You have no doubt seen lifeguards on TV and in movies. Most of the time, they are in the middle of dramatic situations or watching over the pool or beach looking glamorous while hanging out with their friends. The reality of being a lifeguard, however, is slightly different than the media would have you believe. You won’t be saving swimmers from threatening situations all day, but you won’t be sitting at your station all day either. Being a lifeguard involves several daily tasks and responsibilities to keep the pool running efficiently. So, what do lifeguards do all day?

Basic Pool Maintenance
Lifeguards learn how to read chemical levels in the pool to make sure the water is balanced and has the proper pH and chlorine levels, among other chemical tests. Keeping the water balanced is important to avoid algae growth or high pH levels that can cause swimmers’ eyes to sting. Usually, the lifeguard team is also responsible for keeping the rest of the facility clean and organized. Lifeguards rotate to complete secondary cleaning duties to keep the pool pristine and their eyes fresh to observe members.

Scan the Pool
Lifeguards scan the pool to make sure swimmers stay safe and intervene when any dangerous situations arise. While guards scan, they need to stay distraction-free and make sure members are safe. They need to act quickly in case of an emergency so don’t take it personally if they don’t look you in the eye when they speak to you.

General Pool Safety
Lifeguards oversee enforcing pool rules. These include reminding patrons of “no diving” rules, making sure members do not move furniture that violates ADA and emergency ergonomics, asking members to shower and wear proper swim attire to lower the chances of the pool being shut down due to chlorine resistant disease transmission. Additionally, this means making calls based on weather or other emergency conditions to keep members safe.

Think you are ready for the challenges and responsibilities of becoming a lifeguard? Visit asirecreation.org to learn more about how to become a lifeguard and sign up for one of our lifeguard certification classes using our SRWC GO app.