Lifeguards are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of people at swimming pools, water parks and beaches around the world. Some embrace this job as an after-school job, while others make it their career. No matter why you want to be a lifeguard, you’ll need to train your body, learn lifesaving skills, and then find a job.
Get fit:
Being a good lifeguard is physically challenging. You will have to be in good shape. Lifeguards follow the rule of 10 and 20. Once they notice a potential problem, they must respond within 10 seconds and be able to reach the person within 20 seconds, so you absolutely need to be fit and a strong swimmer .
Practice swimming:
You must be a strong swimmer to become a lifeguard training. Swim and use a kickboard to build leg muscles. All certification programs will require you to pass a timed swim test before proceeding.
- Take a swim lesson with a professional to make sure your technique is correct.
- Practice different swimming techniques, such as freestyle, breaststroke, or backstroke. Swimming in different ways will work different muscles and make you a stronger swimmer.
Run to improve your cardiovascular fitness:
This is necessary for long-term swimming.
- Jog on the beach if you can. Running on sand is more difficult than running on pavement or grass, and is therefore more productive. Some people say that this is also beneficial for the joints. Running on the sand will further prepare you for a beach lifeguard position.
- Run up the stairs or stadiums to build lower body strength. In order to swim as fast as possible, you must have strong legs to help propel you through the water.
Strengthen your torso and upper body:
Sometimes a couple of seconds can be the difference between life and death. You must have strong arms to save people faster.
- Do pull-ups, dips, bench presses, and push-ups to build upper body and arm strength. Upper body strength is absolutely necessary to get victims to safety.
- Do crunches to strengthen those muscles. It is important that your whole body is in good shape. A leaner, stronger torso will help you get through the water faster.
Practice holding your breath to develop your lung capacity.
In some cases, the person you’re trying to save might be deep in the water or trapped in something, or you might have a hard time getting them to the surface. In this case, you will need to be able to hold your breath for long periods of time.
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Eat healthy and stay hydrated.
This is important for your training, but it’s also necessary when embracing a profession where you’ll be spending time in the sun. Sweating will cause your body to lose vital nutrients rapidly. Always have a bottle of water nearby.
Protect your skin from the sun.
Use a sunscreen with a higher SPF (sun protection factor) to protect yourself from sunburn or skin cancer. You will have a more difficult time carrying out your lifesaving role if you feel pain when moving your limbs due to a burn, or if you are in the hospital with a serious skin condition.
Find a lifeguard class in your area.
In the US, there are other nationally recognized certifications through the Starfish Aquatics Institute and NASCO . If you live in Canada, check out the Lifesaving Society . Some high schools offer swim programs in gym classes with a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification included.
- Choose your formation based on where you want to be a lifeguard. There are usually separate courses for lifeguards for indoor pools, lakes, beaches, and water parks.
- Classes usually last six weeks. In the case of Ellis and Associates, there is a crash course that only lasts 3 days.
Study CPR and first aid.
In most of these programs, you will have to complete CPR and first aid training. It is good to study CPR procedures before enrolling in a program. Get experience beforehand, so the program is a refresher for you.
Learn to identify the warning signs.
In many cases, lifeguards recognize the signs that someone needs help long before an emergency occurs. Well-trained lifeguards may choose to remain vigilant or take precautionary measures. Here are some of the most common warning signs:
- Poor swimmers are those who frequently dip their heads in and out of the water, always have their hands on the edges of the pool and move by pulling, or cling to flotation devices and are afraid to swim away from them.
- The most common warning signs are swimmers constantly asking others for help, waving their arms around frantically, and being quickest to show signs of panic.
- Frequently, people begin to choke without showing any signs or struggling. Watch for people who go under the water and don’t come back up.