Millions of visitors and locals hit the beaches, lakes, rivers and pools each year. But sometimes we need a little help, and there are lifeguards in place to do just that. No matter what kind of lifeguard you are, your one number task is not rescuing people, instead your main duty is to prevent and protect the public from getting into a dangerous situation in the first place. As a lifeguard, you are constantly looking for potential danger, and your job is to warn people before that danger becomes an issue.
Surveillance, Emergency Care, Maintenance Duties
Lifeguards are responsible for keeping swimmers’ safe, and must be able to intervene in dangerous situations. During lifeguard training, lifeguards learn to identify emergency situations quickly.
Lifeguards caution people against using unsafe areas, or using illegal conduct, such as drinking or fighting. That means as a lifeguard you must be able to remain calm in all situations, if you panic or show fear the victim or the trouble maker will know it.
Beach Lifeguards
Beach lifeguards will warn people about rip currents, remind parents that waves will knock their children down, and to keep your loved ones within view. Beach lifeguards must be proficient in using two-way radios for contact, and coordinate activities between the different emergency rescue units. Beach lifeguards also have to maintain daily information on weather and beach conditions.
Beach lifeguards are constantly scanning the water in a similar pattern as a pool lifeguard, but they have a much larger surface to cover, and can rarely see below the water, so it is important to keep the beach lifeguard vigilant. Most facilities frequently rotate beach lifeguards from station to station to help them stay fresh and alert, and to offer breaks from surveillance responsibilities. Beach lifeguards, as well as pool lifeguards must be distraction-free, that means no cell phones and other items that take their eyes off the water.
Pool Lifeguards
Pool lifeguards keep patrons’ safe around and in the pool, from reminding people to walk, so they avoid slip and fall injuries, to stopping rough housing. They also teach swim lessons, and encourage things like the buddy system to keep you safe. Beach lifeguards supervise the use of water slides, and diving boards (if applicable), as well as pool maintenance, such as checking the swimming pools chlorine and pH levels.
Pool lifeguards scan the water, just like beach lifeguards do, looking for swimmers in trouble. They are trained to make a scanning pattern, by sweeping their eyes side to side or up and down looking at sections of the zone they are responsible for. This scanning method will happen every 10 seconds. It is suggested that they change their posture, position, and pattern every five minutes to keep them aware.
Both Beach and Pool Lifeguards
Provide emergency care and treatment such as CPR, and or use equipment like using spine boards and rescue tubes, as required until the arrival of EMTs. This year in particular beach lifeguards have had to administer first aid for stingray stings, using portable stingray kits.
Both lifeguard types perform various maintenance duties, as directed, to maintain a clean and safe facility.
Both lifeguard types will prepare daily activity reports.
Now that you understand some of the day to day duties of a lifeguard, our next posts will cover what it takes to get through lifeguard training, followed by lifeguard certification and testing, and ending with what to expect at lifeguard tryouts. Once this series is complete, you will have all the information you need to make an advised decision on whether or not becoming a lifeguard is right for you.
The Lifeguard Uniforms at Original Watermen are made by lifeguards, for lifeguards. Knowing what goes in to the training, exercise and strenuous activity of professional lifeguards, it is incredibly important to Original Watermen when it comes to designing apparel and equipment that only the best products are made for our agencies. At Original Watermen, our lifeguard uniformsand equipment are satisfaction guaranteed. In this industry, everyday performance easily deteriorates and overuses average equipment. For this reason, we strive to provide the lifeguard community with only the highest and toughest quality for endurance, support and comfort.
Both men’s and women’s Lifeguard Uniforms come in a variety of colors and styles. Women’s Lifeguard Uniforms come in both one- and two-piece designs. Men’s Lifeguard Uniforms range from our popular Retro Short with the 5-inch inseam to the longer Watermen Pro Lifeguard Boardshort that is preferred by more than 75,000 lifeguards around the world. Whatever your guards’ preference in uniform style, Original Watermen satisfies your agency’s needs with a range of styles. For those chilly dawn patrols, our Watermen Pant and Watermen Pullover set is worn by guards across the globe for their exceptional comfort, fit, and extra deep pockets. Also, most lifeguard uniforms can be embroidered with your agency’s name and/or logo – give us a call for more information.
Original Watermen Lifeguard Uniformsare tested and proven by thousands of rescue professionals worldwide, from ocean and pool lifeguards to military Special Forces and Coast Guard. With over 1,900 agencies to test our quality, it’s not question why our Lifeguard Uniformscontinue to be a favorite among the industry. Junior Lifeguard programs who partner with us are also promised the same quality and comfort as our adult lifeguard line of clothing and apparel. Our men’s four-way stretch short can also be ordered as a boy’s Junior Lifeguard Uniform, as can the one- and two-piece designs for girls. Also, the Elasta Girl Super Stretch Short is made with the same high-tech four-way super stretch poly microfiber as in our men’s line, and can be used both as a regular short and a cover up.
Original Watermen uniforms and clothing can fully outfit your agency in more than just swimsuits. Our line of water and ocean inspired tees, hoodies, jackets and rashguards will keep your lifeguards patrolling in style, on and off the tower. We also carry a full line of high-quality equipment that ranges from Da Fins, tubes and cans, to backboards and first aid supplies. For the full line of Lifeguard Uniforms, equipment and other apparelat Original Watermen, visit our web site at www.orginialwatermen.com or give us a call at 1-760-599-0990.
At Original Watermen, we understand the Junior Lifeguard program’s importance in teaching kids and teens about ocean and water safety. Junior Lifeguard programs are an awesome way for youth to get involved with beach and ocean skills and safety. Starting as early as the age of 9 in most cities, Junior Lifeguard programs focus on combining education with ocean and sea recreation. Junior Lifeguard programs encourage and teach youth about the ocean environment and how to gain professional lifesaving skills.
Original Watermen works closely with several Junior Lifeguard agencies both locally and nationally. In Southern California alone, we support the Encinitas Junior Lifeguards, City of Oceanside Junior Guards, Carlsbad Junior Guards, San Diego Junior Lifeguards, Imperial Beach Jr. Guards, and Huntington State Junior Guards to name a few. We work especially closely with the Junior Lifeguard program in Encinitas, attending their tryouts during the summer and supplying them with all of their lifeguard swimwear and equipment, which ranges from swimsuits, trunks and rashguards to backpacks, fins and hats.
Any Junior Lifeguardneeds the same quality and comfort during their program as professional lifeguards do. At Original Watermen, our line of Junior Lifeguardapparel and equipment maintains the same top quality suits and trunks as our adult men’s and women’s line. For boys, our Junior Elastic Waist Boardshort is 100% sanded polyester microfiber, features a microshield cargo pocket and is an adjustable fit without an elastic look. Girl Junior Lifeguards can also choose from one- and two-piece designs, just like our women’s line, which provide the same coverage and support. We also carry the Elasta Girl Super Stretch Short in junior sizes, which is made with the same four-way super stretch poly microfiber as in the men and women’s line – and it can be used as a regular short or a cover up.
To check out our full line of Junior Lifeguard suits, trunks, and other equipment, visit www.originalwatermen.com or give a call at 1-760-599-0990. Also, for a full list of the Junior Lifeguard programs Original Watermen works with, check out THE LIST on our web site, or see below:
City of Encinitas Jr. Guards
CA State Jr.Guard-Carlsbad
San Diego Jr. Guards
CA State Jr. Guards –Silverstrand
City of Oceanside Jr. Guards
Sarasota County Jr. Guards
Hollywood, FL Jr. Guards
Ventura Jr. Guards
UC Santa Barbara Jr. Guards
Rehoboth Beach, DE Jr. Guards
City of Santa Cruz Jr. Guards
Santa Cruz State Jr. Guards
Huntington State Jr. Guards
Imperial Beach Jr. Guards
To view our entire lifeguard storeor lifeguard lounge for all type of lifeguard equipment, visit our Web site at www.originalwatermen.com or give a call at 1-760-599-0990.
When you assume responsibility as a lifeguard you are not only a trained lifeguard but also a figure of authority and you must dress the part. Although lifeguard uniforms may vary there will be certain elements which are common to lifeguard clothing.
The apparel of lifeguards is made of extremely durable and high quality materials which are also waterproof. Since the garments are exposed long to water and chlorine and salt in the water they must be of superior quality so as not to get discoloured or fade away. It is necessary that the clothing of lifeguards be in top condition all the time as it is one of the ways of recognizing them.
The colour of the lifeguard uniforms will be red in the majority of the cases although black, navy and orange may also be worn. The emphasis is on the fact that whatever colour is worn it should be loud and clearly visible even in water.
Lifeguard t-shirts will all have the lettering ‘LIFEGUARD’ clearly visible on them so that people in or near the water can easily identify the lifeguards. Easy identification of lifeguards is imperative so that people know whom to turn to in case an emergency arises. The font of the lettering should be large and clear and make for easy reading. Small lettering is only passable if the lifeguard is in some sort of a uniform for that particular area and is easily recognizable in that way. The height and thickness of the font should be appropriate and make for quick reading.
It is highly preferable if the lifeguard t-shirt/shirt has the same lettering on the back also as it will further promote the visibility. This is also very practical since it is not necessary that the lifeguard will always be sitting on his chair; he maybe pacing up and down his stretch and the back lettering will clearly make him stand out.
The quality of lifeguardapparel, as mentioned earlier has to be of top quality. It has to be 100% pre-shrunk cotton because cotton is comfortable to wear and being a natural fabric is breathable. This is very useful especially on hot days as lifeguards cannot afford to be feeling uncomfortable in their own clothes. The pre-shrunk factor is necessary because lifeguards are in and out of the water and also have to wash their garments repeatedly; they cannot have the garments shrinking and worrying about the sizes all the time.
The ink used on the lettering on the t-shirts has to be of very good quality and permanent as the t-shirts are washed repeatedly. The lettering should shine and be clear even after innumerable washes and not run or fade away. Good manufacturers put almost three coatings of ink to ensure that it does not lose the colour.
It is very vital that lifeguard clothing be able to provide the flexibility, visibility and durability required by the wearer and should not become an impediment for the wearer carrying out the responsibility.
Shop the Original Watermen Lifeguard clothing, including junior lifeguard for Men and Women, board shorts, swimwear, lifeguard shorts, and lifeguard uniforms from our lifeguard store. Visit us at http://www.originalwatermen.com for everything the watermen needs. Well, you’ll have to bring the purified water, though. For more information give a call at 1-760-599-0990.
Millions of visitors and locals hit the beaches, lakes, rivers and pools each year. But sometimes we need a little help, and there are lifeguards in place to do just that. No matter what kind of lifeguard you are, your one number task is not rescuing people, instead your main duty is to prevent and protect the public from getting into a dangerous situation in the first place. As a lifeguard, you are constantly looking for potential danger, and your job is to warn people before that danger becomes an issue.
