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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
Save lives, earn money, stay in shape, and have fun as a lifeguard Lifeguarding For Dummies will give you insight into what it takes to be a lifeguard, and how to train and prepare to be a lifesaver. Lifeguarding is a fun, challenging, and rewarding job that gives you the unique ability to provide your community with a safe place to swim. It also requires quick decision-making and provides you with valuable lifelong skills, such as CPR and first aid, leadership, strong communication, and teamwork. This book walks you through the process of training, preparing for certification, and finding a job as a lifeguard. Good lifeguards are in high demand right now--check out this great job with the help of Dummies. * Learn about the essential skills that are needed to become a lifeguard * Decide whether lifeguarding is the right job for you * Understand the basic types of lifeguarding jobs and how to get certified * Try fun swimming workouts to get you prepared for lifeguarding tests This fun book is perfect for anyone who wants to explore the possibility of becoming a lifeguard, gain some basic knowledge and prep for tests, and learn about the lifestyle of the lifeguarding community.
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Lifeguarding For Dummies®
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Copyright © 2023 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2023934628
ISBN: 978-1-119-98619-5 (pbk); 978-1-119-98621-8 (ebk); 978-1-119-98620-1 (ebk)
Lifeguarding For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Lifeguarding For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Lifeguarding
Chapter 1: Lifeguarding 101
The Importance of Lifeguarding
The Perks of Lifeguarding
The Tough Side of Being a Lifeguard
Considering What It Takes to Be a Lifeguard
Considering Where Lifeguards Put Their Skills to Use
Chapter 2: The Elements of Lifeguarding
There’s More to Lifeguarding than Just Sitting in the Sun
Understanding the Effects of Water
Understanding the Effects of the Sun
Understanding the Science of Drowning
Getting to Know the Equipment You’ll Use
First Aid Techniques You Need to Know
Chapter 3: The History of Lifeguarding
Unearthing the Origins of Lifeguarding
Modern-Day Lifesaving: Lifeguarding in the 21st Century
Looking at How Lifeguards Are Portrayed in Media
Part 2: Lifeguarding in the Different Facilities
Chapter 4: The Pool and Waterpark Lifeguard
Knowing What It Takes to Be a Pool Lifeguard
Maintaining Your Facility
The Biggest Danger: Head, Neck Back/Spinal Injuries
Blowing the Whistle on Bad Behavior
Having Eyes in the Back of Your Head
Chapter 5: The Stillwater Lifeguard
Knowing What It Takes to Be a Stillwater Lifeguard
Understanding the Silent but Deadly Nature of Water
Maintaining Your Facility
Chapter 6: The Ocean Rescue Lifeguard
Knowing What It Takes to Be an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard
Avoiding the Biggest Danger: Rip Currents
Maintaining Your Facility
Enjoying Recreational Activities
Chapter 7: Lifeguarding as a Career
Seeing What Opportunities Are Available
Location Makes a Difference
Choosing a Career that Won’t Be Replaced by Technology
Part 3: Training and Preparation
Chapter 8: Diving into Training Workouts
Workouts for Strength and Stamina
Working Out in Preparation for a Certification Test
Three Sprint Swimming Workouts
Three Distance Swimming Workouts
Stepping on the Track
Three Distance Running Workouts
Three Sprint Running Workouts
Chapter 9: Staying in Shape All Year
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Chapter 10: Working on In-Service Training and Drills
Running First Aid Drills
Running Through Mock Water Rescues
Handling Specialized Equipment
Part 4: Exploring Other Lifeguarding Activities
Chapter 11: Working Outside of Your Lifeguard Facility
Lifeguarding and Water Safety in the Private and Public Sectors
Checking Out the Types of Gigs You Can Get
Balancing Your Full-Time Job and Side Gigs
Chapter 12: The Sport of Surf Lifesaving
Competing for Lifeguarding Excellence
Demonstrating Your Skills in Different Relays and Events
Entering Competitions
Prepping to Compete
Chapter 13: Starting Early: Junior Lifeguard Programs
Introducing Junior Lifeguard Programs
Working with Junior Lifeguards as an Instructor
Entering Competitions at the Junior Level
Chapter 14: Joining a Professional Organization
Enjoying the Benefits of Professional Organizations
Seeing What Professional Organizations Are Available
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 15: The Lifeguard’s Ten Commandments
Watch the Water
Educate the Public
Protect Yourself from the Sun
Enforce the Rules
Know Your Facility
Practice Makes Perfect
When in Doubt, Go!
When Thunder Roars, Stay Indoors
Be Professional
Talk to Your Senior Guards and Heed Their Advice
Chapter 16: Ten Tools You Need in Your Backpack
A Pair of Sunglasses
A Bottle of Sunscreen
A Whistle
Your Bathing Suit
A Trusty Water Bottle
A CPR Pocket Face Mask
A Towel
A Warm Sweatshirt
A Hat
A Tasty Lunch or Snack
Chapter 17: Ten Reasons to Dive into Lifeguarding
You’ll Learn How to Save Lives
You Will Build Lifelong Skills and Character Traits
You Will Serve the Public
You’ll Make Lifelong Friendships
It’s the Fountain of Youth
You Get Paid To Do This
It’s a Never-Ending Challenge
It’s an Adrenaline Rush
You’ll Have a Different Type of Office
You Don’t Have to Quit Your Day Job
Chapter 18: Ten Reasons To GO (On the Rescue!)
You Hear “HELP!”
Climb the Ladder
Bad Hair Day
Mom Tells You To Go
Face Down and Motionless
Concussed!
Into the Deep End
The Grip of the Rip
Points for Assist
A Gut Feeling
Chapter 19: Words of Wisdom from Ten Lifeguards Near and Far
Index
About the Authors
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Skills Taught to Stillwater Lifeguards
Chapter 12
TABLE 12-1 USLA National Championship Events
Chapter 13
TABLE 13-1 Age Categories for Junior Competition
List of Illustrations
Introduction
FIGURE I-1: A LIFEGUARDS ONLY sign closes off the designated lifeguard area fro...
FIGURE I-2: Authors Cary Epstein and Cameron DeGuzman at Jones Beach State Park...
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: A sign at the edge of a resort pool designates the swimming rules.
FIGURE 1-2: Lifeguards on the East Coast take shelter beneath a strategically p...
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Two lifeguards on duty scan the ocean and point out characteristics...
FIGURE 2-2: Knowing what to look for: the ABCDEs of skin cancer screening.
FIGURE 2-3: A silhouette West Coast lifeguard tower overlooking the water in Lo...
FIGURE 2-4: A typical lifeguard stand found on many East Coast beaches.
FIGURE 2-5: The lifeguard to the left stands (a) with a Peterson tube across he...
FIGURE 2-6: Lifeguards work together to administer chest compressions and deliv...
FIGURE 2-7: The differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as well as...
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The cast of the hit television show Baywatch as seen in the late ‘9...
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: The young swimmer prepares to take off from the block wearing a pai...
FIGURE 4-2: A lifeguard uses a chlorine strip to check the levels in the pool.
FIGURE 4-3: The lifeguard at the head of the victim holds their head in stabili...
FIGURE 4-4: This lifeguard enforces pool rules and attracts the attention of hi...
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: A guard sits on their stand at Pear Tree Point Beach in Fairfield, ...
FIGURE 5-2: Posted warning signs remind visitors of hazards such as strong curr...
FIGURE 5-3: A lifeguard patrols on a kayak in stillwater.
FIGURE 5-4: A sign warns of unsafe swimming due to high levels of bacteria.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: How rip currents work.
FIGURE 6-2: This flyer by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra...
FIGURE 6-3: A Burnside buoy (and a pair of fins) are set up in the sand in fron...
FIGURE 6-4: The Los Angeles county lifeguard vehicle with mounted rescue cans, ...
FIGURE 6-5: Beach Patrol Headquarters in South Beach, Miami, Florida.
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: A lifeguard tower on the beach in Santa Monica, California.
FIGURE 7-2: A lifeguard stand at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island, New Yor...
FIGURE 7-3: Cary Epstein mans a lifeguard-operated drone over New York State Pa...
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: A swimmer performs the freestyle stroke and works out on their own.
FIGURE 8-2: A swimmer pushes off the wall squeezing their arms tight to their h...
FIGURE 8-3: This buoyant Styrofoam pull buoy can be placed in between the swimm...
FIGURE 8-4: The pair stretches their quadriceps (left) and hamstrings (right) o...
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: The lifeguard prepares to squat 385 pounds as his fellow crew membe...
FIGURE 9-2: Four runners work on their cardiovascular endurance by running on t...
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Lifeguards cycle through the roles and drill on head, neck, and ba...
FIGURE 10-2: This commercial-grade tourniquet is used to control major bleeding...
FIGURE 10-3: This four-milligram dose of naloxone is delivered intranasally to ...
FIGURE 10-4: Lifeguards begin to enter the water and form a human chain in sear...
FIGURE 10-5: Two rescue boards are positioned alongside the lifeguard stand, re...
FIGURE 10-6: LA county Lifeguard jet ski with rescue sled.
FIGURE 10-7: LA county Lifeguard baywatch rescue boat.
FIGURE 10-8: A traditional Van Duyne rescue boat is launched through the surf z...
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: Epi+Center Rescue lifeguards watch over competitors in the Hudson ...
FIGURE 11-2: Water Safety Director Cary Epstein goes through the pre-race brief...
FIGURE 11-3: Casting call for real lifeguards on the set of “Stranger Things.”
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: The highly anticipated 2022 USLA National Lifeguard Championship.
FIGURE 12-2: Surf lifesaving competitors charge the water with their competitio...
FIGURE 12-3: Mixed Landline Rescue National Champions at the 2022 USLA National...
FIGURE 12-4: Lifeguard competitors race to the beach flags located on the oppos...
FIGURE 12-5: Rescue swimmer, victim, and tender emerge from the shore toward th...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: An aspiring lifeguard learns to jump into the water equipped with ...
FIGURE 13-2: A junior lifeguard group braces the brisk, morning sea together fo...
FIGURE 13-3: Lifeguard instructors demonstrate how to properly swim with a resc...
FIGURE 13-4: Junior lifeguard instructor Cary Epstein reviews the rules for the...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: The official logo of the United States Lifesaving Association.
FIGURE 14-2: The official logo of the International Life Saving Federation.
FIGURE 14-3: The official logo of the American Red Cross.
FIGURE 14-4: The official logo of the YMCA.
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: On-duty lifeguard lieutenant overlooks the entire beachfront on a ...
FIGURE 15-2: Three hand-carved, Styrofoam rescue buoys are set up in the sand, ...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: A lifeguard sports his Mojo Float polarized sunglasses from Hobie ...
FIGURE 16-2: Don’t be fooled by the small size of this whistle: The Fox 40 can ...
FIGURE 16-3: This pocket face mask compacts easily into its case and takes up m...
FIGURE 16-4: The lifeguard shields herself from the sun’s rays beneath her stra...
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: The drowning victim is climbing the invisible ladder to the surfac...
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Index
About the Authors
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Introduction
Welcome to Lifeguarding for Dummies! You have this book in your hands, so we imagine it must be for one of several reasons. You’re in the market for a new job and this is the hundredth book you’ve picked up. Perhaps you’ve earned your lifeguard certification and don’t quite know what to do with it. Maybe the colder months are winding down, and you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to keep busy in the summer. Look no further!
The lifeguarding career is perfect for anyone in search of a job with flexibility to work full-time, part-time, or even seasonally. You learn how to act as a first responder to various emergency scenarios and serve your greater community. It is a career with no age bias, teaching you skills that you can apply in any situation. And you become part of an elite team of lifesavers (see Figure I-1).
Cary Epstein (Author)
FIGURE I-1: A LIFEGUARDS ONLY sign closes off the designated lifeguard area from the general public.
At the time of writing this, lifeguard shortages are affecting pools, beaches, and parks around the United States. Empty lifeguard stands and towers are forcing communities and municipalities to shorten their hours and scale down their staffing, putting the general public at risk. There is no better time to become a lifeguard and ease this situation!
So you think you can swim?
About This Book
If you’ve decided on a career in lifeguarding, you are in luck! This book is all encompassing, and there is very little we don't cover surrounding this topic. We can’t think of any other publication that shares so many different angles of the profession. This isn’t a manual or a brochure telling you how to join your country club as a lifeguard, nor is it a lifeguard cheat sheet for those currently employed. Lifeguarding for Dummies gives you a full 360-degree perspective on one of the most beloved and respected professions in the world.
You can learn every aspect of what it takes and means to be a lifeguard by reading this book. We dive into the various career opportunities that exist once you become certified. We explain how lifeguarding has grown into a worldwide community that goes back over 100 years, rich in history and lifesaving tradition. We throw in tips for becoming a lifeguard as well as workouts to help you kickstart your swimming and running training.
Note that web addresses and programming code appear in monofont. If you’re reading a digital version of this book on a device connected to the Internet, note that you can click the web address to visit that website, like this: www.dummies.com.
To make the content more digestible, we divided it into five parts:
Part 1
: Getting Started with Lifeguarding
Part 2
: Lifeguarding in the Different Facilities
Part 3
: Training and Preparation
Part 4
: Exploring Other Lifeguarding Activities
Part 5
: Part of Tens
Foolish Assumptions
People in general have a natural tendency to make assumptions about others. As lifeguards, we (Cary and Cameron) make assumptions every second we are on the stand or in the tower. In this book, we also make a few about you, dear reader:
We assume you know what lifeguarding is and you have seen lifeguards at work or in action at some point in your life. If not … let's just say you’ve been swimming in all the wrong places!
We assume you know how to swim, or at least you
think
you know how to swim. Everyone’s definition of swimming is different; if you have a competitive swimming background, you know what we are talking about. However, not all lifeguards have a competitive swimming background (nor do you need one!). If you’re not sure where you stand, try one of our swimming workouts in
Chapter 8
to assess your strengths and weaknesses.
We assume that you are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to face some of the most extreme health emergency situations and are aware and ready to tackle this fast-paced environment.
We assume you are willing to enter that same, and potentially dangerous, water that almost took the life of a victim.
Icons Used in This Book
Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight certain types of valuable information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you’ll encounter and a brief description of each.
The Tip icon marks tips and shortcuts that you can use to make your day-to-day duties on the job run smoothly.
Remember icons mark the information that’s especially important to know. To siphon off the most important information in each chapter, skim through these icons.
The Technical Stuff icon marks information of a technical nature that you can skip over if you're in a hurry.
The Warning icon tells you to watch out! It marks important information that may save you headaches, especially because it is entirely possible you will run into these types of situations on a day-to-day basis.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the material in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this product also comes with some goodies you can access on the web. Check out the free access-anywhere Cheat Sheet that includes tips and advice. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and type Lifeguarding For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
The best part about this book is that you do not need to read the whole thing cover to cover if you don’t want to (although we think you should!). Depending on the stage of the lifeguard search you’re in, or if you are already a certified, employed lifeguard, you will likely approach this text in a different way.
The book is broken into 19 easy reading chapters and five main parts. Simply open the Table of Contents and find the area you are interested in. From there, the world is your oyster! You want a macro-perspective on the career, turn to Part 1. Want to know your employment options, look at Part 2! You can read this book sequentially or jump around as you see fit without feeling lost about any one particular topic. It's meant to be a fun, easy — but informative — read. (Cary and Cameron, shown in Figure I-2, hope you enjoy the journey!)
Cary Epstein (Author)
FIGURE I-2: Authors Cary Epstein and Cameron DeGuzman at Jones Beach State Park.
Part 1
Getting Started with Lifeguarding
IN THIS PART …
Understand what it takes to be a lifeguard and take a deeper look at what goes on day-to-day in this profession.
Become familiar with the lifeguard’s encounters with nature, the science of drowning, various first aid techniques, and the different kinds of equipment you'll use.
Learn about the rich history of lifeguarding as well as how the original lifesavers have evolved into the aquatic rescuers and watermen we know today.
Chapter 1
Lifeguarding 101
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding the importance of lifeguarding
Discovering the basics about water rescue and safety
Following a day in the life of a lifeguard
Welcome to the world of lifeguarding, “the best job you will ever have.” While we admit that is a pretty bold statement to start off with, ask anyone you know who has spent any amount of time lifeguarding and see what they have to say. This lifeguard world is filled with culture and tradition that goes back decades, and we are very excited to share it all with you in this book.
While stereotypically you might think of lifeguarding as a teenager’s job, across the United States and around the world, there are dedicated people (including some who have given their lives to save others) who are proud to call themselves professional lifeguards. Think of Aquaman … but a realistic day-to-day version! We cordially invite you to kick off your shoes, grab your most appropriate bathing suit, and dive right in!
The Importance of Lifeguarding
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death across the United States and around the world. It is considered one of the most avoidable ways to die. How is it avoidable, you might ask? By simply swimming and recreating in waters protected by lifeguards, swimmers greatly reduce their risk. The majority of drownings are avoidable, but human nature just can’t resist the temptation of getting wet. Did you know that 74 percent of fatal pool drownings happen residentially? When no lifeguards are present, public pools and beaches post signs that read “Swim at your own risk,” yet people ignore the posted warnings and tragedies happen. Everyone thinks bad things can’t happen to them. If that were the case, then bad things wouldn’t happen to anyone. Frankly, this attitude can get you in a lot of trouble!
At the end of the day, if there are no lifeguards on duty, you really shouldn’t be swimming … and yes that goes for people who are good swimmers too!
The Perks of Lifeguarding
Although there are waaaaay too many perks of the job to list in one chapter, we figured we would share some of our favorites!
The beach, pool, or park is your office.
When you are told to report to work, this is where you are going! This couldn’t be any more atypical. Your views of the sunset (if you're not working indoors) will be way better than your friends’ who work typical 9-5 jobs at their desks, guaranteed!
You have the best seat in the house.
People actually pay to come to your job, but you get paid
and
get the best seat in the house! Everyone wants to sit up on the lifeguard stand, chair, or tower … but they don’t get to visit the Royal Palace and sit on the throne! Being high above the ground looking down on all brings both pride and power.
No shoes, no shirt … no problem!
Try showing up to a traditional office and stripping down to a speedo or your favorite bathing suit. You’ll never have a problem deciding what to wear either, since as a lifeguard you need to be in uniform at all times (no heels, no laces, no ties, no briefcases, no belts … no problem!).
Being outdoors (unless you're indoors!)
While there most certainly are indoor lifeguarding jobs, we think that one of the best perks is getting to work outside. The warm blanket of sun covering you from head to toe, the gentle breeze that slightly blows your hair, the sweet scent of sunscreen infiltrating your nose, ending with a gorgeous sunset. And yes … you get paid for all of that!
When the ocean is closed to the public for big surf, it is open to you.
This is a great opportunity for you and the lifeguard team to train. While we recognize the hazards of getting in the water during a high surf advisory, this is how ocean lifeguards fully prepare for the worst! Each agency has its own rules and regulations when it comes to putting guards in the water on these hazardous training days.
Use of all the fancy equipment.
All the toys! Each specialized piece of equipment has a purpose and the only way to get proficient with them is to take them out. Grab a kayak, surfski, or rescue board! Get trained to row or operate the jet ski or motorized lifeguard boat!
You get paid to work out!
Staying in shape is an important part of this job, as we will discuss in
Part 3
, but not many jobs pay you to work out. Yes, you read that correctly. Go to the gym on your own time or work out on the clock! In many cases, lifeguard shacks and areas have a variety of workout equipment to help you maintain your lifeguard physique.
You develop lasting friendships.
It is not uncommon to make lifelong friends on the job. Due to the close-knit nature of the work, coupled with trainings and teamwork, you will quickly find yourself developing friendships with fellow lifeguards that can last a lifetime. These may be the people in your wedding party and at your children’s first birthdays. Crazy as it sounds, you might even meet your future partner on the job (trust us, it has happened on more than one occasion)! P.S. Lifeguard weddings get wild!
Developing skills that will benefit you beyond the water
Being a lifeguard, you get much more than just a lifesaving skill set. There are many, many benefits that you develop from working as a lifeguard that transition into other jobs and industries.
Increased self confidence
Self-confidence and self-esteem take time to build up, especially for teenagers. Some of us never get our self-confidence up to a level we are happy with, even into our adult lives. Lifeguarding is an extremely serious job that requires making life and death decisions. At the end of the day, knowing that the decisions and actions you made helped keep people safe will absolutely lead to a boost in your own self-confidence!
Communication skills
Working in this role requires you to speak to all kinds of people, including your fellow coworkers, and adult and juvenile patrons visiting your facility. You need to be able to clearly express your thoughts and communicate with the public. Sometimes people just want to walk up to your lifeguard stand or chair to chat or ask a question. But in more serious situations, being able to delegate tasks with clarity and efficiency goes a long way when the clock is ticking.
Leadership qualities
Leaders are made, not born! Let’s face it … some of us are better at leading than others. That doesn’t mean that you can’t learn to be a good leader. Leadership qualities take time to develop. As a lifeguard, there is no doubt you will find yourself in situations where you need to use these skills! Lifeguards who possess this skill set may find themselves being offered leadership positions or administrative titles, such as aquatics director, coordinator, captain, lieutenant, boatswain, and so on. These positions not only earn you more responsibility but also more money.
You do not need to be in an administrative or leadership position to be a leader. Some of the best lifeguards we know display incredible leadership skills. They are not bosses or administrators … just plain old salty lifeguards. Be the best version of yourself, and, in time, your leadership qualities will grow.
Teamwork
In almost all circumstances in this job, you need the rest of your crew to help you out. Whether you find yourself in a multi-person rescue or simply need backup to cover your chair when you jump in, you must be able to rely on your coworkers. You also need to be reliable in any situation that arises. Lifeguards often work closely together with the common goal of executing a rescue and saving someone’s life. Without the ability to work as a team, the likelihood of a successful outcome significantly decreases.
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Problem-solving skills
Some lifeguards might say that no two rescues are the same. Many certainly are similar, but when it comes down to it, you were tasked with a situation at hand and it was ultimately you who had to make the decision. This builds off the point about self-confidence. As you become more comfortable making autonomous decisions for the safety of others, you will realize that all this time you were dissecting the problem and coming up with the most efficient and sensible way to bring a swimmer or patron out of danger.
Handling stress
Stress is part of everyday life. However, as a first responder, levels of stress can be elevated, based on what you saw or actions you took while administering medical aid or performing a water rescue. Professional lifeguards learn that it is healthy and okay to feel stressed. You will learn not to compartmentalize your feelings and learn that there are ways you can express how you feel without being afraid of looking weak. Learning how to handle and recognize post-traumatic stress disorder will help you tremendously — not just as a lifeguard, but in everyday life as well. Critical incident stress debriefings (CISDs) are common practices after a serious rescue, especially when there is loss of life.
A critical incident stress debriefing, or CISD, is a process that occurs soon after a traumatic incident, typically 24 to 72 hours after the event. It is led by a designated facilitator and designed to support recovery to those exposed to high levels of stress or trauma. It may link employees to counseling and treatment services if needed.
You should never feel ashamed to talk about your stress or anxiety. In most jobs, services exist should you need or want to talk to a professional.
Meeting all types of people
We touch on this in far more depth in Chapter 7, but you will meet people from all walks of life in this career, providing a massive network arguably more diverse than any other profession.
While lifeguarding is typically thought of as a young person’s job, the reality is that you can’t have 20, 30, or even 40 years of experience and still be a teenager! One of the unique parts of this job is the age difference between the younger and older guards. Unlike a traditional “office,” where friendships are formed in a more structured setting, it is not uncommon for professional yet more casual friendships to form between guards of different ages. It’s not rare to get dinner after work with a table of lifeguards in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Most people's closest friends are within a few years of their age. As a lifeguard, true friendships are formed despite differences in age, based on their shared commonalities and love for lifesaving!
The love of the water and saving lives attracts people from all walks of life. Some choose this as a full-time job and others as part-time work. In later chapters, we go into more detail about the varying options you have as a lifeguard. Regardless, you could be working with people from different careers and backgrounds. One second you could be listening to someone's experiences working on Wall Street, and the next moment you could be talking to someone working in public safety, medicine, or education, to name just a few. They each have their own story and journey to share with you, as long as you are willing to listen. The common denominator that brings all lifeguards back to the lifeguard chair is their passion for water safety.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Generally speaking, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is something that goes hand in hand with being a lifeguard. Since this job is extremely physical at times and requires a certain level of fitness, it is not uncommon for people who care about their health and fitness to be drawn to it. There are many ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and we hope you follow some of our suggestions in the following sections.
Practice healthy eating habits
You are what you eat! What you put into your body not only affects how you look, but also how you feel. You don’t necessarily have to feel 100 percent all the time, but you should always be ready to exert a lot of energy at any given moment. Emergencies can go down in the blink of an eye. Eating healthy means maintaining a balanced diet that is comprised of all the major food groups and nutrients.
Get in your cardio and don’t forget to lift!
The job calls for you to be physically fit, and what better way to maintain fitness than intense cardio and lifting? The daily duties of the job help you maintain physical fitness without even realizing it. Swimming and running on rescues, treading water, and pulling victims to safety are all workouts in and of themselves. Call this a perk of lifeguarding; as mentioned earlier, you are getting paid to work out!
Get an appropriate amount of sleep
Most people have a hard time in this category, but getting the right amount of sleep each night can make or break you … especially as a lifeguard. Your work requires you to focus and concentrate. It's not a good idea to be tired, sluggish, or sleepy while on the job. On average, you should be getting a minimum of eight hours of sleep a night. So many great things happen while you are sleeping, so you are cutting yourself short if you aren’t getting enough. If you want to feel your best and function at peak performance, consider setting yourself a bedtime and sticking to it. We promise you won’t regret it.
Take care of yourself and your body
As a lifeguard, the first step in any situation is to make sure that the scene is safe. You are in no state to help others if you are not in the proper shape. Be sure to take care of yourself to avoid injury and illness. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and rest or take the day off. The job relies on you being healthy in order to make the facility safe for everyone else — and that means attending to your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Being a lifeguard fosters the perfect environment for your mental health. You are surrounded by a fun group of coworkers in a fast-paced, exciting environment. There will be times when the job gets stressful, of course, but if you do not allow negative feelings to overtake you, you will become stronger and more prepared for all types of situations.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself first! As the 1940’s fitness pioneer Dan Lurie always said, “Health is your greatest wealth!”
The Tough Side of Being a Lifeguard
While lifeguarding most certainly has its perks, don’t be fooled … the job can and will be difficult at times. We don’t often talk about the tough side of being a lifeguard, but the reality is, it does exist. Dealing with the public does present its challenges. In the following sections, we address some of the more common difficulties about the job and offer our best advice on how to handle them.
Being the bad cop
While lifeguards are known for their ability to make rescues, they spend the majority of their days trying to prevent them! They do that by enforcing a list of predetermined rules, which are set up by the facility. All of the rules are in place for safety reasons, but some seem more apparent than others. Being the bad cop isn’t always easy, but it comes with the job and you must own it!
Some of the most common “bad cop” rules you will have to enforce include:
NO running
NO lifejackets or flotation devices in the water
NO glass bottles on the pool deck
NO ball playing in the water
NO roughhousing (chicken fights, dunking, and so on)
NO loud music (or music at all)
NO diving
NO sitting directly in front of the lifeguard stand or tower
NO swimming in unprotected waters
NO surfing
NO fishing
NO swimming while fully clothed
While these are just some of the more common rules you will most likely need to enforce, it is important to think about how you will deliver the message. Just because you need to be the “bad cop” doesn’t mean you need to be nasty. You know the old saying, “You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.” That applies here. The rules should be posted somewhere obvious in the facility too, as shown in Figure 1-1.
Jazmine / Adobe Stock
FIGURE 1-1: A sign at the edge of a resort pool designates the swimming rules.
You should act professional at all times. There are very few reasons to yell at anyone. In a stern, loud, and commanding voice, you should enforce the rule and explain why. It's better to kindly but firmly explain the situation, including why they can’t continue doing whatever they are doing, and describe the implications of their actions. This is better than just barking orders. Taking that extra moment to explain goes a long way.
If a patron is giving you a hard time, simply remind them that you are doing your job, which is to keep all the swimmers safe. Starting a sentence with, “For your safety …” goes a long way. When in doubt, follow your facility’s emergency action plan, which in most cases involves contacting a supervising lifeguard. For more serious circumstances, be sure you know who the next party is in the chain of command. Oftentimes, it is law enforcement.
There is never a reason to get confrontational! Keep your cool at all times, because you never know what type of person you are dealing with or what they are capable of. We speak from personal experiences!
It’s not always waves, saves, and babes
When you think of lifeguarding in general, you probably can’t help but think of the most picturesque, beautiful summer day. However, the harsh reality of the job includes nasty weather conditions, which lifeguards deal with on a daily basis.
Harsh work environments (hot and cold)
Lifeguards work on hot days, cold days, rainy days, stormy days, and everything in between! Each facility has its own set of guidelines for how lifeguards should perform their duties in harsh weather environments. During the hottest heat waves and the coolest cold fronts, lifeguards need to be fully prepared to spend the entire day outside. This means having the appropriate clothing and gear. Any given day’s weather can quickly turn on a dime. It can be 95 degrees and sunny all afternoon and then pouring rain and cold with heavy winds an hour later. Umbrella forts, as shown in Figure 1-2, can provide the protection you need.
Cary Epstein (Author)
FIGURE 1-2: Lifeguards on the East Coast take shelter beneath a strategically placed array of umbrellas, otherwise known as an umbrella fort.
Pack your bag appropriately! This means you should have clothing and gear for all weather types. Don’t just rely on the forecast, as conditions can change and develop quickly.
You might assume that lifeguards don’t sit in the rain. Well, that may be the case in some places, but not everywhere! We can tell you from personal experience that we have most definitely sat on the lifeguard stand during the coldest, most rain-driven days with only a few umbrellas tied up with rope to protect us. As long as it is not lightning, we sit on the stand (and get soaked if necessary) in torrential downpours. While you might think this is terrible (and to a certain extent it is), it is way better than the alternative of getting sent home with no pay.
Lifeguards who have towers (as opposed to stands) can protect themselves from the harsh environments, like wind and rain, by going inside and watching the water.
When thunder roars, stay indoors!
One of the harshest environments you may experience are thunderstorms. While they are fascinating to watch and at times even fun to be caught in, they can be very dangerous and you should take them seriously.
As a lifeguard, it is part of your job to monitor the weather and know when thunderstorms are forthcoming. It is also your responsibility to safely and efficiently remove swimmers from the water, close down your operation, and seek shelter. Swimmers put themselves at serious risk if they wait until the last minute to pack up and get moving. Swimmers need to do better at listening to the instructions of lifeguards when they are telling them it is time to get going.
Getting struck by lighting is not as uncommon as you might think. In recent years, lifeguards have been killed on the job during lightning storms. Is it worth your life?
According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year (for more, see weather.gov). Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills about 20 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured.
Facility maintenance
As nice as it is to feel that the facility is yours, since you and the other lifeguards are the ones running the show, with that comes other responsibilities. Just like with your own home, you have to take care of it and maintain it. That means cleaning up your lifeguard area and, if it falls on your list of responsibilities, the bathrooms. You might be in charge of hosing down the locker rooms or disinfecting parts of the facility related to the pool area.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many recreational facilities remained open and required extra care for keeping them clean. At the end of the day, many changing areas resembled pigsties. The responsibility for cleaning them often fell on the lifeguards. Piles of hair, empty bottles of shampoo, and used toiletries might litter the floor awaiting your clean up and removal. Lifeguards at pools and waterparks may be called upon to test pool chemicals and balance the chlorine or pH levels all throughout the workday to ensure a safe environment for swimming.
These types of maintenance might not be glamorous, but they are certainly responsibilities you could be tasked with.
Decision making (am I making the right decision?)
This job has a lot of autonomy. That's mostly good, but sometimes making so many decisions can take its toll. You will always have hard decisions to make, starting with whether you should or shouldn’t go in for the rescue.
You should always go in for the rescue. “When in doubt, go out!” All lifeguards know the feeling of teetering on the edge of their seats and not knowing whether someone needs help, is just fooling around, or is just chilling. It's worth saying again: You should always go in for the rescue.
On another front, you might sometimes struggle when dealing with coworkers. How do you respectfully express a different opinion than your colleague? Than your superior? These internal battles are commonplace in all careers, and lifeguarding has no shortage of these situations.
Making mistakes and learning from them
You’ll mess up, you’ll slip, you’ll make mistakes. Just like any other job! And just like any other job, there will be consequences. Sometimes the consequences are small. You show up late to work, maybe you’ll get a slap on the wrist and docked a few minutes.
But other times, your mistakes could put someone’s life in danger or, even worse, lead to their death. For example, you miss a rescue or are delayed in getting off the stand. Thankfully, lifeguarding has a built-in system where fellow lifeguards watch over each other’s waters and share responsibilities. You might be told or directed to make a rescue that you otherwise might have waited on. Senior guards, officers, and supervisors play a big role in helping you learn from your mistakes and good ones will ultimately make you a better lifeguard. The common goal of safety should always be top of mind.
Illness/injury
People get hurt on this job. There is no hiding that. Think about it: At any given moment you will go from sitting on the stand to engaging every muscle in your body from the second you stand up, jump off your perch, run into the water, and swim to your victim. If you aren’t properly stretched and ready to go, you could injure yourself. We have seen it time and time again — lifeguards pulling a muscle and ending their season. During morning workouts or mid-rescue, you must be careful when employing full exertion of your body.
Stress
Lifeguarding comes with a good amount of stress. Whether it is directly related to a rescue or not, there are many types of scenarios that you will be involved in that will activate your general adaptation syndrome for responding to stress. It may be something as simple as dealing with an unruly patron who is giving you a hard time, or something more serious and life threatening. Either way, as a lifeguard you will learn how to best deal with stress. This can most certainly help you outside of the job in your everyday life.
Death
Although this is something we hope you never have to deal with on the job, we would be lying if we said that it doesn't happen. It is most definitely a possibility; you may encounter death if you work as a lifeguard long enough. Our job is saving lives and the thought of losing someone is the worst possible thing that can happen. A harsh reality of the job is that no matter how good you are, it can still happen despite your best efforts. The most important thing to remember — just because someone dies, doesn’t mean you did something wrong. As long as you did everything you were taught and trained to do, you can at least rest knowing you did your best.
Every facility has its own way of dealing with an on-duty death, and you should use your facility's employee assistance program or whatever they have in place to seek out professionals such as counseling and support services. You should never feel ashamed to talk about something that might be bothering you, especially after losing someone. Deaths in aquatic facilities don’t have to occur just from drownings or water-related incidents. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time, and that includes your pool deck, waterpark, or beach front.
Regardless of the cause, premature death is shocking and difficult for all of us to deal with. Add to that any feelings of responsibility you feel as a lifeguard, and that's a heavy burden to carry. Don't carry it alone. Go talk to someone about your grief. Your feelings are valid and normal. Not dealing with them can lead to depression and even thoughts of suicide.
While others run out, lifeguards dive in
If most people were asked to come up with a list of public service/first responder heroes, they most likely would say firefighter, police officer, or EMT. When people think of these amazing heroic professionals, they can’t help but think of:
Firefighters, coming out of a burning building carrying a lifeless child in their arms.
Police officers, responding to a 911 call for help.
EMTs and paramedics, pulling up lights and sirens in the ambulance, ready to care for the sick, dying, and injured.
But people don’t often think of lifeguards, who are the first ones to risk their lives diving into dangerous waters to assist a swimmer in distress.
When the building is on fire and everyone is running out, firefighters run in. When a mass shooting happens or a terrorist attacks and the public runs away, the police run toward them.
