Lifeguarding Essay

One of the most overlooked careers is lifeguarding. People cannot truly understand the thought process of a lifeguard until actual being one. The mind of an on duty lifeguard runs wild, constantly being reminded of the fact that an accident could occur at any second. I have lifeguarded for three years. Something many people do not know is that there is so much more to lifeguarding than just jumping into the pool to save someone. It is a lifeguard’s duty to assess the situation and decide what kind of pool entrance should be used in order to successfully save someone. There are four main pool entries, each with distinct characteristics which make them unique. They are the slide-in entry, stride jump, compact jump, and the run-and-swim entry.
Similar to the stride jump, the compact jump is also used when the water is at least five feet deep. The difference, however, is that it is to be used when the guard is more than three feet above the water. A lifeguard might use this jump when sitting on an above-ground guard stand. In order to perform this jump, a guard should hold their tube the same way they would hold it for performing a stride jump. Then, the guard will jump into the pool with their knees bent, as if they were sitting in a chair (91). By keeping their legs bent and feet together, the guard will be able to stay above the surface of the water and safely begin to rescue their victim. The final type of entry is the run-and-swim entry. This entry is commonly used on beaches and pools that have slopes rather than stairs. In order to perform this entry, a lifeguard should hold their tube tightly to their chest. Then, run into the water, making sure to lift knees high, in order to keep from falling. Once the water becomes too deep to run any longer, the guard should keep their tube in the same place, and begin to swim to the victim (91). While swimming, it’s important that the guard keep his or her head above the water, to keep sight of their victim at all