Expert explains why 'bizarre' lifeguard moment caught on video is actually life saving

An expert has lifted the lid on the 'bizarre' movements lifeguards are often seen making when on duty, with one being filmed on TikTok recently.

When we're on holiday and enjoying some time in the pool, the majority of us are probably completely oblivious to the fact that there are people watching our every movement in order to keep us safe.

Yep, lifeguards certainly don't have easy jobs and are constantly on call to make sure we stay safe while in the water.

And while a recent TikTok video praised them for doing their jobs so well, people were left a little confused by what they saw.

TikToker @miranda_kerckhoff uploaded a short clip of two different lifeguards on patrol at Parrot Island Waterpark in Arkansas, US, which showed them both moving her heads up and down in what appeared to be a rather bizarre manner.

But it turns out there's a method behind what they were doing.

The technique is known as ‘Ellis Scanning’, and it's a way that lifeguards can ensure the entirety of the area is fully scanned so they won’t miss anything.

Essentially, the method includes scanning in a particular way to make sure you don’t miss anything in your pool.

At Jeff Ellis Management, a company who manages pools and swimming lessons, they also do it too.

On their website, they explain that the Ellis Scanning method is ‘a 10/20 standard which represents the time a lifeguard has to scan their zone in the pool, and then, if need be, respond and make a save’.

It reads: “The 10 being ten seconds to scan the pool and the 20 being twenty seconds to respond and make a save. This standard is paramount to our lifeguards and helps us maintain the company-wide goal of ZERO drownings.

“To aid in maintaining our 10/20 standard we also implement a five-minute rule. This is the practice of every five minutes, having our guards stand up out of their current position, actively scanning their zone with their hand, and clearing their zone if they find no guest in distress at any level of their zone.

“This five-minute rule serves two purposes. It keeps our guards alert and attentive by requiring them to stand up and change their body position every five minutes while also requiring them to scan their zone in accordance with their 10/20 standard.”

In the comments, people were quick to hop on and share how much they love the Ellis Scanning method, calling it the best practice for lifeguards anywhere.

One person wrote: “I use the ellis scanning method for absolutely everything. I use it more than I'd like to admit.”

"As an Ellis guard- finally seeing a video of someone not making fun of us for our scanning is so refreshing," another said.

And an experienced lifeguard shared: “As a lifeguard of 10 years, this makes me so happy ellis scanning is superior for a reason!”