Lifeguarding is generally recognized as the ideal summer occupation. Students have the option of working flexible or seasonal hours, they get to spend time outdoors, and they learn vital skills that will serve them well throughout their adult lives. That is ideal, right? Well, before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s figure out just how old you have to be to become a lifeguard.

To become a lifeguard, you have to be 15 years old — according to the American Red Cross. You also need to pass a swimming test in order to enroll in the course. In spite of this, your pool or beach facility might have different needs. But you can’t start lifesaving until you’re 15 years old!

For more information, keep reading.

Why Become A Lifeguard?

A vital component of the aquatics community are lifeguards. You’ll stand in for safety and sound judgment as a guard. You’ll be well-informed, trained, and self-assured enough to know how to save a life. Our lifeguards are required to complete the required CPR, basic first aid, and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) modules training in addition to the required American Red Cross training. Additionally, it’s a fantastic way to improve your resume because working as a lifeguard shows potential employers that you have strong leadership qualities and the capacity to work independently.

Things To Consider Before Starting Lifeguard Training

• The training needed to become a lifeguard is time- and money-consuming, which is a drawback.
• The course itself costs about $250 and takes time with no assurance of success. You can do a few things to make this cheaper or even free, but we’ll cover those later.
• Since it is required by law that lifeguards keep watch over the pool constantly, punctuality is crucial wherever lifeguards are employed.
• The course may involve a lot of hands-on activities.
• To begin the course, you must meet certain requirements.

What Are A Lifeguard’s Responsibilities?

You will be responsible for a variety of tasks as a lifeguard, both inside and outside the pool. A lifeguard’s regular duties include keeping an eye on activity in the water and giving instruction to swimmers of all ages about the value of water safety. In order to make sure that our younger swimmers are prepared and confident on our pool deck, we take great pride in educating them about water safety.

Each guard will receive training in emergency procedures, and they must be able to use them in a crisis.

What Are The Demands?

In order to quickly enter and exit the pool and save a drowning victim, lifeguards must be physically fit. At the beginning of the course, you will be required to pass the following tests:

• Swim 300 yards continuously
• Tread water for two minutes, using only your legs
• In one minute and forty seconds, you must:
  • Swim 20 yards, starting in the water
  • Surface dive 7-10 feet to receive a 10 pound object
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back, holding the object
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

Certain swimming strokes are required, including the breast stroke and the front crawl, or freestyle, stroke

Lifeguard Training Course Details:

Two types of course:

• A test is administered on the final day of a five-day, 9 to 5 intensive course.
• Weekly: once per week, typically on Sunday, from 9 to 5, with a test the last day.

The type of course you choose will depend on your learning style and schedule. To complete the intensive is advised, though. In an intensive course, you have a better chance of remembering the material and developing the physical readiness and mental toughness required to pass. There is a lot of information to take in and a lot of ice to break. It’s also perfect for school holidays because it ends in a week and you can move on.

Employers won’t turn you away if you don’t have defibrillator training because they can easily train you. However, some courses offer defibrillator training while others don’t. It is advised that you take a course with this option if it is offered because defibrillator training is another accomplishment you can boast about.

What To Bring To The Lifeguard Training Course:

• Change of clothes.
• towel, and if you have the room, two.
• Swimming trunks (preferably skin-tight ones and worn under clothing at the start of the day)
• Again, the tighter the clothing is, the better because there will be less drag.
• Food is typically available during the lunch hour so you can snack.
• A pen.

Top Lifeguard Training Tips

Even though it’s simple to say, try to establish a rapport with your group. You’ll be practicing and taking exams with them, so getting along with them and supporting one another could get you through to the other side and pass. Try to include everyone in discussions and potential group activities while eating lunch as a group. A good way to do this is to bring a football, a deck of cards, or a game to the course.

Ask questions; most people are thinking the same thing most of the time, and confusion is never good, especially for a lifeguard. Most importantly, if there is anything that makes you uncomfortable, voice your opinion and make sure you don’t do anything you don’t want to.

CPR is always awkward to learn, but just go in with confidence and make sure you really nail it by the exam; most likely, you’ll practice every day. However, because it is such a significant portion of the course, it is crucial that you completely understand everything. Additionally, avoid eating anything smelly if you plan to perform CPR later that day.

How To Handle Employers And Tips For Interviews

Make contact with them and confirm that the course you are taking is adequate if you plan to find employment after graduation and have a specific location in mind. Additionally, the location where you might apply might have its own requirements and course offerings. They could, for instance, have a 3-meter diving pit. Therefore, you would have to demonstrate that you could easily descend to its base.
If a company runs a course with employment at the end, they may offer the course for free in exchange for your promise to continue working for them after the course.

However, if you already have a job in mind, you should make sure you understand the job description and the typical day there first. Some people have ended up signing up for “lifeguard” jobs only to discover that they end up cleaning more than they do lifeguarding. Ask a lifeguard who is currently on duty what their duties are to ensure that this does not occur to you! In conclusion, be sure to fully understand the commitment you’re making.

Conclusion

The difficulty of lifeguard training is understated. You must obtain the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), which is a requirement for lifeguarding. In actuality, the exam you must pass to obtain your NPLQ is rigorous. To succeed, it needs specialized training.

It is divided into three parts: first aid instruction, a pool test, and a verbal test. All three test the potential lifeguard’s physical and mental stamina while evaluating various skills.

Regarding your reading, I thank you.