Rules for Lifeguards

Lifeguards are an important component to anyone's visit to a pool, water park, lake swimming area or beach resort. Lifeguards must be strong swimmers and physically fit. Lifeguarding adds valuable experience to your college application or resume. Generic responsibilities are required for all lifeguards, but rules may vary depending on where you work and the state in which you reside.

  1. Training

    • Lifeguards are required to undergo training for safety, rescue skills and surveillance techniques. They must know first aid and CPR. Lifeguards must be certified to work, and minimum age requirements vary. The American Red Cross offers lifeguard courses for anyone 15 years or older. Most YMCAs require students to be at least 16 years old.

      Classes are available to potential lifeguards who have not reached the minimum age to enroll in a certified program. The American Red Cross' GuardStart is a junior lifeguarding class that teaches leadership skills, fitness training and professional development for students ages 11 and 14.

    Prerequisites

    • Once a lifeguard attains certification, American Red Cross lifeguarding prerequisites include swimming 300 yards of combination front crawl and breaststroke, along with diving and swimming to retrieve a weighted object. Beach employers may require additional tests such as running from the beach area into the surf and swimming a certain distance.

    Duties

    • The most important duty a lifeguard performs is to ensure swimmers are safe in and out of the water at all times. Scan the pool continuously, checking for potential hazards and problems. Be sure to use your peripheral vision and notice when changes occur in different areas of the pool. Recognize the signs when a victim is in trouble such as anxious expressions, clinging to objects for support or swimmers staying under water too long. Be aware of people with disabilities. Watch for swimmers who flip from the edge of the pool, dunk or throw other swimmers, hang on to safety ropes or dive in water that is too shallow. Be consistent in enforcing safety rules outside of the poo, including running, pushing other swimmers into the pool and acting on complaints against facility rules.

    Requirements

    • Demonstrate professionalism and do not show favoritism. Be courteous, punctual and possess strong people skills. Handle uncooperative people first and enlist aid if needed from other employees. Remember, you are not a babysitter, so notify parents of problems with their children. Take breaks. Watch for heat stroke. Lather up on sunscreen and drink a lot of water. Rotate locations and take required breaks to avoid fatigue and boredom. Take your job seriously and do not distract yourself by unnecessary talking, eating or cellphone texting.