What it Takes to be a Lifeguard
I have a red suit and a whistle. There is water in the pool and I have my sun screen so I am ready to be a lifeguard!
If this is all that it takes, many of us should be gearing up for a summer job as a lifeguard. Actually, being a lifeguard requires a lot more than just sitting in the sun getting a great tan. All lifeguards are required to have course work and a certification through Ellis, Y Guard or the American Red Cross. These are the major providers of water safety materials in our area.
I am the most familiar with the American Red Cross Lifeguard certification course which requires 31 ½ hours to complete. In this class, the student learns to use a backboard, how to rescue multiple victims, and how to complete a submerged deep water spine injury rescue. The class also includes instruction for CPR (cardiopuilmonary resuscitation), first aid, and the use of an AED (automated external debrillators). During the class, situationals with water skills are simulated. Students take four written exams which cover all of the skills learned during the class. Currently, through the Lakewood Community Recreation and Education Department, all the Lakewood pool summer guards are being trained on the updated Red Cross materials.
When the course is finished and a job secured, the training does not end. There are in-service trainings for each facility – Foster Pool, Madison Pool and the Lakewood High School natatorium. During these in-services, skills are reviewed and the EAP (Emergency Action Plan) for the individual pool is studied.
A lifeguard needs to be responsible, reliable, dependable, professional, alert and physically capable of doing the job. A lifeguard must be a team player. There can be some intense moments on a shift as a guard, and response times need to be immediate. A lifeguard is just that – a person guarding lives. And yes, swimming is required.
