Modern Day Lifeguarding

Len Rodriguez (Left) Sept. 2011
“To this day I still remain on the beach in beautiful Palm Beach County Florida…”

By: Len Rodriguez
www.lifeguardservices.net

Years ago, full time professional lifeguards were rare and hard to come by. Most lifeguard jobs were seasonal, with the exception of states where the climate was supportive of swimming year round, such as southern California and Florida.

Now, many have chosen lifeguarding as a full time career, with the opportunities developed in the many different venues that require lifeguards.

The training in modern day lifeguarding has become much more specialized because of various agencies; professionalized organizations have also been formed to represent the different lifeguarding disciplines such as the World Water Park Association and The United States Lifesaving Association.

Individuals interested in pursuing lifeguarding as a career, or moonlighting part time can sign up and take a course in lifeguarding from The American Red Cross, YMCA, or other recognized agencies. The courses may include water rescue techniques in pools, water parks, and open water such as lakes, and can also include CPR, First Aid, the use of the lifesaving AED, and oxygen administration.

The United States Lifesaving Association is the leading US agency in training and certifying individuals and ocean rescue agencies in the discipline of lifeguarding. Ocean Lifeguards must have knowledge of the formation of waves, rip tides, the weather and be able to swim in many challenging conditions.

The job of a pool lifeguard offers its own challenges, such as knowledge of pool chemistry, teaching swimming lessons, and the ability, which is acquired with training and self discipline, to maintain surveillance during the “boring” lap swim sessions. The pool lifeguard must also be a strong swimmer and have expertise in handling emergencies that may be presented in his or her day of work.

Water parks offer many challenges to lifeguards on the job
on a busy day: heat emergencies, slips and falls, patrons getting in over their head on a ride that’s much to challenging for them. The water park lifeguard must be aware of all the rules and regulations involved in their place of work and must sternly, with customer care in mind, enforce the rules for the safety of the park visitors.

– Len Rodriguez chose twenty three years ago to move to Florida and pursue a career in professional lifeguarding. –

My first Florida job in 1990 was a full time pool lifeguard with Palm Beach County. In 1993 I was promoted to Assistant Pool Manager. In 1994 I transferred to Ocean Rescue in Palm Beach County. In 1998 I was promoted to Capt. Ocean Rescue Lifeguard, and in 1999 I started www.LifeGuardServices.net. To this day I remain on the beach in beautiful Palm Beach County Florida and have seven years remaining for my full retirement of 30 years of service with Palm Beach County. I love being a lifeguard, helping people understand the ocean, and the benefits and enjoyment of my favorite activity, swimming.