The main responsibilities and duties of a lifeguard are:
- Monitor the water activities of bathers
- Prevent water accidents
- Rescue bathers in difficulty
- Carry out first aid interventions
- Make sure that users respect the beach/pool regulations
- Instruct users on the correct behaviors to adopt during water activities
- Give swimming lessons (if enabled)
- Do maintenance of life-saving equipment and equipment
How to Become a Lifeguard? Training and Requirements
Regardless of the previous school background, to practice the profession it is necessary to attend a lifeguard course near me, after which the lifeguard license is obtained.
The training usually includes rescue techniques, medical first aid concepts, BLS (Basic Life Support), and practical resuscitation tests. During the course, many other aspects related to the lifeguard profession are also studied: professional responsibilities, bathing ordinances, meteorology, seafaring knots, and water treatment in the pool. A specific training course can also be provided for the rescue of children or for the surveillance of disabled people in the water.
The exam to obtain the lifeguard certification includes a practical exercise, in which you must demonstrate your ability to swim, over various distances and with different styles, as well as the ability to carry weights in the water (for example, it may be required to recover a weight from the bottom).
Depending on the specific regulations for each country, there may be different types of lifeguard licenses, dedicated for example to rescue in swimming pools, in inland waters (river, lake) or in open waters (sea, ocean). The lifeguard must periodically renew the patents in his possession, and keep in training to remain inadequate physical shape.
Skills of a Lifeguard
Lifeguard jobs require these skills and abilities :
- Excellent swimming skills
- Athletic preparation and physical endurance
- Knowledge of water rescue techniques
- Knowledge of first aid elements
- Ability to conduct rescue boats
- Ability to act promptly in an emergency situation
- High level of attention
- Communication skills
- Sympathy and availability
Lifeguard job opportunities
Once the patent has been obtained, the profession of a lifeguard can be practised in various different contexts. If you are looking for a seasonal job for the summer period, there are many lifeguard jobs at beach clubs. If, on the other hand, you want stable and continuous employment, you need to look for work in indoor facilities (such as indoor swimming pools in fitness centres, spas, hotels …), which need lifeguards all year round.
The career prospects are different: there are those who become head lifeguards, coordinating the activities of various lifeguards, or those who become managers of a swimming pool ( Pool Manager ) or an aquatic system. Or, you can use your skills to become a swimming and aquatic instructor, aqua aerobics instructor, and entertainer specialising in aquatic recreational-recreational activities. It is also possible to dedicate oneself to a specific category of people, such as infants, the disabled, the elderly or those who have to undergo physiotherapy/rehabilitation.
Furthermore, the physical preparation necessary to carry out this profession is an excellent starting point for those who want to pursue a career as a fitness instructor or Personal Trainer.
Also Check: Lifeguard training in New York
Good Reasons To Work As A Lifeguard
Being a lifeguard is a job of great responsibility: basically, it is about saving people’s lives, and you learn first aid concepts that can be useful in every moment of your life. It is a job suitable for people who have great confidence with water, are in excellent physical shape and know how to react to emergency situations while keeping a cool head.
Fortunately, however, emergencies are occasional, and the lifeguard spends most of his time assisting and supervising bathers and interacting with the customers of the swimming pool or bathing establishment. It is therefore a job that allows you to socialize with people, perfect for those who are extroverted and feel at ease around people.
The pay of the lifeguard is good, and there are some positive aspects that should not be overlooked: first, it is a job that allows you to keep fit and tan while you work. In addition, some lifeguard contracts also include accommodation and meals, especially in hotels, resorts and cruise ships.