The minimum requirement for various types of lifeguard careers is an advanced-level Red Cross lifesaving certificate. The certificate is earned after passing a water safety course, and it requires annual renewals and course updates to remain valid. Lifeguards can teach swimming lessons if they have a Red Cross instructor’s certificate. All types of lifeguards must be strong swimmers in good physical condition. Public pools, public and private athletic clubs, beaches, schools with pools, community recreation centers, hotels, and cruise ships are all places where lifeguards can work.
Lifeguarding jobs at athletic clubs, schools, and community centers may require lifeguards to have a Red Cross instructor’s certificate in order to teach swimming lessons and provide lifeguard services. Several lifeguards and swim instructors may be present in these settings to ensure client safety while also teaching people to swim. Pool cleaning and maintenance, such as adding chemicals and regularly keeping debris and garbage out of and away from the pool area, may be part of these jobs. Pool lifeguards must enforce rules such as no running on pool decks, as this can cause people to slip and fall due to the hard surface.
Because lifeguards live among their customers, hotel and cruise ship lifeguard careers are based on hospitality and suit people with a pleasant, mature personality. A hotel lifeguard may be able to live off-site, but cruise ship lifeguards are unable to do so while on duty. Traveling on a ship with perks like first-class food, on the other hand, may help to compensate for the lack of total privacy.
A city’s park board may hire lifeguards who work at public beaches and parks. These types of lifeguard jobs are typically seasonal, with lifeguards at beaches and park pools being hired only for the summer. If the beach is closed for any reason, such as a park board decision about public safety, the hired lifeguard is not required to work or be paid. Lifeguards who enjoy being outside in the summer and have other sources of income or who attend school the rest of the year may find these positions appealing.
All types of lifeguard careers require hats, T-shirts, and swimsuits or shorts as standard work attire. At any sign of an emergency, a lifeguard must be ready to jump into the water. The word “Lifeguard” should be prominently displayed on lifeguard uniforms. Lifeguard chairs are usually tall and placed near the water’s edge so that lifeguards can keep an eye on swimmers while also having a good view of the entire swimming area.