Lifeguard

The modern lifeguard profession originated in Australia in 1906 and in the most general sense of the word is defined as an emergency service worker, who is a qualified strong swimmer, trained and certified in water rescue, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); who is responsible for overseeing the safety of users of a recreational water feature, such as a swimming pool, a water park, or a private or public beach.

In the cases of public pools, water parks, and beach clubs, the employer of a lifeguard force is the private sector entity operating that facility, but in the case of the public beach it would usually be a public sector agency called a lifeguard service, beach patrol, ocean safety department, or something similar.

Training for lifeguards at pools, waterparks, lakes and other inland bodies of water is different from the training of lifeguards for oceans.

Ocean lifeguard

On shore, an ocean lifeguard can typically be seen watching the water from an elevated chair or tower, or patrolling the water's edge on foot or with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Some of the better equipped lifeguard services operate inflatable or rigid hulled patrol boats that can provide added support in the event of a Rip Current situation or other emergency. Additionally, some also have rowboats, and specially marked personal watercraft equipped with Marzol rescue platforms (a reinforced oversize bodyboard) available to respond from the beach.

An individual lifeguard tower will typically be staffed with one or two lifeguards responsible for a specific length of beach. Equipment used will vary depending on the area. This will normally include communications equipment and a well stocked first aid kit. Additional equipment may include a large rescue board, an oxygen rescuscitator, an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) or simple scuba diving equipment. A lifeguard vehicle or patrol boat will be equipped with two way radios and may also carry cardiac care medical equipment, an oxygen tank, and more advanced scuba gear.

In some communities, the lifeguard service also carries out mountain rescues, or may function as the primary EMS provider.

Lifeguard duties

A key part of the lifeguard mission being prevention, one of the more useful measures of the effectiveness of a lifeguard force is not the number or rapidity of rescues, but the absence or reduction of drownings, accidents, and other emergencies.

Many young people in high school and college see lifeguarding as an enjoyable and rewarding part-time or summer job. Lifeguarding requires that one be constantly alert for any dangers to the patrons of the area under supervision. Like many other jobs, lifeguarding requires quick decision-making and communications skills. The primary duty of a waterpark, waterfront, or pool lifeguard is the safety of the patrons or swimmers. This primary duty includes water surveillance and rule enforcement, as well as rescues and first aid when required. Secondary duties include filling out incident report forms after accidents or injuries, ensuring safe and clean facilities are maintained, and In-service training to maintain lifeguarding skills.

While performing patron surveillance, usually from an elevated stand or a water-level standing or sitting position, lifeguards watch for unusual activities on the part of swimmers to recognise struggling swimmers, drowning swimmers, and swimmers with sudden medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, asthma, diabetes, or seizures. While performing patron surveillance, Lifeguards try to prevent drowning or other injury and death by looking for swimmers in these categories and conditions.

Swimmers who are inactive in the water, submerged or otherwise (Passive drowning victim). When a lifeguard sees this kind of swimmer he performs an emergency rescue.
Swimmers who are taking in water while attempting to stay at the surface (Active drowning victim). Lifeguards look for swimmers in this condition by looking for arms flailing vertically, with the body vertical and perpendicular to the water, for the curious reason, that when swimmers begin to take in water, they stop kicking with their feet. Lifeguards perform an emergency rescue to assist this kind of swimmer.
Swimmers who have become tired and are having trouble swimming (Distressed swimmer) and may or may not be calling out for help. Lifeguards usually swim out and help these swimmers to the side. They may or may not require additional assistance.
Normal swimmers (Healthy swimmers).

Problems may occur at any time, so a lifeguard must be in good physical and mental condition in order to pull someone from the water and possibly perform rescue breathing, CPR, or first aid.

Lifeguarding is not the same as instructing swim lessons, although (at pools) most lifeguards are instructors and vice versa.

Lifeguards in different nations

Australia

In Australia lifeguards are distinguished from Surf Life Savers. Lifeguards are paid employees who patrol beaches, lakes and pools/aquatic venues. Beach lifeguards are usually employed by local government authorities and patrol the beach throughout the year. Surf Lifesavers are a large voluntary organisation that patrol beaches on weekends and public holidays during the warmer months (usually from mid-September to late April).

Canada

In Canada, all lifeguards are certified by the Lifesaving Society of Canada (LSS) formerly the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada, a nonprofit organization. The lifeguarding certification is the National Lifeguard Service, known as NLS, which was officially launched in 1964, according to the LSS website. NLS is the only recognized lifeguarding certification in Canada, although someone who is Bronze Cross-certified can act as an assistant lifeguard at a public facility.

The Canadian NLS program is split off into 4 separate specializations, or "options"; Pool, Waterpark, Waterfront and Surf. All canadidates must complete the Core elements, which are basic lifeguarding skills and essential knowledge for lifeguarding any aquatic facility. Because it is so easily found, the Pool option is the first option most lifeguards are certified in. The Waterpark option is the certification recommended to work at facilities with such things as wavepools and waterslides. The waterfront option trains lifeguards for situations which can arise at beaches with calm water, on lakes or calm oceans, whereas the surf option trains lifeguards with techniques for locations which experience surf conditions quite regularly.

Germany

In Germany there exist two major organisations that train people in lifesaving. The bigger one is the DLRG, the largest live saving organization in the world, and the smaller one the Wasserwacht which is part of the German Red Cross.

Greece

In Greece the Lifeguard organisation called Baywatch is one of the oldest in the world dating back to 1894.Life guards patrol beaches and swimming pools and are usually employed by local autharities of by large companies such as hotels.

New Zealand

In New Zealand the term lifeguard generally refers to pool lifeguards but can be used interchangeably with lifesaver. These are qualified paid professionals employed by the pool management to watch over pool users. Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is responsible for training and maintaining Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand. Surf Lifesavers patrol various beaches in New Zealand. Lifesavers are able to sit their Bronze Medallion which qualifies them as a volunteer Surf Lifeguards. Volunteers patrol New Zealand's beaches on weekends over the summer months from Labour Day to around Easter. Paid Lifeguards patrol beaches during the week over the busiest summer months. They also come under the control of SLSNZ.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, there are two bodies that train Lifeguards. The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK) and the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA GB); who train the National Pool/Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ/NBLQ) and the National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NARS) respectively. There is currently a joint venture with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to provide well funded beach lifeguards, particularly on the South Coast. An example of an inland Lifeguard organisation is Colwick Park Lifeguards, who primarily provide water safety cover on lakes and rivers for large events.

United States

In the United States lifeguards are trained and certified by both commercial and non-commercial entities such as the American Red Cross (ARC) and its Lifeguard Training Program, the United States Lifesaving Association and the YMCA. Beach and ocean lifeguards however are typically trained by the government.

Lifeguard Competitions

Continuous training is necessary to maintain lifeguarding skills and knowledge. Formal competitions have developed as a way to encourage training, and also as a social activity. In Australia, the annual Surf Lifesaving competition at Coolangatta is the largest athletic event in the world after the Olympic Games with tens of thousands of Lifesavers competing. Lifeguard competitions include both physical events and technical (medical) events, while others are purely physical. Technical events are challenging accident simulations in which guards are evaluated on their adherence to treatment standards. These events are a subject of controversy amongst some lifeguards due to their subjectivity. Purely physical competitions have recently become more popular, often including various combinations of running, swimming, paddleboard, and surf ski. Most lifeguard competitions include an IronMan event that combines three different physical activities.

Lifeguards in Popular Culture

In popular culture, such as film or television, lifeguards are afforded a high status, often that of a "hero." A primary example is the show Baywatch, which was at one time the most viewed show in the world (although not in the United States, where it first aired).

Specific cultural perceptions of lifeguards include:

Association with youth, linked to the tendency of guards to be younger. Older guards are often typecast as beach bums.
Association with surf culture.
Rite-of-passage jobs, linked again to the tendency of teenagers working part-time as guards, but moving onto different professions.

Perhaps one of the most widespread connotations raised by lifeguards is sexual in nature (several polls revealed that "lifesaver" was considered one of the most "sexiest" professions)^*. This is often linked to the sexual overtones of resuscitation (see resuscitation fetish) as well as the physical fitness required to work as a lifeguard.

Lifeguard competitions

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Gold Coast Australia
Parlee Beach, New Brunswick
Risser's Beach, Nova Scotia
Bournemouth Lifeguards Corps Regatta, UK
Nova Scotia Surf League

External links

Protective service occupations | First aid | Rescue | Water sports | Surf lifesaving

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