Beach lifeguards are responsible for protecting people from drowning, hypothermia and other water-related dangers, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association. They are also in charge of monitoring beach erosion, which may put swimmers at risk of injury or death, and they must monitor swimming conditions and alert others of dangerous surf conditions. Keep Learning Lifeguards are often assigned to specific beaches by local governments and are expected to work during all types of weather, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.
American Lifeguard Association is determined by the US Labor Department as equivalent to Red Cross in its lifeguard training courses. We train people in all aspects of protecting the swimmers at the beach and keep a check on rules and regulations for the visitors to follow.
Table of Contents
The Main Responsibilities Of A Lifeguard Include:
Maintaining water safety by performing rescues, assisting swimmers in distress, and controlling crowds.
Preventing drowning: Providing life jackets to all swimmers; properly supervising children at swimming areas; Ensuring that life jackets are worn at all times. Protecting the environment: Keeping our waterways clean by not dumping trash in them; Recycling our paper and plastic products; Reducing litter by not leaving items in public places or on private property; Placing garbage containers in the right locations; Removing items from the beach that could be dangerous.
Ensuring the safety of children: by conducting swimming lessons and supervising children at public pools. Performing the duties of a lifeguard in a pool, including but not limited to: Ensuring that a child is properly supervised at all times. Ensuring that a child is safe from drowning. Carrying a whistle and a first aid kit. Carrying a paddle for use as a flotation device. Carrying an emergency signal and a portable fire extinguisher. Carrying a fire blanket.
Training Lifeguards To Help Them Become Competent In Lifeguarding Skills.
- Conducting annual swimmer safety checks and monitoring of swimming conditions.
- Ensuring that all lifeguards are trained, certified and licensed.
- Developing and administering a swimmer safety program for the community.
- Monitoring swimmer safety at pool entrances.
- Identifying and reporting potential drowning hazards.
- Maintaining pool and beach areas as clean, safe and appealing to swimmers.
- Enforcing laws and regulations related to swimming and public safety.
- Making arrangements for emergency care of injured swimmers.
Recruiting And Retaining Lifeguards
Recruiting and retaining lifeguards in the public recreation sector is a significant challenge. For example, lifeguard recruitment and retention in the United States has been estimated to be approximately 20–30%. Recruitment and retention of lifeguards has been linked to a number of variables including pay, training, and work conditions. In addition, the job satisfaction of lifeguards is an important factor in their retention in the job.
Conducting Orientation Programs For New Lifeguards And Rescuers
A new survey by the National Recreation and Parks Association, conducted in cooperation with the American Red Cross and the Recreational Boating Safety Foundation, shows that more than half of the recreational boaters who take out a lifeguard training course also take a rescue course. In fact, most of them say they will continue to take both courses. The survey found that nearly all boaters took at least one of the two courses and that over 80 percent said they would take both courses again.
Lifeguard Responsibilities:
Lifeguards are responsible for their own personal safety as well as that of others. They must always be alert, and they must know what to do in various situations. To stay safe, you need to have a good understanding of how to protect yourself and others around you. Being a lifeguard is a tough job, but if you know the best ways to protect yourself and your fellow workers, you will be able to enjoy your work and keep yourself safe at all times. If you are interested in learning how to become a lifeguard, here are some tips that will help you along the way.
The Bottom Line
The lifeguard must be a good swimmer, must have excellent water skills, and must know how to safely get into and out of the water. He or she must be able to get out of the water quickly if the situation requires it. If you are looking a lifeguard certification near me, contact American Lifeguard Association to start your lifeguard training at any time in the year.