Aquatics Safety Expert Gerald Dworkin

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Gerald M. Dworkin is a professional Aquatics Safety & Water Rescue Consultant for Lifesaving Resources, LLC. He has an extensive background in Aquatics Safety, Lifeguard Training and Operations, Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Surf Rescue, and Ice Rescue, EMS and Firefighting. Along with several textbooks, he has written and published over 40 articles, and has consulted in over 500 drowning and aquatic injury litigation cases as both a Plaintiff and Defense Expert Witness.

Expert Witness Services

As an expert witness, Mr. Dworkin evaluates the Standard of Care as it pertains to Incident Prevention, Victim Recognition, and Emergency Management and provides accident reconstruction, depositions, written reports, and courtroom testimony.

His Areas of Expertise Include:

Lifesaving, Lifeguarding and Aquatics Safety
Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Surf Rescue, and Ice Rescue
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) & Basic Life Support
Mechanisms & Physiology of Drowning
Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention and Emergency Management
Lifeguard Training and Operations
Mechanisms and Emergency Management of Diving Accidents

• View Gerald Dworkin's Consulting Curriculum Vitae

1/15/2015 · Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Need for First Responders to be Trained and Equipped to Perform Domestic Animal Rescues

By: Gerald Dworkin

Based on our research of ice rescue incidents and fatalities during the years 2006 & 2007, approximately 85% of the incidents were initiated as a result of humans venturing out onto the ice to rescue a domestic animal. The purpose of this article is three-fold. First, we need to educate the public about the need to control their pets and to prevent them from going out onto the ice because no ice should ever be considered as being "safe ice". Second, we need to also educate the public to call 911, rather than to make an attempt to rescue their pets that have fallen through the ice. And, third, First Responder agencies and their personnel need to be trained and equipped to properly, effectively, and safely respond to domestic animal rescues on and through the ice.

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12/5/2014 · Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue

By: Gerald Dworkin

In February 2004, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. The purpose of this standard is to minimize threats to rescuers while conducting operations at technical SAR incidents, and the standard deals specifically with identifying and establishing levels of functional capability for conducting technical rescue operations safely and effectively. Although these standards were designed for all types of Technical Rescue operations, they also address water and ice rescue operations.

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10/28/2014 · Aquatics Safety

Aquatics Safety: In the Rhythm of Saving Lives

By: Gerald Dworkin

On July 13, 2004, a 55-year-old man collapsed in the Medina (Ohio) Aquatic and Fitness Center. The aquatic manager for the city, Darlene Donkin, responded and assessed him to be in cardiac arrest. Although Donkin was a CPR instructor and taught more than 100 classes on the subject, she had never actually performed it in a life-and-death situation prior to this incident.

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9/16/2014 · Aquatics Safety

Cold Calls: Ice Rescues Pose Unique Challenges For Responders

By: Gerald Dworkin

The following incidents and places, as well as the circumstances surrounding them, are fictional. On the Scene Dispatch at 16:04 hrs: KGT-597 to Rescue 15, respond to Bakersville Pond off Cemetery Island for a report of a dog through the ice, approximately 100 yards from shore.

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8/7/2014 · Aquatics Safety

Hands-Only CPR Simplifies Saving Lives for Bystanders

By: Gerald Dworkin

DALLAS, April 1 - Chest compressions alone, or Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), can save lives and can be used to help an adult who suddenly collapses, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.

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7/2/2014 · Aquatics Safety

Hyperventilation Induced Blackout (HIB)

By: Gerald Dworkin

Shallow Water Blackout (SWB) vs. Hyperventilation-Induced Blackout (HIB)....

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4/9/2014 · Accident Prevention & Safety

No Ice Is Safe Ice!

By: Gerald Dworkin

TWO BOYS, age 11, are ice skating at a local pond. Suddenly, the ice cracks and one boy falls through into 34 degree Fahrenheit water. His friend runs to his aid, and potential tragedy grows as the second boy is pulled into the ice cold water by the panic stricken child already in the water. Unless help is immediately available, both boys will perish within a few minutes, either from drowning or hypothermia (decreased body temperature).

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2/27/2014 · Accident Prevention & Safety

Rescue From Submerged Vehicles

By: Gerald Dworkin

Based on a 1961 study at Williamston, MI, conducted by the Michigan State Police, the Indiana University Health and Safety Department, the Michigan Highway Department, and the American Red Cross, it was estimated that approximately 400 persons lose their lives as a result of being trapped in automobiles that have plunged into the water.

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1/24/2014 · Aquatics Safety

Swimming Pool-Related Drownings & Injuries

By: Gerald Dworkin

Although showing a slight downward trend, U.S. pool-related drownings have see-sawed for the past several years - despite reinforcement of safety messages in the media.

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12/19/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Meeting the Standard of Care for Spinal Injuries

By: Gerald Dworkin

Properly recognizing and managing suspected spinal injuries caused by head-first entries into the water require high levels of training. Lifeguards and other water rescue personnel must be able to evaluate the signs and symptoms associated with spinal trauma and the manner in which an injury occurs. The rescuer should assume that a spinal injury exists if the forces causing the trauma were sufficient to damage the spine.

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11/14/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Firefighter Survival in the Water

By: Gerald Dworkin

In the event a firefighter is suddenly and unexpectedly immersed in deep water while wearing full turnout gear, the firefighter's survival is dependent upon the actions taken during the first critical seconds of the immersion. The incidence of this type of emergency increases when firefighters are fighting apartment fires around a swimming pool, during suppression activities on and around piers and docks, as well as during a fall-through incident in which the firefighter falls through a floor into a basement filled with water.

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10/16/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Prevention of Torso Reflex and the Proper Use of the Stearns' Cold Water/Ice Rescue Suit

By: Gerald Dworkin

The purpose of this article is to describe the proper use and application of the Stearns Cold Water/ Ice Rescue Suit by Fire, Rescue, and other Public Safety Personnel during cold water and ice rescue incidents. This article has been specifically written to address the prevention of Torso Reflex or Inhalation Response during the rescuer's entry into cold water.

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9/25/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Low-Water Crossings: "The Hidden Danger"

By: Gerald Dworkin

Nearly half of all flood related deaths occur in vehicles. Most of these deaths take place when people drive into flooded highway dips or low drainage areas.

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8/22/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Emergency Procedures During Thunder & Lightning Storms

By: Gerald Dworkin

In 1996, a tragic accident occurred on a soccer field at Northeast Park in the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District in Illinois. After a short rain delay in the game, the skies started clearing and a referee decided to resume play.

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8/8/2013 · Pools and Spas (Recreational)

Pool & Spa Entrapment

By: Gerald Dworkin

Since 1980, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has documented over 18 incidents, including five deaths, involving children between the ages of two and 14 who were injured or died due to body part entrapment involving the drain of a swimming pool, wading pool or spa.

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7/18/2013 · Aquatics Safety

The Heimlich Controversy in Near-Drowning Resuscitation

By: Gerald Dworkin

As a result of renewed electronic and print media exposure, the Heimlich Controversy has once more reared its head creating a confusing message for lifeguard and other rescue personnel regarding the resuscitation procedures to be used when confronted with a near-drowning resuscitation incident.

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6/21/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Public Access Defibrillation

By: Gerald Dworkin

A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association Task Force on Automatic External Defibrillation

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5/29/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Management of Aquatic Spinal Injuries

By: Gerald Dworkin

All public and semi-public aquatic facilities should be equipped with appropriate spinal immobilization devices (SIDs), in addition to cervical collars, lateral stabilization items (i.e. blankets, towels, sand bags, and so forth), and appropriate immobilization material (i.e. straps and bandages).

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4/23/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Mouth-To-Mask Rescue Breathing and Comparisons of Personal Resuscitation Masks

By: Gerald Dworkin

Because of the major health concerns today, there is a major reluctance among emergency service personnel to perform direct mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing on an unknown victim.

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3/20/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Spinal Imobilization In Deep Water

By: Gerald Dworkin

For the past three issues, jems has presented a thorough review of spinal immobilization devices that are used in traditional rescue situations.

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2/13/2013 · Aquatics Safety

Teaching CPR in the Schools

By: Gerald Dworkin

Each year approximately one million people in the United States suffer from acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) of which approximately 700,000 die. About 350,000 of these fatalities occur outside the hospital, usually within two hours after the onset of symptoms of a heart disorder.

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11/29/2012 · Aquatics Safety

Lifeguards Need to Train and Pre-Plan For Incidents

By: Gerald Dworkin

During an emergency is not when you want to discover that your equipment is incompatible with your EMS service. Avoiding that fate can save a lot, including a life.

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10/1/2012 · Aquatics Safety

Prevention and Management of Torso Reflex

By: Gerald Dworkin

Torso Reflex, also known as Gasp Reflex , Inhalation Response, or Cold Water Shock, is caused by sudden immersion into water colder than 70 degrees F. Sudden immersion into cold water triggers an involuntary reflexive torso gasp that can cause the person to aspirate water into his/her airway and lungs, which can lead to laryngospasm, disorientation, panic, and the loss of any physical ability to swim or remain afloat.

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3/19/2012 · Aquatics Safety

Risk Management: Compatibility Issues

By: Gerald Dworkin

I’ve always advocated the need for aquatics facilities to collaborate and coordinate lifeguard and water rescue training and emergency operations with community fire, rescue, emergency medical services (EMS) and law enforcement agencies.

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12/20/2011 · Aquatics Safety

Working With EMS Can Enhance Your Rescuer Services

By: Gerald Dworkin

For aquatics facilities to effectively integrate rescue and safety services with those of the local fire and rescue agencies and emergency medical services (EMS), it's imperative that all agencies establish collaborative agreements and cooperative training programs.

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10/7/2011 · Aquatics Safety

Risk Management: Standard for Technical Rescue

By: Gerald Dworkin

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes standards for the Fire and Rescue industry.

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9/25/2009 · Aquatics Safety

Preparing for Swiftwater Rescue Incidents

By: Gerald Dworkin

In February 2004, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue (SAR) Incidents. The purpose of this standard was to minimize threats to rescuers while conducting operations at technical SAR incidents.

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9/24/2009 · Aquatics Safety

Escape and Rescue from Submerged Vehicles

By: Gerald Dworkin

Each year, there are approximately 1,500 incidents and 600 deaths occur involving vehicles that have gone off the road and plummeted into the water. Therefore, the public needs to plan for these types of emergencies by (A) rehearsing the steps necessary for a successful self-rescue from a vehicle in the water, and (B) having the rescue/escape tools readily available for use during this type of emergency situation.

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