Shadow Drop Vigilance Audit (Mannequin Recognition)

Unannounced drill audit template for verifying lifeguard recognition and response to a submerged manikin within the 10/20 Protection Standard. Used by aquatics supervisors and safety auditors to document compliance with vigilance protocols aligned with OSHA and NFPA aquatic safety guidelines.

Drill Setup & Conditions

• Facility Name
  Name of the aquatic facility where the drill is being conducted.
• Drill Date and Time
  Date and time the manikin was deployed into the water.
• Guard Under Evaluation — Zone / Stand Assignment
  Identify the zone, stand number, or station assigned to the guard being evaluated. Do NOT record the guard's name on this form until the debrief section to preserve audit integrity.
• Was the drill unannounced to the guard being evaluated?
  Confirm the guard had no prior knowledge of this specific drill. Announced drills do not satisfy unannounced vigilance audit requirements.
• Pool Zone / Drop Location
  Select the zone where the manikin was submerged.
• Bather Load at Time of Drill
  Approximate patron density in the guard's zone at the time of manikin deployment.
• Water Visibility Conditions
  Assess water clarity at the drop location. Poor visibility may affect manikin recognition and should be documented as a separate facility deficiency.
• Auditor / Evaluator Name
  Full name and title of the person conducting this audit.

Guard Scanning Behavior (Pre-Recognition)

• Guard was in their designated zone and on-stand/post at time of drop
• Guard was actively scanning (moving eyes/head across zone) — not stationary-staring
  Passive staring without active eye movement does not constitute effective scanning. Document observed behavior.
• Guard's scanning pattern covered the full assigned zone
  Evaluate whether the guard's scan reached all corners and depths of their zone, including the bottom.
• Guard was free of distractions at time of drop
  Note any observed distractions (phone use, patron conversation, looking away from zone). If 'No', describe in comments.
• Observed distraction type (if applicable)
  Select all distractions observed. Leave blank if none.

Manikin Recognition & 10/20 Timing

• Did the guard recognize the submerged manikin?
  A 'No' result is a critical failure. The guard did not identify the simulated drowning victim.
• Time from manikin submersion to guard recognition (seconds)
  Record elapsed seconds from the moment the manikin was fully submerged to the moment the guard visually identified it. Must be ≤ 10 seconds to meet the 10/20 standard.
• Recognition time met the ≤ 10-second standard
  Confirm whether the recorded recognition time is within the 10-second scan standard.
• Time from manikin submersion to guard response initiation (seconds)
  Record elapsed seconds from manikin submersion to the guard's first physical response action (blowing whistle, entering water, activating backup). Must be ≤ 20 seconds to meet the 10/20 standard.
• Response initiation met the ≤ 20-second standard
  Confirm whether the recorded response time is within the 20-second response standard.
• Guard's initial response action
  Select the first observable action taken by the guard upon recognition.
• Photo documentation of manikin drop location
  Capture a photo of the pool zone where the manikin was deployed to document visibility and conditions.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Activation

• Guard activated backup coverage signal before leaving post
  Guard should signal adjacent guards or supervisor before entering the water to ensure zone coverage is maintained.
• Backup guard(s) responded and covered the vacated zone
  Verify that the backup rotation system functioned as designed. A failure here indicates a systemic EAP gap, not just an individual guard deficiency.
• Guard retrieved or was prepared to use appropriate rescue equipment (rescue tube / buoy)
  Guard should enter the water with a rescue tube or buoy per standard rescue protocol.
• Patron clearing / pool evacuation initiated (if required by facility EAP)
  Select the patron management action taken during the drill response.
• Supervisor / manager notified within drill protocol timeframe
  Confirm that the on-duty supervisor was notified as part of EAP activation.

Post-Drill Debrief & Corrective Actions

• Guard's Full Name
  Record the evaluated guard's full name for the official audit record (entered post-drill).
• Overall Drill Result
  Select the overall outcome of this shadow drop drill.
• Immediate debrief conducted with guard following drill
  All drills — pass or fail — require an immediate debrief. Skipping the debrief is itself a supervisory deficiency.
• Corrective action assigned (if applicable)
  Select the corrective action assigned for any deficiencies identified.
• Corrective Action Due Date
  If a corrective action was assigned, record the required completion date.
• Additional Auditor Notes
  Document any additional observations, contextual factors, or follow-up items not captured in the structured fields above.
• Auditor Signature
  Auditor signature certifying the accuracy of this drill record.