The Risks of Lifeguarding: Preparing Lifeguards for the Challenges Ahead

Stuart Crowley

Popular thought about lifeguarding is that it is a summer job spent lounging on the beach or by the pool soaking in the sun with a watchful eye on swimmers. The truth, however, entirely differs; sheltering a higher degree of welfare and expectations, lifeguards are first responders themselves, confronted with some of the highest risks in the industry daily: drowning, physical injuries, and psychological wounds. 

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA), a prestigious body responsible for training lifeguards, is in most cases equipped with the necessary tools and skills that would allow them to implement the aforementioned managerial techniques.

Within this space, we will look at the different risks that lifeguards encounter and the provisions empowered by ALA to mitigate those risks, before further broadening the dialogue on lifeguard safety and taking into consideration the recent protest staged in Hull, UK, that sets the tone for needing serious attention toward giving better protections for lifeguards.

The Risks Lifeguards Face

Lifeguards are considered the front line of water safety. However, a larger section of their jobs requires more than standing with whistles and orders. They assist with the prevention of accidents, respond to emergencies, and sometimes put their lives at risk to rescue others. Lifeguards face major hazards such as:

1. Drowning Rescues: Physically rescuing a person from the water carves itself in stone as the most apparent risk. Oftentimes, the lifeguard must swim against a current, through dangerous surf, or go in after a victim under risky conditions. Bringing a constant risk and being in demand, open-water rescue presents some extreme hazards.

2. Giving Rescue Orders: Muscle strains, spinal injuries, or broken bones can occur during work-related injuries. Other injuries are posed due to dangerous working conditions, such as slipping on wet surfaces and getting cut with sharp objects in the water.

3. Exposure to Waterborne Illnesses: Being lifeguards, waterborne illnesses are unavoidable; especially in pools or natural waters that have not been properly maintained. During a rescue, blood or other bodily fluids may be introduced into the rescuers, putting them at risk of infection.

4. Psychological Stress: In day-to-day lifeguarding situations, it is often inescapable to experience enormous psychological stress involving life-and-death emergencies. The pressure of trying to make it through a lifeguard day can involve making split-second decisions, the emotional burden of losing a victim, or indeed the psychological aftermath of administering CPR-it's an unrelenting slow form of debilitating pressure, burnout, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

5. Environmental Hazards: Outdoor workers are exposed to extreme temperatures, sunburn, dehydration, and lightning strikes, to name a few. Prolonged exposure to sunlight raises the spectre of skin cancers. 

6. Violence and Harassment: In general, lifeguards are not spared from verbal and physical aggression inflicted by the public, whether from rowdy swimmers assaulting their rights, harassment, or even assault.

The American Lifeguard Association's Role in Risk Mitigation

The American Lifeguard Association is the principal organization that trains lifeguards in all the training they need to mitigate or manage the many risks they may face. Their programs concern not only the techniques that will later be learned but also the physical and mental preparedness required to remain safe and effective on the job.

1. Training Programs: The ALA offers basic water-rescue techniques to advance first aid and CPR. Lifeguards are trained in understanding hazards, making fast assessments, and taking quick and proper action. Such training greatly reduces risks associated with lifeguard rescues and emergencies.

2. Physical Fitness: Lifeguards should maintain themselves in their peak possible condition because it is such a physically demanding job. They engage in endurance swimming, come to learn how to strength train, and have other exercises for safety and effectiveness in rescue performances. 

3. Mental Health Care: ALA believes that lifeguarding is psychologically taxing and has included mental health awareness as part of its training programs, teaching lifeguards to use coping mechanisms for stress and trauma and advocating for access to counselling and support programs.

4. Safety protocols: ALA offers lifesaving protocols for lifeguards to reduce risks, such as proper use of rescue equipment, maintaining a distance from distressed swimmers, and working in teams to ensure that no lifeguard faces unnecessary danger.

5. Rights of Lifeguards: The last thing on the ALA's agenda is to create awareness of the problems lifeguards face and fight for better working conditions, fairness in pay, and access to health and safety resources.

 A Global Perspective: The Protest in Hull

Not restricted to the USA, Lifeguards face risks that are similar to those affecting the USA. In a recent article by the BBC, it was reported that there was a protest by lifeguards demanding better protection and working conditions in Hull, UK. 

The article noted that lifeguards in Hull raised issues such as overpopulation of staff, insufficient equipment, and lack of support for mental health. Such problems are not so far separated from what lifeguards may well be experiencing around the world and lend further credence to the need for continuance by such organizations as the American Lifeguard Association.

Mobilizing the Public

The role of institutions like the ALA in boosting the lifeguarding industry is important, but the public should not be overlooked in this exercise. Most people tend to underestimate the dangers engulfing lifeguards and the qualities of skill and dedication required for the job. In this regard, one would like to educate the public on such challenges in fostering respect for lifeguarding and community investment in safety and well-being. 

Additionally, swimmers can help bring risk action by merely adhering to safety regulations, shouldering with the lifeguard, and avoiding unsafe acts such as swimming in unauthorized areas or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The communities will support lifeguards with better funding, equipment, and staffing at public pools and beaches.

Final Word

Lifeguarding is one of the most important but least appreciated professions: it takes a lot of risks. The broad spectrum of challenges lifeguards experience from physical danger to psychological stress requires very special training and backing. The American Lifeguard Association is leading the charge in preparing lifeguards for such risks during their lifeguard training programs, along with fighting for their rights and safety.

The latest protest held in Hull, UK is an actual reminder of the global challenges lifeguards face and the urgent need to do better regarding protection. Support of organizations like the ALA and creating public awareness about the risks of lifeguarding can facilitate the lifeguard's presence where it is most needed: around those resources and respect necessary to continue lifesaving work.