Those who use the pool at the Woolwich Memorial Centre can rest assured that the township's lifeguards are ensuring their safety skills are up-to-date.
This past Friday, all lifeguards took part in an intensive morning training session, practicing what to do in emergency situations.
In one scenario, Greg Misener played the part of a swimmer who dove off the diving board in the deep end of the pool and suffered a spinal injury.
The pool was quickly cleared by one long whistle blast, and Vicki Wannamaker jumped in to aid the injured swimmer.
"All staff go through this type of training," said aquatic supervisor Adrienne Schmidt.
As the spinal injury scenario played out, a group of lifeguard secured Misener to an emergency board, then hoisted him out of the pool to check his vital signs.
Schmidt indicated that all lifeguards must hold standard first-aid with CPR C-level training, along with their life-guarding certification.
A total of 10 lifeguards took part in the training, five of whom are high-school age and five of whom attend university or college.
LIfeguard training is ongoing. The lifeguards had taken part in the training session two weeks prior to Friday's training, and another session is slated for later in August.
Schmidt said Elmira hosted a 7-hour regional lifeguard training event earlier this summer.
Ten full-time lifeguards were on staff at the pool this summer, a number that Schmidt expects to climb to 30 or more once the summer ends.
The pool has been put to good use since it officially opened this past September.
Last month, the Elmira Aquaducks hosted the South Western Ontario Swimming Association semi-finals.
In June, the Trigator for Kids triathlon used the facility, as well as local high school students for the annual Tinman Triathlon.