What should lifeguards know how to do

At a pool or beach, lifeguards can oversee many people. They need to command authority and respect to maintain a safe environment. Additionally, after working as a lifeguard for one season or more, you might be asked to lead or manage other staff members. Lifeguards work in a diverse array of environments. Some work for small pools, while others work for large aquatic centers and water parks or at beaches.

However, there are a few things that any lifeguard can expect out of their work environment:. Most lifeguards work outside. They may be positioned in direct sunlight for long periods of time. They will need to wear sunscreen, hats and other protective gear. They need to stay awake, alert and ready to jump into action should the need arise. Some lifeguards work closely with children and teens to provide swim lessons and swim team coaching.

Most lifeguard jobs are seasonal. Lifeguards should be prepared to find other work during the off-season. Most pools and beaches are busy on weekends, holidays and evenings.

Lifeguards have flexible, variable schedules that can change according to weather, special events and staffing needs. Lifeguards need to be strong swimmers. Joining a swim or diving team can help you strengthen your skills. To efficiently and effectively keep swimmers safe, you need to be physically prepared. Some lifeguarding jobs require physical tests that will measure your swimming skills.

A combination of swimming workouts and cross-training can help you get ready to apply for lifeguarding jobs. Lifeguards need to be certified.

Part of your role will involve setting up or packing up the facility and equipment. This includes checking emergency equipment and supplies, assisting with pool water treatment, checking the environment for hazards and completing appropriate log books and reports. Lifeguards need to enforce the rules in order to prevent incidents from occurring and keep everyone safe.

This can lead to some difficult conversations and even conflict. You may, for example, have to ask parents to better supervise their children or remind a bather they cannot take a drink into the pool. This requires good communication and conflict management skills to resolve such situations as positively as possible, which can be stressful and frustrating, something all lifeguards need to make sure they are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for.

In an aquatic industry survey, lifeguards told us that the most rewarding and enjoyable elements of the role are working as part of a team and helping people, whether that be colleagues or patrons.

Check out and download the full pool lifeguard profile below. If this sounds like you, and you are up for the challenge, find out more about Royal Life Saving's Pool Lifeguard courses. What Does it Take to Become a Lifeguard? Everything you need to know about how to become a lifeguard, what to expect day-to-day, and future career prospects. Flexible working hours Most lifeguards work part time and casually, and enjoy the flexibility this brings.

Career pathways After gaining experience working as a lifeguard, you might become a lifeguard team coordinator, and then a duty manager, and eventually an aquatic facilities manager. What does it involve day-to-day? Reliable —will people be able to rely on you: will you get to work on time and be committed to doing it well at all times?

Mature —are you responsible enough to treat this work seriously and act as a leader and team member? Courteous —will you be able to be polite when you have to enforce the rules and when interacting with guests? Positive —can you keep up a positive attitude even when things go wrong? Professional —do you have the qualities of a professional? Will people see you following the rules and doing the job to the best of your ability or slacking off and goofing around?

Fit —will you work on staying fit and healthy so that you can be available to do your best work every day? Quick-thinking —are you able to make quick decisions under pressure? Ready to learn —are you willing to take feedback and learn new skills?

Communicative —do you have good communication skills and do you know when to keep things confidential? Lifeguarding or Lifesaving When you first look into becoming a lifeguard, there are a lot of resources online.

Starting Life as a Lifeguard To get started, you will need to take a class. Lifeguard Training Course There are two main parts to most training courses, including the American Red Cross training. Swim yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or both. Swimming on your back or side is not allowed. Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.

Complete a timed course in 1 minute, 40 seconds or less. The course consists of swimming 20 yards without goggles, surface diving to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a pound object, swimming another 20 yards holding the object so that your face is above the water, and exiting the water without using a ladder or steps.

Rescue equipment Rescue flotation device Masks and snorkel, especially for beach lifeguards Binoculars Markey buoys Swim fins Medical First aid kits for minor and major injuries Spinal stabilization tool Bloodborne pathogen safety equipment Oxygen tank Cardiac defibrillator for trained staff only Communication Whistles Air horns Megaphones Flags Sirens Devices to communicate with other lifeguards phones or walkie-talkies Devices to reach emergency services quickly Personal Needs Sunscreen Proper attire Sun protection devices Water bottles Reporting Incident forms Check-in lists Staff schedules Finding a Job Now that you have all the skills you need, you are ready to get out there and start guarding lives, as the name of the job implies.

School —if you're a student in college or high school, ask your guidance counselor or career center staff. Training program —ask the staff at your training program if they know of anyone who is hiring. They might be able to connect you with someone looking for a lifeguard. Local pools or parks —visit local pools or water parks or their websites to see if they are hiring any new lifeguards. Community organizations —some cities and towns have a parks and recreation department that hires lifeguards for the recreation areas they manage.

Although different studies showed different losses over varying time frames, it has been shown that lifeguards need to monitor their alertness and take periodic breaks. By stepping away from scanning and allowing for a rest period, a lifeguard is able to restore his vigilance and be better prepared to monitor the swimmers. Lifeguards must be trained and able to open an airway in the water with or without the use of a flotation aid and once the victim is on land.

Lifeguards should also master techniques to prevent vomiting of swallowed water. A lifeguard should know how to prepare a victim for transportation to a hospital in a manner that protects the airway.

Cervical Spine Injuries: Drowning incidents may be accompanied by spinal injuries. When a spinal injury is possible, due to accidents related to diving, water skiing, surfing, or other activities, lifeguards need to modify their rescue strategies to protect the spine. If a spinal injury is suspected, establishing a clear airway takes priority over stabilizing a spinal injury. Once the airway is open, the victim can be immobilized on a spine board for transport to a hospital.

Supplemental Oxygen: Lifeguards can use supplemental oxygen during a rescue, as long as its use does not slow the pace of the rescue.