Lifeguard training continues for the young members of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) with their latest training focusing on Shallow Water Back-boarding, where they learn how to remove a person with a possible back or spinal injury from the water using a backboard.

The classes are primarily conducted at the Gataivai and Utulei beaches, however, the latest lessons, the Shallow Water Back-boarding, are being held at the Moana O Sina Resort pool.

“We are conducting this training for these young members of the ASAA to become certified lifeguards, which I believe we are in great need of here in American Samoa,” said head of ASAA Zero Iaulualo. He said that they usually conduct the training at Utulei Beach, but with the Environmental Protection Agency  warning signs still up, which have their No Swimming ‘Red’ marker in place, the training has been shifted to the Gataivai Beach area.

However, the members of the life-saving class also need to know how to rescue in other types of water, and so “The back-boarding training is being done at the Moana O Sina Resort pool this week because I want the trainees to know what it is like to do this type of rescue in both type of environments, such as the open water and in a pool,” said Iaulualo.

 He says that once the EPA Red marker is removed, they will begin conducting training at Utulei once again. “We have to respect the EPA warning markers. We can’t take the risk in training in an area that is marked red by the EPA. People who ignore the warning and swim in that area, are taking a risk with their health,” he said.

Samoa News spoke to one of the ASAA trainees, Johnny Taope about the instructions he is receiving.  Taope said, “I’m very thankful to Zero who’s conducting this training. I am learning a lot about how to save someone’s life in the water. If there is someone drowning or needs help in the water, I know I will be ready to help save that person.”  All of the young ASAA Lifeguard trainees shared the same sentiments, in that they are very grateful for the training that they are receiving.

Iaulualo also stated that he would like to thank Moana O Sina Resort for allowing them to use their pool for this latest training session.