A lifeguard is responsible for ensuring the safety of people within a designated area – be it a swimming pool, beach, or other open water environment. Lifeguards are often portrayed as either sitting and watching the water or carrying out dramatic rescues – but there is much more to the role of a professional lifeguard than that. It also takes more than being a great swimmer to be a great lifeguard!
Here are our Top 5 tips for being a professional lifeguard:
1) Focus on Prevention
There is an old saying that ‘a good lifeguard is a dry lifeguard’. That is not always true, or fair – but the point behind the saying is that a lifeguard’s primary function should be to prevent accidents from happening. To do this, a lifeguard must be constantly alert, constantly assessing the risk of the environment and the people using it and communicating and advising bathers appropriately. A professional lifeguard should always be looking to prevent a drowning incident from occurring in the first place. Prevention is always better than cure!
2) Keep competent
Lifeguards should have appropriate training to make sure they have all the skills and knowledge required to maintain a safe bathing area. However, these skills can fade over time if not regularly practiced. It is important that lifeguards have regular training with their team, practice realistic scenarios from beginning to end, and maintain their fitness levels to meet the demands of their role. They should also receive regular external professional training to revalidate their qualifications.
3) Communication
Good lifeguards need to be able to communicate effectively within their team, as well as to the public who are using their bathing area. They need to be able to remain calm when there is an emergency, as well as effectively and proactively communicate with the public to inform them about rules and risk. Lifeguards should not just be able to tell people what they can and cannot do, but also why – so people understand the risk and can keep help themselves safe. Good communication skills are essential!
Lifeguards should have appropriate training to make sure they have all the skills and knowledge required to maintain a safe bathing area.
4) Know your limits
This is especially applicable in open water environments. It is important that all lifeguards understand their individual limits and the environments that they are working in.
In Vietnam, there have been numerous tragic cases of lifeguards drowning in the sea when attempting to rescue others. In some situations, even when highly trained, lifeguards may not be able to enter the water to rescue a casualty safely, and instead they may need to call for other emergency services / further support. This principle applies to every emergency service, and it is important to recognise this point to prevent further loss of life.
5) Always Alert
Good lifeguards should never get complacent. Lifeguards may work a particular area for many years and never need to perform a rescue. This can happen because the lifeguard is keeping the environment safe, educating people using it and being highly proactive. However, the risk of drowning is always present when people are in the water, even with competent swimmers in low risk environments. Lifeguards should be constantly assessing and scanning their area and ensure they do not fall into the trap of complacency. Lifeguards should avoid distraction – this includes looking at phones! Drowning can happen when we least expect it.
VLSC offer professional, international standard training for lifeguards in pool, open water and beach environments.
To get trained as a lifeguard with VSLC:
>> Check out our upcoming public courses
>> Get a quote for a private course for your team
>> Become a VSLC Trainer
0 Comments