Month: October 2021

A lifeguard has to supervise, monitor, and rescue in the event of an emergency. They have to look after and ensure that the people follow the safety measures and rules to avoid injuries and water accidents. Lifeguards are mostly hired by hotels, resorts, pool and beach administrators, and other community or recreational establishments with water activities. 

All lifeguards pay attention and are trained to observe the water, perform rescue missions and organize first aid and CPR course in Perth when required. But, how the special training for lifeguards differs is determined by where they work. A pool lifeguard and an ocean lifeguard work in two very distinct environments, signifying that you must meet different requirements to become a certified lifeguard for both environments.

Pool lifeguards

Pool lifeguards are responsible for managing the use of water slides and diving boards, as well as pool maintenance, like checking the chlorine and pH level of swimming pools. They are also responsible for draining and cleaning the pool occasionally and scanning some amenities placed at the poolside. They also give swimming lessons and are there to keep you safe. 

Pool lifeguards inspect the water and look out for swimmers who might be facing a problem. The lifeguards are trained to scan everything in the pool area. They have to change their position, sitting posture, and pattern from time to time to stay alert. They have to look for signs that might result in an emergency and provide emergency care services such as CPR, AED administration, and first aid when it is required.

Beach lifeguards

Beach lifeguards should be experienced in using dual-track radios for contact and coordinating with other lifeguards about activities happening among the emergency rescue teams. Beach lifeguards also have to maintain a record of daily weather and the beach environment. Beach lifeguards will alert people about rip currents and inform parents to keep their kids within their reach.

Beach lifeguards are continuously examining the water exactly like a pool lifeguard, but they have to keep an eye on a much bigger area, and it is difficult for them to see beneath the water, so it is necessary to make sure that the beach lifeguard is attentive. Most facilities routinely move beach lifeguards from one section to another section so that they can stay alert and provide breaks from monitoring duties. Beach lifeguards and pool lifeguards have to stay alert and not get distracted throughout their whole shift.

 Lifeguard certification

Be it a pool lifeguard or a beach lifeguard job, it just does not revolve around saving people’s lives. There is more to it; these professionals have to observe, avoid and respond quickly to aquatic emergencies.

If you want to get a certification for lifeguard training, there are certain requirements that should be met to become a lifeguard. You must take some courses to get trained for becoming a lifeguard. There are courses that are created for certain tasks such as group 3 pools, hydrotherapy courses, play leaders, and aquatic rescue training, etc. Either you want to become a pool lifeguard or a beach lifeguard, your certification will be valid for two years. You need to do a pool lifeguard course for certification. 

At the West Coast Water Safety, we offer a wide range of courses throughout the year for you to get certified. Our courses are developed on a professional level and give you an idea of different techniques and first-aid tips so that you get a sound knowledge of water safety.

For more information on either our Professional Lifeguard Services or Training & Courses on Water Safety & First Aid, please visit our courses or give us a call at 0418 909 935.

Saving lives and imparting knowledge are often looked at as two noble career choices. One of the many professions, which mandatorily puts together saving lives and teaching is that of a lifeguard instructor. A professional lifeguard instructor is in charge of teaching safety protocols when water-based activities are concerned. These teachings range from supervising first-aid protocols to preventing mishaps in water. Like any other profession, it is mandatory to fulfill some requirements to fit into this profession. But before that, it is necessary to understand why one should become a lifeguard instructor.

Reasons why you should become a lifeguard instructor

Treading deep or dangerous waters at a critical time to save others requires courage and commitment. Teaching these skills with the utmost care, therefore, is not only crucial but also necessary. Having the ability to impart such knowledge makes a lifeguard instructor’s line of work applause-worthy. Here are some reasons why you should consider it as your career choice:

You help save lives

As a lifeguard instructor, you will primarily teach others how to save lives during aquatic emergencies. These emergencies can take place in recreational swimming pools or natural water bodies. Your teachings will help the learner understand how they will ensure safety during this stressful situation. You will, therefore, provide knowledge related to critical thinking and quick problem-solving. Teaching these skills will not only help save lives but also be serviceable off the field. 

A unique choice of profession 

A lifeguard instructor’s job does not simply focus on teaching the basics of safety in the water. These professionals teach a diverse set of topics revolving around emergencies that can arise in the water. For instance, a course on Hydrotherapy will require teaching skills to students pursuing physiotherapy. This course, therefore, will require quickly analyzing medical emergencies in water and finding solutions. Alternatively, you can also teach about safety in shallow waters. Imparting such knowledge requires a grounded understanding of human psychology, strong communication skills, and logical reasoning. The profession, therefore, requires as much credibility as any other job involved with life-saving. A plus point is that you get to teach while enjoying your time in the water. 

Personal responsibility

Becoming a lifeguard instructor comes with its own set of physical and mental benefits. For instance, you have to ascertain your fitness at all times. Inadvertently, you will have to take care of your body to ensure your health. Moreover, you get to practice team building and alertness, which help develop qualities like responsibility and discipline. These skills tend to prove to be handy outside your professional life as well. Lastly, this choice of profession ensures the utilization of critical thinking, which helps you think on your feet and make quick decisions during a stressful time. 

Utilize your knowledge for the greater good

You could utilize your empirical and theoretical knowledge to help your students construct realistic solutions while discussing hypothetical stressful situations. Your expertise could also be used to scrutinize local natural and artificial water bodies to make sure that they are being taken care of. If not, you could always persuade the necessary committee members to take efficient measures. As a credible, professional lifeguard instructor you can also strengthen the presence of the lifeguard community by talking to locals about the necessary dos and don’ts around water bodies. Your knowledge can help humans and the environment coexist peacefully.  
These are only a few reasons to help explain why one can choose to become a professional lifeguard instructor. As seen above, this position comes with a lot of responsibility and will require you to take charge. Ultimately, it is a noble profession, which involves using your life skills to potentially save lives.