The mouthpiece prevents germs - but I believe it got started being used when the "germ" people were worried about was HIV. The lifeguard should have figured out that the kid likely would have been safe to perform CPR on.
All those CPR courses where everyone is being taught to perform it - I don't think they insist that everyone carry mouthpieces around in their purses or pockets just in case!
No, but they recommend it. I keep one in my glove compartment. The blame will be on whoever forget to keep the lifeguards supplied.
While I agree with you to a point, most modern First Aid kits have the mouthpiece in them. So this begs the question if a trained lifeguard doesn't have the appropriate kits, what the heck is going on. Part of lifeguard training, at least when I had it, included basic first aid along with CPR etc. Kits were stationed all over the place and you carried one in the beach bag!
The mouthguard preceeded HIV.
The concern if about drug resistant TB, drug resistant bacteria.
The kid survived. His Mother was on the scene, seems she bears as much responsibility as the guard. I hear from lifeguards stories of parents who don't watch kids at pools expecting the lifeguard to do their babysitting.