Lower Makefield Township’s swimming pools complex resembled a movie set recently when American Red Cross staff members and others hired by the ARC gathered on July 26 and 27 to shoot videos and photographs to be used for lifeguard training.
The large complex on Edgewood Road near the township municipal building has an Olympic-size pool with diving boards and slides, a lap pool, intermediate pool and kiddy pool.
Lower Makefield was one of two aquatic facilities in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey and one in Maryland to be used for such sessions this year, said Nichole Steffens, director of Product Management for American Red Cross Training Services.
“Lower Makefield is a Red Cross training provider and was recommended by one of our Red Cross aquatic representatives,” she said. “It was a great option in terms of aquatic facility and programming variety. We were absolutely thrilled when they graciously offered to host our video shoot.”
It was the first time Lower Makefield’s pools have been the site for ARC video-photo sessions, Steffens added. The large crew taking shots enlisted the help of many adults and children who go to the pools to serve as “actors.”
Each year, about 330,000 lifeguards are trained using ARC lifeguarding programs. Among the topics covered in videos and still photographs shot at Lower Makefield and other pools are surveillance, rescue skills and first said, Steffens said.
“Every few years, we update our lifeguarding to incorporate the latest science and treatment guidelines,” she noted. “These updates include new training materials such as instructor and participant manuals, course presentations and videos. Since the Red Cross doesn’t own pools, we look to our aquatic training partners like Lower Makefield to host our video and photo shoots.”
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