Beach Lifeguards

The job of a beach lifeguard is one of crucial importance and serious training must be undertaken in order for each lifeguard to ensure beach safety.

Millions of people flock to the beaches around the country every year, especially during those summer months when the weather is at its best and many of us just want to splash around in the refreshing water of the ocean after relaxing in the warm sun on the sand.

With thousands of people on the beaches at any one time, you can imagine the task set before our lifeguards, whom we often take for granted as they patrol and guard not only the water’s edge but the entirety of the beach! It’s a huge undertaking and for this reason, a lifeguard’s training is rigorous and compulsory.

The correct job description for a beach lifeguard is actually an open water lifeguard and can differ in some ways to that of a lifeguard at a swimming pool or water park.

Although they don’t conduct the training themselves, open water lifeguard training is laid out by the United States Lifesaving Association. The responsibility of providing the training itself falls upon state and local authorities, which each have to follow the same rules and regulation laid out by the USLA.

If you are considering the idea of a summer job as a beach lifeguard, whilst the rewards can be great, the training is certainly demanding and if going on to be a full time lifeguard, will test you to your limits of fitness, swimming ability and safety awareness.

Here are just some of the things that you will need to have in your lifeguard locker before you can take to the beach and save lives.

• You will need to be 16 years of age

• You will need to be able to swim 500 meters in less than 10 minutes

• Your general health and fitness needs to be good, including eyesight, hearing and the general stamina and strength to be able to carry out open water duties. • To prove that you have completed a first aid course (of no less than 21 hours) that is acceptable in your intended state of employment. • In addition to a successfully completed first aid course, you will also need to possess a valid certificate in CPR. Once all of this training has been completed, your classification will be that of a trainee beach lifeguard and may operate on the beaches only under the supervision of a fully qualified open water lifeguard. If you want to pursue a further career as a lifeguard then more tests and training await.

As demanding and focussed as the training is, it is great to know that we are in the safe hands of professionals when we head to the beach this summer.

Lifeguard Certification | Beach Lifeguards | Lifeguard Jobs