When a life-and-death situation presents itself, will you remember skills learned from training and be able to successfully conquer the situation? This question was front and center for Glenwood Hot Springs Resort Assistant Aquatics Manager Kenia Contreras and three pool lifeguards on Aug. 30, 2023. The answer was a resounding yes, and the result was a very thankful Terry Tracy, who faced a major medical emergency while playing handball at the resort’s athletic club.
The resort couldn’t be prouder of Contreras, 24, Matthew Helms, 16, Charlie Mauer, 16, and Landon Boren, 19. Helms arrived on the scene first and immediately radioed for help. Contreras and Mauer began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the unresponsive Tracy, who is a track and field coach at Steamboat Springs High School and a former football coach. Meanwhile, Helms and Boren prepared the automated external defibrillator (AED) located in the athletic club. The team of four revived and stabilized Tracy until emergency services arrived to take over.
Although Contreras had experience administering CPR in two other situations, it was the first CPR and AED experience for the three young men who came through with flying colors. Two days after the incident, Tracy returned to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort to meet and thank the four pool employees. Nearly four months later, he attended a very special awards presentation.
Expressing Gratitude
On Dec. 22, the hot springs lifeguards—Boren, Contreras, Helms and Mauer—were formally recognized with the prestigious American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, which is for Red Cross-trained professional responders and healthcare professionals acting while on duty. The award was created in 2018 and has been awarded to only 2,537 individuals for saving 1,292 lives worldwide.
“A hero is a person admired for achievements and noble qualities, one who shows great courage and is a person who’s idealized for outstanding achievements. I think saving lives without question fits all those definitions, and that’s why we are here today,” emphasized Christie Caster, executive director of the American Red Cross Western Slope Chapter and presenter of the award.
“I don’t remember much. I wasn’t ‘there’ for most of it,” says Tracy. “I have come down about once a month from Steamboat to play handball with a group of guys here for about the past 30 years. I am grateful I was here when it happened. I don’t think I would be here otherwise.”
Glenwood Springs resident Martin Pearson, who is Tracy’s friend and an athletic club member, remembers the day in vivid detail. “I ran for help, screaming that someone needed to come right now. It felt like it took forever, but by the time the first lifeguard was with him I realized it had been less than 30 seconds since Terry had collapsed,” he recalls. “They had him fully surrounded working on him in no time. What they did was amazing.”
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool Manager Taylor Mays also received recognition with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Instructor Award.
“At Glenwood Hot Springs, we are in such a fortunate position with our safety team. We have such a great group of individuals that take pride in providing the highest quality of care possible. This was put on display on Aug. 30, and I couldn’t be prouder of the actions taken,” Mays emphasizes. “Their countless hours of training and passion for their craft truly paid off not only with the care provided, but also the leadership of Kenia during the response.”
Rigorous & Regular Training
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort provides American Red Cross training and certification and aims to provide the highest quality CPR/AED and lifeguarding courses on the Western Slope. The resort has six certified instructors including Mays.
In addition, the lifeguards at the world’s largest hot springs pool attend mandatory four-hour trainings every month. The hands-on sessions often stress seasonal pool safety, but the lifeguards also train at various sites on the resort’s large property to build familiarity with every location and to have the highest level of efficiency when responding to an emergency away from the pool deck.
When an incident occurs, lifeguards must be able respond in a split second, assess a guest’s condition and provide appropriate care or summon more advanced help. To keep lifeguards’ American Red Cross certifications current and their skills sharp, the monthly training also revisits CPR, AEDs and other critical first aid. The resort has AEDs located at the pool, athletic club, lodge and within an additional emergency response bag at Shoshone Chutes in Sopris Splash Zone. The trainings also provide the latest techniques and educational information.
Safety at the Forefront
Lifeguards are always present at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. The quantity of lifeguards needed is based on the season, number of guests and if Sopris Splash Zone is open. While the number of lifeguards stays steady at around 30 for much of the year, the number swells to more than 80 in the summer.
While some pools across the nation have struggled to hire enough lifeguards in recent years, the number at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has remained strong, demonstrating high regard for the pool’s initiatives and the resort’s positive reputation as an employer.
“When on vacation, receiving care from a lifeguard may be the last thing on your to-do list. When a crisis emerges, however, a highly trained responder can make all the difference. Having a passionate and dedicated lifeguard team is a luxury that we are proud to have here at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort,” Mays says. “It’s the individuals that can make a difference, and I wouldn’t trade this team for anything. If you have any interest in joining our team, don’t hesitate to apply. We are always looking to build on our talented group.”