Lifeguarding

What Is a Lifeguard?

A lifeguard is a trained person who is responsible for ensuring the safety of facility patrons by preventing and responding to emergencies.

What Are a Lifeguard’s Responsibilities?

A lifeguard’s primary responsibility is to ensure patron safety and protect lives—including the lifeguard’s.

A lifeguard does this by:

Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or behaviors.

Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating patrons about them.

Recognizing and responding effectively to all emergencies.

Administering first aid or CPR in an emergency, and, if trained, give oxygen and use an automated external defibrillator if needed.

Informing other lifeguards and facility staff when more help or equipment is needed.

Other tasks a lifeguard performs are called secondary responsibilities. Secondary
responsibilities must never prevent a lifeguard from meeting the primary responsibilities.

For example, a lifeguard may:

Help patrons find a missing person.

Fill out required records and reports on schedule and submit them to the proper person or office.

Do maintenance or other tasks assigned by a lifeguard supervisor. (Some duties, such as monitoring the pool chemistry, require training.)

What Does a Lifeguard Need?

A lifeguard’s equipment usually includes:

A uniform (swimsuit, shirt, jacket, hat, foulweather gear, whistle, sunglasses and shoes).

Binoculars (waterfront environments).

Blanket.

Sun block or sunscreen.

Lifeguard stand with umbrella.

Safety equipment. (Safety Equipment Sheet.)

How Can You Help the Lifeguard?

You can help the lifeguard by:

Reading and obeying all posted rules and warning signs.

Following the lifeguard’s directions immediately if you hear a whistle, horn or other signal of an emergency.

Staying out of the way in an emergency.

Never playing with safety equipment and by leaving it where the lifeguard can find and use it quickly.

Never leaving your clothes, shoes, toys or other personal equipment where it might delay the lifeguard in getting to an accident.

Getting out of the water immediately when the signal is given.

Respecting the lifeguard. (Do not talk to a lifeguard who is on duty unless there is an emergency.)

Doing exactly what you are told if your help is requested.