Are the lifeguarding classes hard and is it hard to be a lifeguard?

Question

I'm considering becoming a lifeguard but am not sure if I am a good enough swimmer. How hard is the lifeguard training class? What is it like to be a lifeguard?

Answer 1

I am a lifeguard. I have the obligatory NPLQ ( national pool lifeguard certificate).

It was a hard course, 38 hours of training/teaching plus a 4 hour exam and you have to d updat etraining once every month to keep it current.

If you are not a good swimmer, you need to train, because you have to swim 50m in a minute and for the on-going training you need to do a 65 second recovery, swimming out 20m to a casualty, turning them round and towing them back 20m, then go and get an unconscious casualty, tow them back 10 metres and support them on their side, that in 45 seconds.

I like the job, it has a certain cache, Kudos. You get to go to work in shorts, watching a pool and looking after people. You canot lose your attention at any time because that is when accidents happen, which you are trying to avoid.

Many of the people who get into it have been sporty before, or have just come from school where they were doing lots of swimming anyway.

The pay bis not that good although full time lifeguards working for the main lesireu centre company in London get £18 000.00 + bonuses.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I'm a lifeguard. Basically if your a good strong swimmer then this is the job for you. Its hard taking the course at times because you think that you'll never run into situations facing things like that but you never know.

I took the class with several of my friends and we had fun. We were study buddies, victims. I remember the time when we were learning how to get a parent away from a child who needed first aid. I was the hysteric parent. Anyway I started freaking about that my "dummy baby" couldn't breathe. Anyway they got the child away and they asked me "whats your babys name?" I honestly didn't expect this question. I go "ahhahh his name is Buba" everyone laughed at me.

Theres tricky things to remember but once you get them you don't forget them. I could recite giving CPR as if its second language to me. There are easy parts of the course and hard parts. It just depends on what type of learner you are.

A typical day for me. I'll arrive at the pool around noon. I'll do several water tests, change into a swim suit and shorts and Tee shirt. I'll got a large coke and open the pool. I lifeguard indoors. But if I'm outside, I'll put tons of sun tan lotion on. I'll check the water levels every hour. If anyone has any troubles I'll help them. I take a break every other hour for 20 mins. While the other lifeguard takes over. Depending on which pool I work at, I'm expected to swim 300 yards once a week. Also I teach swim lessons to kids. Not a bad considering during the summer I work at 3 or 4 pools.

Answer 3

If your an efficient swimmer you should have no problem with lifeguarding. If you've ever been on a swim team, even if you weren't great, you should be set. Tests aren't very hard, I took red cross.

Work depends on where you work. My advice - DO NOT work at the YMCA. Its cult-like strict and flat out a horrible experience that I would never wish upon someone else. Most summer clubs are very laid back and its not a very demanding job. You'll be nervous first time in the chair but you get settled in pretty quick. In my opinion, lifeguarding is an easy job with decent pay.

Answer 4

The Red Cross, among other agencies, can tell you what the requirements are for becoming certified to lifeguard.  There are tests for swimming, treading water, CPR, etc.

I know people who have been lifeguards.  They all say it's pretty boring, but not that hard.  Of course, if you're called on for an emergency, that might be pretty scary!