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A Day In The Life Of A Lifeguard

Updated: Nov 18, 2022


A Day In The Life Of A Lifeguard

When most people think of lifeguards, they think of tanned, fit young people who sit around all day sipping on cold drinks and watching people have fun in the sun. However, lifeguarding is a challenging and demanding job that requires a lot of hard work and dedication.


In this blog post, we'll take a look at what a typical day in the life of a lifeguard is like. We'll also explore why so many people are drawn to this exciting career. So if you're interested in becoming a lifeguard or want to learn more about what it's like to work as one, keep reading!


1) Arrival at Work - Mornings


Although shifts vary depending on the roles defined, lifeguards arriving the earliest have the responsibility to carry out a routine check of the premises, including checking for hazards or potential problems. This is also an excellent time to assess any situations that may arise during their shift and plan out how they will handle these issues if necessary.


Lifeguards arriving later in the day are responsible for taking over from early birds to do additional tasks. These include jobs like patrolling pools, participating in training exercises (including CPR recertification), or preparing equipment used by lifeguards throughout their shifts (e.g., first aid kits).

The routine check of the pool area before business hours ensures safety precautions are met at all times. The lifeguards ensure the fencing is secure, emergency exits easily accessible, and signage alerting patrons about policies on proper conduct displayed where everyone can read them.


2) Responsibilities During the Day and Shift


A lifeguard generally spends around 20 to 30 minutes at their assigned position throughout the day. Once at a position, the lifeguard cannot leave it and must stay vigilant. The lifeguards at their respective posts must be aware of what is going on in the surrounding area.

If a patron needs assistance for any problem, they must call for help from another lifeguard by using hand signals to indicate an emergency.

In addition to being vigilant when it comes to safety around the pool, a job as a lifeguard also entails completing administrative tasks such as filling out incident reports about anything that occurs during work hours. Many states require written accounts of all incidents involving children under 14 years old to document unfortunate events.


3) End of Day


As the end of the day approaches, lifeguards are responsible for alerting all swimmers and ensuring the swimming pool is clear. After clocking out, lifeguards usually meet with their supervisor to go over the day's events and any problems that arose. They may also be given feedback about their performance on the job.


Lifeguards are amazing because they save lives. They’re the first responders to emergencies at pools and beaches, as well as a trusted source of information on water safety for people of all ages. Lifeguard Li is a trusted name for protecting children and families around the swimming pool. Whether you need one lifeguard or 100, we have your back with competitive rates and customer service that you can’t beat. Put our team in charge of ensuring your pool in Glen Head, NY, is safe this summer by getting in touch today!

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Hey, I'm Steve Grella, founder of Lifeguard LI. It is my mission to teach every capable person CPR and lifesaving skills. My only question is, do you have what it takes to save a life?

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About Our Founder

Steve Grella is a father of two young boys. He is a Police Detective, EMT, lifeguard trainer and swim instructor, who brings over 20 years of knowledge and expertise in safety and service. He has dedicated his life to educating students in vital lifesaving training and now strives to provide expert resources to arm you with the skills and training to one day save a life if called upon.

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