Nothing compares to my summers as a lifeguard

Growing up as a swimmer from Long Island, New York, I was surrounded by water and spent my summers at the beach or in the pool. I was always the first one to go for a swim and the last one out. As a result, I always knew that my first summer job would be a lifeguard.

Someone’s life is in your hands

My first lifeguarding job was at a camp. It was nice having responsibility, being outside, and of course getting so tan. By the end of the summer, I was in a pool almost every day and my hair even got extremely blonde from the sun and chlorine.

We’re always watching

As a total beach bum and someone that likes anything to do with the water, sometimes I wish I guarded at a beach or country club, but guarding at a summer camp taught me many things. It taught me to have more patience, to put others first, and to always be alert with young campers around. I wouldn’t trade my experience.

Get used to being a morning person

From waking up early for school earlier in the year, I wouldn’t say that I was a fan of getting up for work around 6 or 6:30, as I felt like I didn’t get much of a break. However, it was still worth it.

We don’t just watch the pool

Once at work, everyone had to do a morning duty that rotated by week. Some chores such as putting out rescue tubes or ‘walking the deck’ were much easier than having to vacuum the pool. Whatever chore I had though, I’d do it cooperatively with good teamwork skills, to get the seven or eight hour day started on the right foot.

You have to be proactive, even though there’s usually nothing to do

When we were actually lifeguarding, sometimes it was a 40 minute shift in the hot sun taking the struggle bus, and other times it was a tad easier. It’s not something where you can just sit back in the chair and mindlessly glance over the pool -instead you have to actively scan your zone.

The dog days of summer

On ‘hot’ days where it was probably sunny with not a cloud in the sky and over 85 degrees, it was absolutely fantastic getting our occasional dips in the pool when we would rotate around the different pools. My inner fish would come out and I’d never my break to end.In

Other times when it was a bit overcast or a little chilly, it was also a ride in the struggle bus. You couldn’t really complain, but you just had to deal with it. With any weather, having nicely to tell the kids to get off the rope or something like that wasn’t bad, but it would just get a little annoying when they wouldn’t listen.

Just keep swimming

As I said before with working at a strict camp with a lot of rules and lifeguards, we barely had any injuries which was extremely rewarding. We also had a ‘Deep Water Test’, which I was actually one of the lead guards for. It was where we had to monitor weaker swimmers, give them the rescue tube, and pull them out of the pool if need be.

Your lifeguard instincts always stick with you

My experience as a lifeguard was definitely a good one. I felt like I was in my element at the pool and outside. It’s taught me a lot of important life skills and to always be responsible. Overall, it’s extremely rewarding and was an enjoyable part of summer.