Lifeguards at Tigertail Lake promote safety during Summer activities
Tigertail Lake Recreation Center is known as one of Broward County’s “best-kept secrets.”
The center features the Tigertail Lake Aqua Challenge, an 8,000 square-foot inflatable obstacle course, for kids to fight South Florida’s humid weather. Follow along as a group of lifeguards keep a close eye on visitors with routine protocols and procedures to promote water safety.
Tigertail Lake is a manmade lake that was dredged during the development of the surrounding area. The recreation center, operated by the City of Dania Beach and Broward College, is fed by rainwater only. Water treatment officers from the city visit once a month to test the water for harmful bacteria
or pathogens.
The team of lifeguards at Tigertail Lake Recreation Center start the morning by delegating tasks for the day. All lifeguards must go through an intense Red Cross certification process to work at the recreation center.
Aqua Challenge participants pay a $20 fee and sign a required liability waiver. After they complete the registration process, participants are fitted for a life jacket and given a safety brief by lifeguards.
Lifeguard, Brian Cabrera, takes a young participant and his father to be fitted for a life jacket. The recreation center has a policy that requires all participants to wear a properly fitting life jacket while participating in any water activities.
Staff member, Penina Kahane, gives a safety brief and outlines the rules for participants. Everyone should wear a life jacket at all times, listen to the lifeguards, and properly use the obstacle courses.
Lifeguard, Tristan Nador, follows participants on a paddleboard to begin the course. Nador is one of four lifeguards on duty during this session of about 40 participants. The lake maintains a 10:1 ratio of participants to lifeguards at all times to promote maximum safety.
Marcus Ramos, another on-duty lifeguard, assumes his position on the dock. The elevated chair gives him a broad view to see all participants on the obstacle course . Ramos has a radio to communicate with staff on land.
To communicate with other lifeguards, Ramos uses hand signals and a whistle. Lifeguards try to mitigate whistle desensitization by avoiding excessive whistle blowing. A single long whistle signals the beginning or end of a session and short whistle signals a water emergency.
A lifeguard monitors participants on one of the inflatable obstacles. While the experience is intended to be fun, the lifeguards are aware of potential safety hazards and are alert to any swimmers in need of assistance.
Molly Seghi, a fourth lifeguard, is stationed at the end of the course monitoring participants as they take their final jump into the lake.
Lifeguards stationed throughout the course hear a long whistle, so they notify participants the session has ended and they must exit the water
Lifeguards remain in the water until every participant has safely exited the lake. In a few minutes the next session will begin with a new group of eager participants and the routine will begin again.