Deaf News: Deaf swimmer “kicked off lifeguard course for being deaf”

Absolutely appalling! Action and information needed… Start with the fact that the British Red Cross have a Deaf trainer of First Aiders, Steven Wynne. He trained 24 members of Bexley Deaf Club. He has also trained others at Remark! Then there’s Robin Standing, a long time First Aider for St John’s Ambulance. There 24 members of Bexley Deaf Club who now have their certificate have hearing colleagues, neighbours, children, family and friends and have been taught how to detect breathing. And what about ALL these lifeguards and first Aiders who can’t communicate with Deaf people…. Honestly, I despair sometimes! I really hope James will challenge this inane and idiotic stance by the Institute of Qualified Lifeguards. Lmr

Two points – regarding hearing breathing and training v employment.

1. Breathing: this is assessed by looking and feeling. Not by listening. See http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/First-aid/Everyday-First-Aid/Unconscious-and-not-breathing . The actress isn’t listening for breathing. She is feeling for breath on her cheek and with her head so close to the patient’s face, she can watch for chest movement. Listening doesn’t come into it. Especially in indoor swimming pools that are so noisy even hearing life guards won’t be able to hear someone breathe.

So on the first point, the instructors are just plain wrong. If they are teaching their students to listen for breathing, rather than look and feel, they are giving inadequate training.

2. Training v employment: there can be reasonable adjustments that support someone getting through training, even if those adjustments wouldn’t be available in *all* potential jobs. It should be possible to train someone in the lifeguarding skills, if need be with an interpreter. As they train, the individual may come across situations where they wouldn’t be able to communicate without an interpreter. The deaf trainee has far more experience being d/Deaf than the trainers and may well be able to come up with an alternative strategy. But in any case, having an interpreter for training may be a reasonable adjustment for training.

Once qualified, the individual will know whether there are aspects of the job they cannot safely do. There may be some jobs they cannot do but others where there would be safe reasonable adjustments. For example a small pool might only be able to afford one lifeguard on duty, and that job might not be suitable. A big organisation may be able to have several on duty so some could be communicating with public and calling emergency services while others are getting on with CPR, which doesn’t need hearing.

There is the possibility that a deaf person might get through training, with reasonable adjustments for training, but then not be able to get a job because there isn’t something available where there could be reasonable adjustments after all. But they may be prepared to risk getting through training then not getting a job. That should be their choice, not governed by the preconceptions of people who have little or no experience of what d/Deaf people can do.

I was at work with my school colleagues (first day back at work) when I saw the totally gobsmacking headline via the excellent Same Difference website blog…..my first thought was, “Gosh, it is 2013, this can’t be really happening!!!!!!!!”…….
Seeing and sensing are more important in saving lives….it defies common-sense to see a great Deaf role-model to young d/Deaf people being prevented from a life saving skill.
We must show evidence of competence in such roles to small-minded ignorance which contradicts positive inclusion.

I was stopped from being a lifeguard due to severe shortightedness even though I wore contact lenses and used prescription swimming goggles to correct my sight to near perfect vision in the water. The issue was what would I do if the goggles came off. One instructor said I would end up being a second casualty (as if being able to see is what keeps me afloat and without sight I would drown!) I should have queried or fought it but didn’t know any better when I was younger.

I was also a certified lifeguard for many years. I am Deaf and there are many others out there. Nothing at all to keep a Deaf person from being a lifeguard, as being visually observant is most key (along with being a strong swimmer, obviously). This is discrimination.