Get Trained to Be a Lifeguard!

When people think of lifeguards, they immediately think of Pamela Anderson running on the beach with David Hasselhoff in the background. Real life lifeguards are just everyday people. I have been a lifeguard for 4 years now and it has been a great job. Here I will discuss what it takes to become a lifeguard and reasons why you should become certified.

Becoming a lifeguard does not take much. You do need to know how to swim, but you don't have to be a great swimmer. Most of lifeguard training is watching first aid and CPR videos. Truly. Everything put together takes about 24 hours of watching videos, practicing, and swimming. How the 24 hours is split up varies, ranging from all in one weekend to one night a week for 8 weeks. The first aid is good for 3 years and the CPR you have to renew every year, which takes one afternoon. Keep in mind that the group that issues you your CPR recertification card MUST be the same group that certified you as a lifeguard. For example, if the Red Cross certified you as a lifeguard, you cannot get your CPR recertification through the YMCA.

The way training runs in general is you watch a video and then practice the techniques the video just discussed. The instructor will give you feedback as well. You do this with all the videos. The videos are corny but at least they sometimes make you laugh. The exam is in multiple choice format. Before you take the actual exam, the instructor goes over a practice exam with everyone, which is almost identical to the real exam. You need a 70 to get certified. You also must pass CPR to be a lifeguard in good standing. The same goes for the first aid training.

Now as far as swimming, this can be variable between programs. According to rules, you must be able to swim 10 laps ( or 20 lengths ) of the pool in 10 min, divided into 3 laps being front crawl, 3 laps being breast stroke, then the last 4 being either stroke or a combination of the two with the only rule being you can't switch strokes mid-length. Some programs aren't very picky with the time and are more concerned with if you can actually do it or not without stopping. You also must swim a length of the pool, retrieve a brick from the bottom of the deep end, and swim it back to the other end of the pool with the brick on your stomach. You must therefore swim on your back and keep your face above water. This can be tough but once you get the hang of it its fine. If you can't do this then some instructors will let you tread water holding the brick above your head for a certain amount of time as a make up. There is also a practical where someone will "pretend drown" and the instructor will tell you what happened so you can act appropriately. This part is very hard to fail. The training may be expensive (around $300 to get certified) but you will more than make that up from working 1-2 weeks. Also this is a job for 3 years at least!

The great thing about this job is that A. I have never had trouble finding a job and B. it is year round. That's right I said year round. There are plenty of health clubs and hotels that have pools that need lifeguards. Having a lifeguard lowers their insurance costs so they will more often than not be looking for lifeguards to hire. Many schools, colleges in particular, have pools that need lifeguards year round as well.

The summer is obviously the high time for lifeguards. To be a lifeguard at a beach, you may need an oceanfront certification since the search techniques are different. It also is more competitive since they need strong swimmers to swim against tides and it pays much higher than other lifeguarding jobs. Personally I am a fan of condos. The pool is outdoors but they usually have a member house that the lifeguard(s) can be when no one is in the pool, with air conditioning. The pay is decent for sitting on my butt all day guarding a pool where the deep end is 5 feet deep. Overall, the number of lifeguards is going down so groups are upping the pay to attract more lifeguards. And did I mention the killer tan?

Become a lifeguard. You have nothing to lose and money and a tan to gain. Lifeguard certifications happen year round so just look at the American Red Cross or YMCA website to see when the next training session is.