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| Real life lifeguard and fire-fighter Michael Newman is a valuable asset to the show. On-screen you see him has the veteran wise-cracking "Newmy", but he also works behind the scenes co-ordinating rescue scenes and showing actors unfamiliar with water rescues exactly how to run with the can, use a Wave Runner in the surf and dive through surf or from a boat going 30 miles per hour. Listed below are the rules he lives by and the terms and slang words he uses on a daily basis. |
| Lifeguard Rules | |
| 1. | Watch the water |
| 2. | Always carry a red can or tube |
| 3. | Prevent problems before they occur |
| 4. | Always survey your assigned area |
| 5. | While attempting a rescue, tell other swimmers to leave the water so that they don't attempt the rescue themselves |
| 6. | Body language is crucial to inform another lifeguard of your status or need for help while attempting a rescue |
| 7. | Understand how to "read the water" |
| 8. | The color of water can help to determine depth |
| 9. | When in doubt, go! |
| 10. | In case of emergency, knock the telephone off the hook |
| Lifeguard Slang | |
| Beat-off: | an untrustworthy lifeguard, often used in jest |
| Blitz: | multi-victim rescue |
| Bogus: | phony, weird |
| Bud: | one of the guys |
| Buffasorus: | one who is in shape and "looking good" |
| Buffed: | in shape, "looking good" |
| Can Flip: | a technique of spinning the can one or two revolutions and catching it (used to impress) |
| Crew: | the guys/girls that work a certain beach (for example., the Will Rogers Crew) |
| Cruiser: | a pickup artist, usually male |
| Didge: | parking free |
| Dip: | a break on a hot day when a lifeguard walks into the water to cool off |
| Dirt Bag: | bum |
| Dumped: | knocked over by a wave |
| Find The Bottom: | (before you find the air) |
| Fluff and Buff: | to get ready, shave and shower |
| Give Me Some Air: | lifeguard frogmen diving in from overhead chopper |
| Go-out: | a session. Usually a surfing, surfskiing, windsurfing or other form of fun exercise |
| Inside: | close to shore ("stay inside, will ya, kid!") |
| L.D: | long distance swimmer. Usually one who does not know what he/she is doing |
| Mini: | shift less than eight hours |
| Out of Tower Brass: | lifeguards that have risen to a position away from the beach |
| Outside: | past the surf line |
| Patrol: | walk |
| S & R: | search and recovery |
| Schedule: | the tower hours and days off that a lifeguard works |
| Set: | a group of waves |
| Shine: | forget it |
| Towelside Manner: | the attitude/rapport that a lifeguard has with the public, especially women |
| Tumble Dry: | to get caught in the circular force of a big wave after it has broken; a very humiliating experience |
| Watch the Water: | lifeguarding |
| Workout: | a physical break from the pressure of watching the water |
| Technical Terms | |
| Closing Day: | Labor Day |
| Code 1: | respond |
| Code 2: | respond quickly |
| Code 3: | respond, red lights and siren |
| Code 4: | cancel |
| County Shower: | an on-duty shower |
| "Mayday": | used to signal a boat in distress |
| Opening Day: | Memorial Day |
| Ten-four: | the message has been received and understood |
| Title 17: | The Los Angeles County Beach Ordinance (main ordinance) |
| Rescue Terms | |
| Blitz: | multiple rescues with three or more victims |
| Buffer Zone: | used for a rescue under a pier. A way to prevent swimmers and surfers from being pushed into the pier by the current |
| Climbing the Ladder: | swimming straight up, a sign of a poor swimmer |
| Cross-Chest Method: | used when a victim is unconscious. Only used if there is no neck or back injury |
| Porpoising technique: | a rescue technique in which the lifeguard springs off of the ocean bottom into a shallow dive, grabs sand and pulls himself forward to his feet |
| Saddleback Carry: | used when a victim is unconscious |
| Sky Genie: | a device used for a cliff rescue. It helps the lifeguard to control the speed of his descent |
| Towing a Victim: | using the can to perform a rescue |
| Essential Equipment | |
| Rescue can: | the orange plastic floatation device worn around the neck. "This gives the victim something to float on so the lifeguard can use both his arms and legs to swim," explains Mike |
| Binoculars: | high-powered lenses allowing the lifeguard to survey vast areas |
| Paddleboard: | a long surfboard is used to get out beyond the surf when the victim is out too far for the life guard to swim to, but close enough so that a boat isn't necessary. About 40 pounds, the paddleboat is 12 feet long |
| Two-man dory: | an unsinkable row boat weighing 300 pounds and measuring 21 feet long. With two sets of oars, a pair of lifeguards can row their way through the surf |