It is no secret that summertime is a busy time for a person to be outside enjoying the warm weather. People spend the majority of their time indoors during the winter months, but they have to spend some time enjoying the sunshine and heat.
There are a number of jobs that people do during the summertime when they are outdoors, but the most common one is lifeguarding. When you are lifeguarding, you are in charge of watching over the safety of others. You are responsible for watching over children who come to the pool to play, watching over swimmers and even protecting them from drowning.
You may also be responsible for watching over older adults who come to the pool to enjoy themselves. In addition, you may be responsible for watching over people who have special needs. The good news about being a lifeguard is that the work is usually pretty easy to do.
Duties of a Lifeguard
Lifeguards enforce all pool rules and regulations in order to maintain a safe swimming environment. They inspect the facility on a daily basis and report any unsafe conditions or equipment to their office. Chemical maintenance and record-keeping are some of the duties that may be performed. Lifeguard, First Aid, and CPR certifications are required for you to become a lifeguard.
It’s very important for lifeguards to stay fit. Doing sports and other activities keeps them healthy. They should also practice good hygiene in order to keep themselves safe.
Lifeguards should always stay prepared for any emergency situation. They should know how to handle and react to injuries or other emergencies in a pool. They should know what to do if they find a drowning victim. They should also be able to identify signs that a child is in danger.
You should be able to swim a minimum of 50 yards underwater. This is necessary because you will be swimming in deep water at times. As a matter of fact, you may need to dive into water up to 18 feet deep. You will also be required to wear a wetsuit while diving. It will help you to keep warm in cold water.
Head Lifeguard
Regular Lifeguards have the same responsibilities as Head Lifeguards, except that they are also responsible for overseeing other lifeguards, conducting staff evaluations, and creating schedules.
The Head Lifeguard reports directly to the supervisor or regional manager of the pool, as well as the Staffing Department. You have to be up to date on all certifications and have at least two years of Lifeguard experience in order to become a Head Lifeguard.
Front Desk Attendant
Front desk attendants are responsible for greeting patrons, handling entry fees, entering data into point-of-sale software, tracking entrants into the pool area, and assisting others to keep the facility clean.
Front desk attendants with outgoing personalities are encouraged to become ones. Being a Front Desk Attendant doesn’t require any expensive training or certifications which is an added bonus.
Pool Attendant
The Pool Attendant is responsible for keeping the pool and the surrounding areas in tip-top shape. A certified Lifeguard is not required to work at a pool that doesn’t have a pool attendant on duty.
The pool attendant’s job is to check passes, clean the clubhouse, hose down decks, greet and sign in guests, vacuum the pool, and remove the trash. Depending on the location, the pool attendant may have to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Pool Manager
The pool manager is responsible for maintaining a safe swimming environment by following all rules and regulations of the pool and surrounding area. Pool Managers are responsible for patron safety and facility upkeep, as well as pool chemistry, overseeing 5-15 guards, staff evaluations, and creating schedules.
If you want to be a Pool Manager, you need to have at least two years of Lifeguarding experience as well as current Lifeguarding, CPR/AED and First Aid certifications.
Gate Guard
The Gate Guard has the primary responsibility of checking pool passes and having every patron sign in for the day. Pool patrons are not allowed in the pool area unless a Lifeguard is present because a Gate Guard is not a Lifeguard.
Gate Guards help keep the pool facility clean and stocked with supplies necessary for operation, as well as enforce all rules and regulations of the pool and surrounding areas. There is no requirement for costly lifeguard certifications to be required for this position.
During the summer, there are a lot of different positions to choose from. To apply for a position or learn more, stop by an upcoming open house or apply online today.
Final Words
If you want to be a successful lifeguard, you need to prepare yourself before you start your career. The lifeguard certification course you will take is very important. You can start learning about lifeguarding after taking the training. Once you have passed the test, you will be eligible to work as a lifeguard.
If you are thinking about getting your lifeguard certification, you may want to consider becoming certified first. You can find lifeguard certification classes in a variety of locations.
You can contact your local lifeguard association to find out what they offer. If you don’t know where to look, you can always contact the American Lifeguard Association. This organization is the largest lifeguard association in the United States. They are located in every major city. You can find them by searching online.