What is the purpose of 10:20 scanning?

The purpose of 10:20 scanning is to enhance safety by ensuring that lifeguards are vigilant and ready to respond promptly to incidents in their designated area. This technique emphasizes the importance of scanning the pool environment effectively within a 10-second interval, allowing lifeguards to observe all activity and identify any potential hazards or swimmers in distress. Additionally, the 20-second response time ensures that they can reach an incident quickly enough to provide assistance or intervention when necessary. This approach not only maximizes the safety of patrons but also helps lifeguards maintain a proactive stance in monitoring their zone, which is critical in preventing emergencies. The other options do not align with the primary responsibilities of a lifeguard or the critical principles of supervising a swimming environment.