Job Description and Characteristics of a Lifeguard!

An aquatics facility can be a distracting place. At any point in time there will be children playing noisy games, advertisements being flown by plane overhead, co-workers to chat with, and the temptation to text, sleep, or sunbath. Any time the lifeguard on duty becomes distracted, the guests face an increased risk. When seconds can make a difference between Lifeguard certification and death, it is imperative that you do everything you can to make yourself of internal and external distractions. Here are some ways to minimize distractions. Put Away Your Cell Phone: Just as cell phones can be dangerous when you are driving, they can be very dangerous when using a lifeguard stand. Focusing on your screen as you text or browse the internet takes your eyes off the area you are supposed to be scanning. A simple text conversation may seem innocent and quick, but your mind continues to think about the conversation you are having even after you put the phone down. There is one way to eliminate cell phone distractions and that is to leave your cell phone in the break area. There should be no cell phone with you when you are on the stand. If you have your phone, place it in an area of your reach and on silent or vibrate mode. Stop Chatting with Your Co-workers: Chances are good, while working on the team of lifeguards at your facility, you will become good friends with the other guards. This is a very good thing. Just as it is important for a football or soccer team to be a tight-knit, cohesive unit, it is important that a lifeguarding unit can work very closely as well. You will be asked to be in constant communication with the other lifeguards on duty and to provide assistance when they request it. Communication, if you let it, can be detriment to your focus on the lifeguard stand. While you are on the stand, conversation with other guards should be kept professional. Avoid talking about gossip or last night's reality TV stunner. These topics are not as important as someone's life and they can wait until you have your break. Come to Work Well Rested: It is often said that the most successful people in the world get a good night's rest and are early risers. While lifeguarding you will not be able to wake up super early, coming to work well rested will make you stand out from the pack. While on the stand, scanning can often become very monotonous and uninteresting. If you are a little groggy you will face the urge to do it off. A sleeping lifeguard is essentially the same as having a lifeguard at all. In fact, it may be worse because of an incident, you can be liable. If you know you have a shift the next day, make sure to get adequate rest the night before. Do not stay up until the early hours of the morning and absolutely do not stay out drinking alcohol. Stay Focused and Do Not Day Dream: There is a perception that lifeguarding is a glamorous job. People like to think that lifeguards are on their stand all day long while the rumble of crashing waves, the squawking of distant seagulls and the laughter of happy children provide relaxing background noise. The reality of the situation is that the warm sun and relaxing background make it very difficult for lifeguards to stay focused on the task at hand. While you are on the stand, it's easy to let your mind wander and dream. To reduce this type of distraction, make sure that you rotate areas often with the other guards on duty. Try to work out the schedule to take frequent breaks. Challenge your mind when you are on the stand to effectively scan your entire area. Move both your head and your eyes while scanning and avoid keeping your head in a fixed position. We will go over other important scanning techniques in a future article