Red Cross Iowa Action Makes Waves, Trainer Responds

Red Cross Iowa Action Makes Waves, Trainer Responds

Matt Grohe, Hampton Chronicle

On July 20th lifeguards who had received lifeguard instructor certificates from local swimming instructor and trainer Christina Colman between June 29, 2021, and June 5, 2023, were sent emails notifying them that their lifeguard certification earned at the Mason City Family YMCA had been revoked. The Red Cross certifies 3 out of 5 lifeguards in the United States.

Colman had worked as an independent contractor out of the Mason City YMCA, according to Executive director Tammy Hertzel, certifying the 310 guards affected there, but was not employed by the facility. Colman had trained many of the guards that staff north central Iowa pools, including guards at the Aquatic and Wellness Centers.

As the impact of the Red Cross action rippled across north Iowa, pools in Hampton, Rockwell, Mason City, New Hampton, Nora Springs and Manly announced closures. Lifeguard staffing was already challenging due to employment issues, and the benching of guards at some pools forced them to close during what may be some of the hottest days of the summer.

Hertzel, when contacted Friday, said that the Mason City YMCA pool was closed temporarily, but that measures were being taken to get a schedule together to get the affected guards retrained.

In Hampton training classes are being given by a certified instructor, but the class sizes as per Red Cross guidelines are limited to 10 participants. A source involved said instructors may come in from the Fort Dodge area to help with the recertification.

On July 20th in their email, the organization said that "The Red Cross has determined that the lifeguard instructor failed to deliver the class in accordance with all applicable Lifeguard training requirements for certification," as a justification for the revocations.

The Iowa move came just four days after a story appeared in the Washington Post critical of the Red Cross lifeguard training program entitled "American Red Cross Lacks Oversight of Lifeguard Certification Process," claiming laxity in Red Cross standards and detailing a 2021 lawsuit the organization was the defendant in involving the death of 6-year-old Roxie Forbes of Pasadena California at the Summerkids Camp in 2019.

In that case it was determined that the four lifeguards on duty were not properly certified. All had been trained by the same independent contractor who at one point had certified his own lifeguard training credentials through the Red Cross system. The Forbes case against the Red Cross was dismissed by a district court judge in April who "ruled that Forbes did not adequately allege the Red Cross committed fraud."

When reached for comment on July 24th Colman said the certification problem first began with a contact from Christa Seiwart of the Red Cross June 28th. At that time Seiwert asked Colman questions about three of her training practices, peer teaching, allowing students that were CPR certified to not repeat that component, and using the Mason City YMCA pool, which is 6 feet 10 inches deep, instead of the required 7 foot as per Red Cross guidelines. The Wellness Center pool is below the required depth as well, for comparison.

Colman responded to Seiwart's questions and didn't hear anything back, that is until the story blew up July 20th as facilities closed and the Red Cross emails circulated.

Colman then tried to reach Seiwart to discuss the matter, but Seiwart was on vacation and Colman was referred to a colleague at Red Cross who has not returned her calls. Colman feels like it was an overreaction by the Red Cross and has written an editorial that follows.

July 21, 2023

Dear Editor,

Across northern Iowa communities are feeling the ripple effect of the closure of several north Iowa pools. This cascade of events began with a complaint to the Red Cross and the decertification of over 70 lifeguards.

There were three issues as I understand. One being the depth of the pool used for training, the second was the style of training and the third was the length of the training. These issues were discussed with the Red Cross openly when they called me about them.

The first issue is that I teach most all my classes at the YMCA in Mason City, Iowa because it is a good central location and the only indoor pool available prior to the summer season. This allows lifeguards to be certified ahead of the summer season, receive their orientation training from their individual community pools and be ready for opening day. The pool at the YMCA is 6ft 10in deep and the Red Cross standard is 7ft. The skill required here is getting to the bottom of the pool, retrieve a 10lb brick, return to the surface and swim back to the start within 1 minute 40 seconds. To mediate the 2” difference I placed the brick 2 feet further on the bottom of the pool.

Complaint two is the well-established and widely used teaching technique used by educators in a wide variety of fields. This is the use of peer instruction by fast learners under the close supervision of the instructor. This technique seals the skill in the fast learner and is often better received by the other learner. This also

instills team work and communication among peers instilling collaboration with team members as emphasized in the Red Cross training.

Three, was a complaint about length of training time and that I do not meet the required hours for the class. When asked about this by the Red Cross, I responded that the students in Iowa are exposed to CPR skills as it is a requirement for high school graduation and many students are already certified in CPR when they reach my class. I explained that sometimes this portion of the training may not need the entire time allotted for this skill.

All students are skill tested at the end of every training prior to their certification, so if they are skill deficient, I always reteach the skill(s). All students that are certified are proficient in all required skills.

I have been a lifeguard instructor for over 25 years and I am writing this letter to make sure the community is aware of the facts. This is a capricious act by the Red Cross and has a giant impact on everyone who enjoys summer pool activities from water aerobics, swimming lessons, summer jobs, swim teams, revenue for small towns and the list goes on. These complaints could have easily been remedied in a way that did not affect our entire community.

My biggest concern is for the negative impacts this is having on all our communities. I encourage everyone to contact the Red Cross about how this is affecting us. In closing, I want everyone to know how heartbroken I am about how this has impacted all of you.

Sincerely,

Chris Colman

Lifeguard Instructor