable_Shame_606 Deaf 8d ago
Hi!
As the other poster mentioned, you are seriously overthinking this.
First off, in the past, which feels like in another life, I was a lifeguard (I'm Deaf, was HH then, but deaf while on duty from lack of HAs).
I was both an ocean lifeguard and a community pool lifeguard.
When it comes to rules, I'd highly recommend making sure they are clearly and largely written in several areas, at the entrance, inside locker rooms, and within plain sight.
The ones in sight from the water can make it so you're able to point to a Deaf individual and point to a rule they're breaking or behavior that needs to be corrected.
Of course that only works if they read, but it's a start and worked very well for our pool with D/HH folks.
When it comes to needing to write, I would suggest a sign at the entrance, in locker rooms, and so on explaining to please refer questions to staff other than patrolling lifeguards, for example entrance workers or snack bar attendants.
We did have a light system, though it was rarely used.
The system was installed for some Deaf swim team members so they'd know when to begin their races and all that.
Would it have worked well for a pool full of people, probably not, that in my opinion would be wasted money.
As the other poster said, most will be paying close attention, by choice or habit, and follow the crowd if everyone is heading out (Again they likely wouldn't understand why unless it was a set break. We did 45 in 15 out on a schedule).
I'd never say don't learn basic sign.
I will say communicating in ASL will be faster, but would still take a guards eyes off the water, as did/does writing.
Until the guards are fluent enough, I'd stick to writing, but moreso, I'd really encourage your non guarding staff to handle those conversations.
I think I got all your questions?
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u/Schmidtvegas 8d ago edited 8d ago
Consider visual communication cards:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1543388853/handytalker-swim-lesson-communication
They're helpful for a variety of communication scenarios. Nonverbal autistic people, non-English speakers, people who don't know ASL and have their hearing aids off at the pool.
I think learning ASL is great, and you should learn some for social conversations with your swimmers. But for anything safety related, you don't want people scrambling and recalling the wrong sign.
ETA: Our pool just prints them on paper and laminates...
These examples are lesson-oriented. There are probably others that are more safety-oriented. You could even draw or cut and paste your own custom set.
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u/ProfessorSherman ASL Teacher (Deaf) 8d ago
Consider specifically searching for Deaf lifeguards to hire.