A lifeguard is a professional who has trained to prevent drowning in order to preserve the lives of bathers who are involved in a critical situation at sea, river or pool. This profession emerged in the 20th century, and England was one of the first countries to develop the lifeguard service.
Usually found on more frequented beaches, the Lifeguards are always prepared to provide immediate assistance to bathers or to warn of the risks caused by jellyfish, sharks or other dangers.
To become a Lifeguard, it is necessary to have completed elementary school, be up to date with electoral obligations, not have suffered any type of criminal conviction, be at least eighteen years old and at most thirty-five years old, in addition, to go through the rigorous selection process.
The selected candidates are hired under the statutory legal regime, commonly hired in the months of January, February and March, and the period can be extended or reduced according to the needs of the activity. The minimum requirements are good muscle strength, good lung capacity, patience, determination; ability with sports, ability to concentrate and work in a team, ability to overcome barriers; being disciplined, fast and very responsible.
Lifeguards receive complete training that involves training to swim correctly, acquire knowledge of cardiac massage techniques, breathing, oceanography, bather care and agility in prevention and rescue actions because, during a possible drowning, a few seconds can mean a lifetime.
To identify areas which are safe and which are not suitable for bathing, the Lifeguards place indicator boards in different colours. Each one has a meaning:
Green: good sea
Yellow: Attention
Red: Dangerous place
Both the Greens, Yellows and Reds are usually placed in the direction of the place, and in the case of the latter, they are placed in front of rip currents or sandbanks, which means that bathers are not allowed to enter, because in this area the risk of reckless drowning is very high. To learn more, if the bather enters a rip current, which has a speed of 3 m/s; means that not even the best swimmer who swims at 2m/s can go against this current. Lifeguards help you not to defy nature and if something like that happens, it’s important to swim to the opposite side looking for a sandbar.
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In addition to these activities, Lifeguard is also responsible for prevention activities, with the objective of preventing accidents on sea or freshwater beaches (rivers, lakes and ponds) and also in swimming pools, through educational campaigns. It is very common in high season to see signs and posters with information about the Lifeguard.
Lifeguards use a variety of important devices that can be a great help for exhausted swimmers to save them from drowning. These devices include life rings and throw bags, and many can be attached directly to a lifeguard chair. If rescuing someone, a life saving device, such as mentioned above, can help the drowning swimmer stay afloat while the lifeguard tows them to shore.
• Lifeguard chairs with umbrellas can help prevent lifeguards from getting severe burns.
• Lifeguard chairs are usually placed high up to give a better view of the area.
Lifeguard training is necessary for any interested person who wants to be a hero in water. The lifeguard training places you in a perfect place where you are best able to do the life-saving job with certification and be skilled and qualified to help the people in need.
The American Lifeguard Association offers basic lifeguard training near me programs in all major cities in the USA. Lifeguard training is a must qualification to start your profession to save lives in waters and surroundings.