Lifeguards

By Susan Hickey

Are you a college or high school student looking to beef up your bank account?  A former swim team member who cares about kids’ safety? Perhaps a parent looking for a side hustle?  Maybe a lifelong athlete who loves the water?  If any of these sound like you, you might be a great candidate for a lifeguard position at the YMCA.  There is a significant need for lifeguards at many of our local YMCAs so we can keep our pools open year round.

Why be a lifeguard?  There are many benefits, including:

• Knowing you could be making a difference in someone’s life by preventing an accident before it occurs
• The opportunity to become certified in CPR which has benefits in areas other than the pool
• A chance to build a resume with skills like responsibility, problem solving and quick thinking
• Staying active walking the pool deck while keeping an eye on the water
• Building interpersonal and communication skills through lots of interactions with a variety of people on a daily basis.

People interested in becoming lifeguards need to be eligible for three certifications:  as a Professional Rescuer (CPR), in First Aid and as a lifeguard.  Minimum age to be considered is fifteen (15) years old.

To pass the certification exam, a lifeguard candidate would need to demonstrate the following: 

• 250 yard swim including different strokes
• underwater swim of 15 feet
• tread water for 2 minutes
• the ability to perform compressions on an individual after diving to the bottom of the pool and swimming 25 yards
• climbing out of the pool without assistance

Responsibilities include maintaining a safe pool environment, enforcing rules and regulations of the pool, and basic maintenance of chemicals, treatments and recordkeeping of the above.  Lifeguards may be asked to assist in swim instruction in special circumstances.

Right now, due to the shortage, the YMCA is offering FREE training and certification in exchange for a six-month commitment.  It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills and make a difference in our members’ lives.

For more information, check out the YMCA website here.