Photo by Becky Polaski Paramedic Missy Lecker, far right, and EMT Kevin Costanzo look on as lifeguards at the St. Marys Community Pool strap mock accident victim Charlie O’Leary to a backboard on Wednesday night.

By Becky Polaski

Staff Writer

Two mock accidents where held at the St. Marys Community Pool on Wednesday night in conjunction with the St. Marys Area Ambulance Service Inc. 

A sign near the ticket window at the entrance to the pool indicated that a mock accident would occur sometime between 6:30 and 8 p.m. to make pool patrons aware of what was happening.

Several lifeguards also discussed the benefits of holding the mock accidents.

Lifeguard Brendan Mulcahy, a lifeguard for the past four years, explained that it was beneficial to have the opportunity to practice various scenarios.

“I think it is a great program that gives us a real scenario to get us used to the stress and decision making that goes into it,” Mulcahy said.

Lifeguard Erik Dauber also discussed the challenges that are faced by the lifeguards not assisting with the rescue effort.

“We’ve got to make sure that we keep the crowd under control,” Dauber said.

The first accident involved a young girl becoming injured using one of the pool’s diving boards. Hannah Eckert, age 10, played the first victim. Her 7-year-old sister Lauren also assisted with the mock accident along with her mother. The second incident involved concession stand worker Charlie O’Leary slipping and falling into the pool while carrying boxes of ice cream to the concession stand. He then had to pretend to be unconscious throughout the rescue effort.

 “I felt very safe,” O’Leary said following the drill. “I fell in and within a few seconds I think they had responded and someone was over and helping me. It felt like everything was going very quickly and very smoothly, which was good because none of (the lifeguards) knew what was going on beforehand.”

Prior to the drills, the lifeguard staff at the pool was only informed that mock accidents would take place. They were not given a specific time that the accidents would occur or told who the victims would be.

O’Leary explained that the staff’s emergency response was extremely impressive.

“I’m not really familiar with the (rescue) procedures. I have never taken any lifeguarding classes, so I really didn’t know what was going on, but I never felt unsafe. I knew that they knew what was going on because they all were talking to each other and keeping organized and communicating. That was impressive,” O’Leary said. “Periodically (the lifeguards) would ask if I could hear them, and before they did anything they would explain to me what they were doing even though I didn’t respond.”

 Pool Manager Greg Snelick noted that both mock accidents were coordinated by Head Lifeguard Rachel Schreiber and Lifeguard Chelsea Mulcahy.

“I can’t do anything here at the pool without Rachel and Chelsea,” Snelick said.

Schreiber explained that with their first drill the ambulance staff showed up if it were a real scenario.

“They were not able to see if we did anything wrong or if we had to fix anything,” Schreiber said.

For the second drill the ambulance staff stayed on scene and observed the life guards as they rescued the victim.

Paramedic Missy Lecker assisted with the mock accidents and explained that she has been involved with the annual drill for the past eight years.

“They didn’t anything like this eight years ago with this,” Lecker said. “They have come a long way since that. They have done a great job. I think it is great practice for them because obviously with a big pool like this there is so much that can go wrong, especially with the kids.”

Also assisting with the mock accident were Paramedic Robert Sorg and EMT Kevin Costanzo.  

“It is nice to work with them and see their faces,” Schreiber said. “They know who we are and we know who they are so when they come they know who they are looking for.”

Snelick added that he greatly appreciated the members of the St. Marys Area Ambulance Service assisting with the mock accident.

“I think the goal is to make sure that we work together as a group so they are prepared and we are prepared and when they come to the pool they know what to expect,” Snelick said.