Life Guard as the name itself suggests is a profession that involves rescuing the people when they are in danger. Although Lifeguard is a broader term and involves saving of life from any kind of danger whether it involves, fire, accident or any other natural calamity but Life Guard as a career has become the synonyms of saving a life when in danger involving water activities like drowning etc. The career of a Life Guard is not only full of challenges and thrills but also involve a great deal of responsibility and seriousness as the life of the people is at stake. One who aspires to choose this as a career is certainly a challenger and brave personality. This is a career which can provide a great deal of satisfaction besides good monetary returns.
With the increasing urbanization, change in the lifestyle of the people and increase in the commercial water activities in the coastal tourist places the career prospects for Life Guard are opening at a fast pace thereby increasing the demand for this professional at the Swimming pool, Water training centres and coastal tourist resorts.
As this profession involves risk to their own life they are respected highly in society for their work. To do the job in an effective manner they require proper training offered by various training institutes in India and Abroad.
Life Guard Eligibility
Age Limits
To be a Life Guard one must be of the age of 18 years, however, one can also find some job offers at the age of 16 or 17 years.
Life Guard Training and Certification
Although no formal Training and Certification is required to get a job of Life Guard except Good swimming skill and well-built body yet some professional training and certain life saving small term courses can be an advantage to get the job.
How to become a Life Guard?
To become a Life Guard one has to follow the given steps:
Step 1
For becoming a Life Guard the aspiring candidates have to learn swimming and be very efficient and strong to be in the water for a long time in every condition. For the open ocean, this can be extremely demanding with strong currents, cold water, and marine life. While boats and other flotation devices are used to aid swimmers, jumping in the water to help and aid a victim is still the most basic rescue technique. This means that one not only has a high level of skill as a swimmer but is fit to be able to do so for long periods. Thus to be a good swimmer is the topmost priority of becoming a Life Guard.
Step 2
Life Guard Training: the Second step towards becoming a Life Guard includes basic training in first-aid techniques, CPR process and knowledge to handle burns, cuts, and other physical maladies. Aside from this knowledge of the aquatic environment, tools used by safety personnel, and the skill to teach this knowledge to others is also necessary to these professionals. This knowledge can be attained by taking a lifeguard training course like the American Red Cross lifeguard training class or any other internationally recognized certification training provided by various training institutes throughout the world. These classes usually last about six weeks. At the end of the course candidates usually have to pass a written test, a CPR test, a swim test and a rescue test. Once they have successfully completed their lifeguard training course and passed all your tests, they will receive their basic certification.
In case the candidates want to teach swimming or aquatic safety classes, they will need their Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification. With their certificates in their hands, it’s time to start applying for jobs at different pools, water parks, theme parks, camps, coastal resorts and beaches etc.
Life Guard Career Prospects and Job Description
Work of a Life Guard primarily relates to rescue the person from the water in case they are drowning. Five items that can be considered as the causes of drowning i.e inability to cope, lack of education, lack of protection, lack of safety advice, and lack of supervision. It becomes Life Guards job to make sure that on their beaches or at their pools these forces are worked against to ensure safety in first place.
Life Guard Salary
Depending on the workplace and working conditions LifeGuard can expect anything between Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 a month to start with which can increase with the time and experience. Once got the job one can always increase his credentials by getting more advanced training by taking head lifeguard and professional rescuer courses. Doing so will give one the credentials to get the top paying lifeguard jobs.
