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Things I've Learned As a Lifeguard

Being a lifeguard is hard work, but it shows you the other side of what it's like to save a life.

By Rich BurtonPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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My college job, among many I've had, is being a head lifeguard. I have the responsibility to watch people swimming and make sure that they don't drown or injure themselves in anyway.

I personally never have to perform cpr on someone, thankfully, but I've had some close calls. When parents come in with their many kids, they expect the lifeguards to babysit their kids. That's not our job. One child was staying on the wall which is a sure sign that they don't know how to swim, but he felt adventurous one moment and left the wall. I watched him attempt to swim towards his dad to see if he was capable, but then he slowly descended in the pool water, wide eyed, looking helpless. He was close enough I could just grab him and pull him up, but he was scared. I talked to his father saying, "Sir, please watch your children." He smiled and nodded and said,

"Thanks."

Thanks? That's literally all I get for saving your child's life, whom you weren't even watching? Excuse me sir. Don't just assume because I am a lifeguard I'm your child's babysitter at the pool.

Another scary situation I had was a little autistic girl was running around the pool and the deck was tile and covered in water. Essentially meaning it was a death trap for runners. We were chasing after her trying not to slip ourselves. She ended up slipping and hit her head on the deck and looked lifeless. She didn't move nor make it seem like there was any life coming from her.

Apparently I let out a little scream and actually ran towards. Once I got to her, I saw that she was breathing and her eyes were open. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I asked her buddy what her name was, Melanie. She kept closing her eyes, and every time I said her name she would look at me. I stroked her hair, and asked her questions hoping that would keep her interested and awake. She ended up getting up on her own, after about 1 minute and walked away. I helped her walk so she wouldn't run and then her mom took her. She said thank you and asked Melanie if she fell and she mumbled a yeah. The next week she came back lively and excited to swim.

When becoming a lifeguard, you must go through extensive training. You need to learn how to save someone's life in and out of water. It starts by learning the basics of CPR and how to administer it to someone who it not breathing, having a heart attack, etc. Then learn how to use an AED. And AED is an automated external defibrillator. It shocks you to get your heart starting back up. You must also learn first aid and how to administer it to those who are bleeding profusely, having a diabetic emergency, etc. Then you have to learn how to save someone's life in the water. It starts by knowing how to jump in the water to save someone drowning. Most of the time you must keep your head above the water so you can always see the victim. Then you need to learn how to save them depending on if they are a passive victim, an active victim, a submerged victim, in deep water, in shallow water, etc. Always be on your guard. (pun intended)

Lifeguarding sometimes isn't a glamorous job. We clean, stand around, watch people swim the same stroke, answer stupid questions, and wear a fanny pack. We do all these though to make sure the facility is safe, and the people swimming in it are safer.

Being a lifeguard doesn't mean getting tan and having a cool job over the summer you have to be someone who is ready to face an emergency on the fly. Someone who is prepared to watch people swim for hours on end. To talk to people, and to understand and try to understand their problems. So when someone asks you to be a lifeguard over the summer really think about what you're getting yourself into. I've been a lifeguard for 3 years, and it's a love/hate relationship.

The things I will take away from this job are: CPR/AED training, how to save someone's life, concentration, awareness, sympathy, WSI instruction, patience, and leadership.

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About the Creator

Rich Burton

I’m a work from home mom with 2 crazy kids. I write for fun with the hopes of finishing my unfinished book!

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