Skills Learned From Being a Lifeguard
Lifeguarding looks and sounds like a fun and easy summer job, but it takes more than the right swimsuit and a love for swimming. Lifeguards need to undergo hours of training and cultivate a significant skill set to do the job right. Lifeguard training programs include certifications for lifeguarding, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. Whether you visit an indoor pool, waterpark or outdoor body of water, the lifeguards on duty are trained to keep you safe while you are in the water. The chance of drowning at a beach patrolled by lifeguards is one in 18 million. What kind of skills equip trained lifeguards to do their job and save lives? Learn what it takes to do this job and how these important life skills learned as a lifeguard can transfer to the rest of your career.
Skills Learned as a Lifeguard
Lifeguarding may be a seasonal job, but you will learn a lot of worthwhile skills during training and on the job.
1. Teamwork
Teamwork is one of the most valuable job skills learned as a lifeguard. You can learn to work with others in nearly any other job environment, and teamwork takes on a greater role when the safety of others is on the line. You will learn how to work in tandem with your fellow lifeguards to perform rescues and life-saving skills like first aid. There are many angles to watch and manage at a pool or beach. You need to work together to make sure all of those angles are covered and the people in the water are safe. You also rely on your fellow lifeguards to keep the pool, waterpark or beach where you work running smoothly. Together, you will accomplish all of the daily tasks that keep your workplace clean. Collectively, the lifeguards on staff create a cohesive, responsible unit.
2. Communication
Communication is a skill closely tied to teamwork. As a lifeguard, you will learn how to communicate as a team, but you will also develop communication skills by interacting with all of the different people who come to your place of work. You will need to talk with the adults and children who come to swim to help keep them safe by enforcing the rules. They might have questions for you, or you might need to direct them on what not to do near and in the water. Clear, effective communication is an essential part of being a lifeguard, and you will hone this skill over time. As a lifeguard, you will communicate face-to-face, and you may also learn how to communicate over the radio or by using hand signals and flags.
3. Leadership
You do not have to be the head lifeguard to develop leadership skills. No matter where you rank at your workplace, you will be asked to step into some kind of leadership role. You will be in charge of a certain section of the pool or the beach by yourself. The longer you work as a lifeguard, the more opportunities you will have to enhance those leadership skills. You might be asked to help onboard new lifeguards or monitor more high-traffic areas of the water. If teaching swim lessons is a part of your role, you have an additional opportunity to lead. You are not only showing your young students how to swim, but you are also setting an example for them.
4. Responsibility
From the outside, it may look like lifeguards are paid just to stand or sit by the side of the water, but there is so much more to the job. Keeping people safe while they swim and play by the water is a huge responsibility and the core purpose of any lifeguard. Beyond the major responsibility of saving lives, lifeguards have several other tasks to manage during their shifts. For example, you might be in charge of opening and closing the facility or beach. Outdoor lifeguards will need to monitor the weather conditions and direct swimmers out of the water if necessary. Lifeguards are also in charge of keeping their facilities and beaches clean, which can involve using pool chemicals. Some lifeguards have the added responsibility of teaching children how to swim and overseeing events like birthday parties or swim meets. The job requires multitasking and commitment to handle these varied responsibilities.
5. Endurance
Lifeguarding is usually seasonal work with approximately 40 percent of recreational employees working part-time. Lifeguarding may not be a 40 hours a week gig, but it is still a demanding role to fill. No matter what you are doing during your shift, it is likely to be physically demanding. Lifeguards can work long shifts in hot conditions. You may be required to stand on your feet for the majority of your shift or sit in the sun for hours at a time. If teaching swim lessons is a part of your job, you may need to be in the water with your students, demonstrating different skills, for an entire shift. Staying on your feet, handling warm weather conditions, lifting pool equipment, being in the water and being on the move will inevitably build high levels of endurance.
6. Emergency Rescue
Many lifeguards work for years without experiencing any issues, but they are trained to act immediately in an emergency. During your initial lifeguard certification, you will learn how to perform an emergency rescue in the water. You will learn how to use different equipment such as flotation devices and rescue boards. If you are training to lifeguard for an outdoor body of water, you may also learn how to perform rescues with a kayak or canoe. Lifeguard certification is valid for two to three years, as determined by each state, which means you will refresh your emergency response skills at regular intervals. If you ever do encounter an emergency at the pool or the beach, you are trained to act. Emergency rescue is a valuable skill that many people would not learn otherwise.
7. First Aid, CPR and AED
In addition to water rescue, lifeguards will also undergo first aid certification. During this training, you will learn how to perform CPR, how to use an AED and how to respond to emergency medical conditions, such as choking, burns, heart attack, stroke, seizure, head injuries and more. CPR involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. CPR is performed when someone's heart stops beating. AEDs can also be used in cases of cardiac arrest. Your first aid training will equip you with the knowledge you need to use these life-saving techniques, which can help a person survive while medical help is on the way.
8. Time Management
Time management is a core item on the list of essential lifeguard skills. Not only will you need to arrive on time for your scheduled hours, but you will also have to plan your time while you are there. During a shift, you will likely have several tasks to complete. The majority of your time might be spent beside the water monitoring swimmers, but you will also be assigned duties like pool maintenance and training other lifeguards. It may seem difficult to juggle multiple tasks, but it will quickly become a habit and a valuable skill you can use elsewhere. Taking the initiative to ask for more responsibility demonstrates that you are effectively managing your time and eager to learn more.
9. Problem-Solving
Lifeguarding may seem like a largely physical job. You spend time in the water, standing and lifting equipment. Yet, the job requires a fair amount of mental fitness as well. You will need to exercise problem-solving to work with your team and interact with the people who come to swim. What will you do if you disagree with a coworker? How will you approach a person breaking the rules at the pool? What can you do to help a child overcome a fear of water during a swim lesson? The answers to these questions are not always simple. You will have to take each challenge case by case. Finally, problem-solving is critical in cases of emergency. If you see someone in distress in the water, you need to know how to act to resolve the issue quickly and safely both for you and the swimmer.
10. Observation
On the job, you will need to remain constantly aware of your surroundings. Pools, lakes and oceans are busy spaces full of people splashing, shouting and having fun. You will need the observational skills to recognize when someone is in trouble or behaving in a way that could be considered dangerous. When you become a lifeguard, you will learn how to spot both active and passive drowning victims. Active drowning victims will not shout for help like they do in the movies. Rather they will flail and keep trying to tilt their heads back to breathe before slipping beneath the water. A passive drowning victim, already unconscious and likely underwater, will be even harder to spot.
You will learn the necessary skills to create an active, effective scanning pattern of the section of water you are assigned to watch. You will also find effective ways to keep you focused on the job. Emergencies are usually rare, so it may easy to slip into daydreaming or boredom on the job. But, a moment of inattention could be costly.
Rewarding Benefits of Being a Lifeguard
Taking on all of the responsibility that comes with being a lifeguard and developing a whole bunch of skills on the job may sound like a lot of work, and it is. But, that doesn't mean the job without benefits.
1. Transferable Skills From Lifeguarding
The skills learned on the job aren't just resume boosters for lifeguards. These skills can also serve as an excellent bridge to other job opportunities and career fields. The general skills you learn and hone, such as teamwork, communication, responsibility and time management, will transfer to any other job or career field. Demonstrating these skills shows you can be a valuable asset, whether you are aiming to take on another lifeguarding job, land an internship or explore your chosen career path.
The skills more specific to lifeguarding, like emergency response and first aid, are not only useful by the water. These types of skills can help in other fields like health care and childhood education. If you liked learning how to perform emergency rescues and first aid, maybe you are interested in learning about becoming an EMT, nurse or doctor. If you liked teaching kids how to swim, maybe you are interested in education. Lifeguarding might be a part-time job, but it offers you the chance to build skills that will lead to further opportunities in your future.
2. Confidence
For many people, lifeguarding can be their first job. The idea of learning so many new things and taking on such a significant responsibility can be overwhelming. Yet, as you become accustomed to the job and all of its demands, you will find you are capable of handling it. Whether you are talking to the people who come to swim, working with your fellow lifeguards or even performing a rescue, you will be gaining more and more experience. Shouldering this kind of experience is a great way to boost your confidence. Confidence in your job can easily transfer over to other areas of your life, like school and relationships.
3. Physical Fitness
Lifeguarding can be a physically demanding job. While this may sound exhausting, it has the benefit of helping you get in shape and maintain high levels of physical fitness. Lifeguards often have the opportunity to train at their pool or beach before and after hours, swimming laps and practicing water rescues with their equipment. Staying in shape is a critical part of the job, especially if you ever do encounter an emergency. Some other common lifeguard exercises include rowing, running and muscle training. The physical endurance you build on the job can contribute to your overall physical health.
4. Fun Work Environment
Charged with learning so many different things and being responsible for the safety of people is a lot to take on, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. A pool, waterpark or beach is a fun work environment. If you love to swim, you will enjoy working near and in the water. On your breaks and time off, you will be able to dive in and enjoy yourself. Plus, working with kids in the water can be a fun and rewarding experience. It is important to take lifeguarding seriously, but remember that you can still have fun on the job.
Get Your Lifeguard Gear at The Lifeguard Store
If you are working toward becoming a lifeguard or you are already on duty, you need gear to help you do your job. Shop The Lifeguard Store for swimsuits, apparel, goggles and more.
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