City Lifeguard/ Swim Team Coach
Description:
Most cities hire 16-18 year olds to staff local pools and recreation centers as lifeguard and water safety instructors. Life guards are in charge of pool safety and provide life saving assistance to distressed swimmers. They also collect fees and maintain the facilities. Water safety instructors teach swimming lessons to adults and children and coach municipal swim teams. Pay is typically much higher than other types of high school employment
How I got the idea / found the employment:
City pools often recruit though high school swim teams, but anyone who is certified in CPR can apply. The city usually offers a CPR class in conjunction with the American red cross and a month long lifeguard skills course. Upon completion of the course, potential candidates are tested on CPR and lifesaving skills and are then assigned to a city pool. Addition classes are offered in water safety instruction; water safety instructors receive higher wages and can ask for more flexible hours. The skills learned in the course can then be used to teach private lessons to community members.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Lifeguard training is physically challenging and working as a lifeguard demands a certain level of physical stamina. It is important to begin conditioning several months before the evaluations to ensure proficiency in skills such as dead weight retrieval and treading water. Specific requirements vary from city to city.
What I learned:
Working as a lifeguard demands development of social skills in order to gain the trust and respect of the patrons. Basic medical knowledge is also gained in the study of first aid and CPR and the training is a good start for teens interested in starting a career in medicine or health care.
Lifeguard
Description:
I worked as a lifeguard for the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas. This entailed watching over the pools and keeping the guest safe while swimming. One guard rotation had 4-5 different places were we watched different parts of the two pools and slide. Each rotation would last about an hour with a 30 minute break in between. I had to be CPR and lifeguard certified. On top of making sure everyone was safe at the pool, I also had to help with keeping the pool area clean. I would pick up garbage, towels, clean up cabanas, etc. I also would rent our kayaks and peddle boats for the lake and hand out clean towels and rafts to the guests of the hotel.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
I got the idea to be a lifeguard from all of my friends. I lived in Vegas so most young teenagers were lifeguards at local pools or hotels. It is so hot there and there are so many pools in the valley that is it easy to get employment at a pool as a lifeguard.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
It was always a hard day when we got really busy, especially the holidays. Fourth of July was the hardest. We were 100% full at the hotel and the pool would be so crowded all day. It was difficult to watch over a full pool and were had to constantly be on our guard. Also we served alcohol by the pool so we had to watch for people getting too drunk and dangerous. Also there was always a problem with heat stroke. No one would stay hydrated while outside in the heat and we had several cases of heat exhaustion.
What I learned:
I was able to learn life saving skills that I can keep with me throughout my life. The ability to be able to save someone’s life has benefited me already as I got older. Also working at a hotel allowed me to develop great customer service skills. I was constantly having to help guests with concerns or problems, while also getting to know them.