Lifeguard Requirements

To be a lifeguard, you have to have not just the will to be a part of a safety force. Lifeguard requirements necessitate that you have a high level of aptitude in the various skills needed to patrol and keep safe the beaches and often physically demanding bodies of water such as the open ocean.

The first and primary skill of a lifeguard is the ability to swim. Drowning is obviously the chief concern when it comes to keeping people safe near or in the water. In order to be a source of aid, safety personnel must be able to cope with the demands presented by their environment. 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 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.

One of the other major lifeguard requirements is specific education courses. This includes being knowledgeable in first-aid techniques. CPR is the most well known of these techniques, but first-aid training must also include assisting with 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 necessary.

More than just a buff body, anyone patrolling the waters needs to be fit and smart.

Related Information

Lifeguard Certification
Lifeguard certification will help you prepare for a worthwhile career.

Lifeguard Training
lifeguard training involves strenuous swim tests and physical fitness training.