Be Physically Ready for the Challenges Ahead
A lifeguard training course will put your physical abilities to the test. As a representative of the American Lifeguard Association, I cannot stress enough how important it is to come into the course in the best physical shape possible. Over the course weeks, you’ll be performing continuous cardio like swimming and running, as well as water-based rescues that require strength. Coming prepared will set you up for success from day one.
Invest time now learning and practicing the strokes you’ll need like front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and elementary backstroke. Build up your endurance in the pool by gradually increasing the time and distance. On land, start running regularly and incorporate exercises like pushups, squats and planks to build overall muscle strength and endurance.
Proper warmups and cool downs will also help prevent injury when the going gets tough. Coming into the course already knowing the strokes and having a solid fitness base will allow you to focus on mastering the lifesaving skills rather than exhausting yourself just getting through the physical components.
Sharpen Your Scanning and Recognition Skills
As a lifeguard training, your most important responsibility will be constantly scanning the zone you are protecting for signs of distress and responding immediately when you see someone in trouble. The American Lifeguard Association’s training will teach you professional scanning techniques, but it’s a skill that also benefits from independent practice. Spend as much pool or open water time as you can practicing your scanning technique even before the course begins.
Focus on scanning different zones methodically and being able to recognize subtle signs that someone needs help, like face-in the water or someone treading water who appears to be weakening. With regular practice outside of class, scanning will become second nature by the time lifeguarding scenarios start rolling around.
Develop Your Understanding of Regulations and policies
While on-site training will teach you everything you need to know to guard according to state or local regulations and the facility’s policies, doing some independent research beforehand can help the content really stick. The American Lifeguard Association website has an extensive section dedicated to reviewing regulations, equipment standards and model aquatic safety plans from across the country.
Taking the time to get acquainted with the key aspects that will be covered shows initiative and will better prepare you for rapid-fire questioning during exams and evaluations. Furthermore, understanding why certain protocols exist before being taught them provides valuable context that can translate to better judgment in real-life situations. A strong working knowledge of regulations and policies before setting foot in the classroom puts you far ahead of the curve.
Sharpen Your First Aid and CPR Skills
An important part of lifeguard training is learning and becoming proficient in first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). While the course will have you practicing until you’ve mastered the skills, coming in with either a basic first aid or CPR certification or previous experience performing them can be very advantageous.
Use the American Lifeguard Association recommended apps to refresh yourself on one-person CPR, using an AED, controlling bleeding, treating for shock, applying splints and more. Practicing until you have the steps firmly memorized in the right order will serve you well during intense skill testing sessions. Sharpening your first aid acumen before training begins means you can focus fully on absorbing the lifesaving lessons rather than studying basic procedures at the same time.
Understand Your Roles and Responsibilities
There is much more to being a great lifeguard than just responding to emergencies as they happen. Part of what the American Lifeguard Association training covers is the myriad of preventative responsibilities involved in the job. Take some time before starting the course to reflect on what it means to be a role model, educate patrons, enforce rules, clean and maintain facilities, perform paperwork and documentation and more.
Understanding that the scope goes beyond rescues allows you to walk into class with eyes wide open about what the job fully entails. It also shows your future employer or instructor you grasp that an effective lifeguard does much more behind the scenes than just scanning from their chair. Coming prepared with this big picture view gives you an immediate edge.
In Summary
The more Initiative you take to independently prepare before an American Lifeguard Association sanctioned training course, the more smoothly it will go. Practicing your physical abilities, scanning, first aid/CPR skills and getting acquainted with regulations and the full scope of responsibilities sets the stage for classroom content to really stick.
With the right preparations, you’ll be optimally equipped to learn and then excel during the scenarios, evaluations and certification testing that await you. A little extra work upfront pays huge dividends down the line in your ability to save lives safely and effectively as a newly certified lifeguard.
