Know about required Skills and Procedures to become a Lifeguard Summer is approaching and if you are searching for a new job this is the right time for you. Going for Pool Lifeguard jobs would be a great option. It will not only help you in boosting your competitive pay and fulfilling your dream but, will also connect you with new, life-long friends and professionals. Looks Great! Isn’t it??
Where do I initiate? Many of the organizations are open to hire the candidates for lifeguard jobs throughout the winter, summer as well as spring season. You can thus, anytime approach them and get hired for the job.
Once you are hired by the company, you are given training by the professionals. But before all this, you must have some basic skills that are required for opting this job. Let us discuss what sort of skills are actually required for a lifeguard• • • • •
Swimming skills Diagnosing high-risk actions Maintaining alertness Active control First Aid Skills
Swimming skills This is the most basic but paramount skill that is necessarily required for anyone to apply for the lifeguard job, in which an applicant has to swim at least 300 yards with a strong control on rhythmic breathing. Prospective applicants are also required to clear “Basic Skill” test which involves: • •
Swimming 20 yards Pulling back 10 pounds of weight from 10 feet deep water pool and then returning it to the initial point
Diagnosing high-risk actions Lifeguards should be aware of the swimmers who are at high risk of drowning by looking at their levels and style of swimming. Must keep track of alcoholic people. Most of the drowning fatal cases reported are due to alcohol Consumption.
Maintaining Alertness A lifeguard must be attentive and alert when he is in the role. It means that he needs to quickly diagnose and should be responsive to each and every action of swimmers. Some certification programs are conducted to increase or improve lifeguard service & vigilance.
Active Control This is again a very important concern for lifeguards to be aware of. No distraction can be encouraged. If the lifeguard is diverted to any other event happening around or if he is diverted by another swimmer it leads to “in-attentional blindness”. The lifeguards in such cases are expected to use careful surveillance.
First Aid Skills •
Suction or use of Airways:
The most important thing that a lifeguard must know is the tact of using airway in drowning process Victim. It is quite difficult or complex to open the victim's airway and to provide rescue breathing at the end. •
Use of supporting oxygen:
Supplemental oxygen can be used by the lifeguards at the time of rescue operation. At any time he must be prepared to give the rescue breathing or supportive airways. •
Physical strength:
A Lifeguard should be proactive and physically fit enough to take actions whenever any sort of emergency happens. He cannot just stand aside looking at the tragedies happening around. He needs to be physically fit even with high stamina in order to prevent any injuries or death.