THE BASICS

When a lifeguard is on duty, it is critical that they are prepared both mentally and physically to perform their job. We have identified five attributes that make a professional lifeguard. As an Aquatics Director, it is important that you not only educate each lifeguard on the importance of all the attributes but also hold them accountable when supervising.

Rescue Ready
A lifeguard who is rescue ready has the proper equipment, mindset, and training that they need to be successful. That means they are:

• In the right mindset to perform their job
• In an identifiable uniform that they could make a rescue comfortably in
• Protected from the sun with polarized sunglasses, under an umbrella, wearing a hat, etc. (if guarding outdoors)
• Equipped with the right equipment, including a whistle, rescue tube with its strap across the chest, and personal protective equipment (gloves, rescue mask, etc.) readily in hand
• In attendance of all in-service trainings and drills so that they can regularly practice their skills
• Confident in all equipment and policies needed to respond to a victim (AED, Oxygen, Emergency Action Plan, etc.)

If a lifeguard is not in a proper uniform, wearing the proper equipment, or is otherwise unprepared or inattentive, intervene and resolve the issue immediately. Then, when they are off scanning duty, educate them on the importance of being rescue ready, so that they are set up to be successful in their next shift.

Rescue Tube Example
As seen in this photo, the rescue tube is in the hand of the lifeguard, and the strap is across the lifeguard’s chest. 

Protective Equipment Example
As seen in this photo, the lifeguard’s hip pack is being worn on them, not secured to a guard stand or somewhere else nearby. A mask and gloves should also always be present in the hip pack. 

Positioned to Protect
A lifeguard who is positioned to protect is able to see their entire area of responsibility in order to identify and respond to a victim quickly and get them the care that they need. That means they are:

• Guarding only one body of water
• At the edge of the water, either standing, roaming, or sitting
• If seated, seated in an elevated chair, not a deck-level chair
• Able to see their entire area of responsibility
• Altering their position if glare or other obstructions cause them to not see sections of their area of responsibility
• Clearing their area of responsibility before and after they take a new position

For additional information on positioned to protect, please view our toolkit section on Lifeguard Positioning.

Singularly Focused
A lifeguard who is singularly focused while on scanning duty is never distracted by personal or secondary activities. Make sure they are:

• Scanning their entire zone, and not being distracted by anything (phone calls, music, texting, reading, conversations, etc.)
• Doing no other work that would distract them from scanning (swim test, testing chemicals, cleaning the deck, moving lane lines, etc.)

As an Aquatics Director, it is your responsibility to make sure that when a lifeguard is on scanning duty, you are not tasking them with additional responsibilities. Also, it is important that when you are supervising lifeguards, you are holding them accountable to being singularly focused at all times. That may look like enforcing strict no phone policies, intervening if you see side conversations, or making sure that lifeguards are getting adequate breaks so that they are able to use the bathroom, eat, or complete any other personal needs that may distract them.

Aggressively Scanning
A lifeguard who is aggressively scanning is actively and intentionally investigating their water for any sign of distress. As an Aquatics Director, verify that lifeguards are:

• Investigating their entire area of responsibility
• Constantly vigilant and paying attention to all patrons, and all activity on and below the water’s surface and bottom

Empowered to Protect
A lifeguard who is empowered to protect understands the responsibility that their role carries, and is not afraid to speak up if something is wrong, or they need help. A lifeguard is empowered to protect if they are:

• Speaking up and taking corrective action if they see swimmers breaking rules or engaging in risky behavior
• Consistently enforcing all non-swimmer protection rules
• Identifying any youth that are marked as non-swimmers or have not yet been marked, and making sure they are confined to shallow water and are protected (e.g. using a PFD or in arm’s reach of a responsible adult)
• Given the authority to close a section of the water, or the water entirely, if the conditions are deemed unsafe

As an Aquatics Director, it is important that all lifeguards know that you have their back. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to intervene and speak up. By showing your support and reinforcing these behaviors, you’ll help lifeguards to be more confident to protect everyone.