‘Twas the night before Memorial Day Weekend and miles away from the pool; Not a whistle was tweeting, nobody was breaking rules. The guards’ daybags were packed with great care, With water, snacks, and sunglasses for glare. The new guards were nervous and filled with some dread, While veterans yelled, “NO RUNNING!” at small children in their heads. With your training complete and a certificate paper, Let’s get you all ready for a sweet summer’s labor! Because when it starts there will be such clatter, You’ll need your whistle ready for even small matters. “Get off the lane lines!” “No breath-h ..read more

Nervous? That’s understandable. But get excited — this could be the beginning of the best summer of your life! But, that’s only true if you allow yourself to let fun in! Here’s a few tips to help you get through your first season lifeguarding. Tip #1: Be confident in whatever you do Trust yourself and your training — you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t qualified. The pool is your kingdom, and you are lord of the realm. Guests may not always appreciate your rules; here’s some tips for handling that when it happens. You’re setting the tone for how the rest of the pool operates for the summer. Fo ..read more

It’s that time of year again: Summer’s creeping in, and that means we’re hiring lifeguards all across the country!  If you’re reading this blog, you might already have an idea of what you need to do to start lifeguarding. That’s a great first step, but then comes the dreaded interview process (dun dun dunnnn!!) Nervous? That’s OK! But you don’t really need to be. Our interviewers are kind, caring, and love what they do. We’ve put together a list of good qualities we look for in a professional lifeguard. Here’s how you can show us your strong side and ace that next lifeguard interview. Ski ..read more

1. Swimming skills are all you need to lifeguard via GIPHY Even the next Katie Ledecky would have a rough first day if she forgot how to perform CPR.  2. Lifeguarding is our only responsibility via GIPHY Responsibility?? For many of us, lifeguarding isn’t even our only job. We’re not just responsible for guarding the pool. Among other tasks, when off the stand, we’re also responsible for Cleaning / maintaining the pool area Testing and adjusting water chemistry Self-care  Staying physically fit Side note: Babysitting services NOT included. 3. We’re on our phones all the time via ..read more

As we get ready for a new year and a new era at Guard for Life, we know how important it is to recognize excellence. All our lifeguards are great, but there are some who go above and beyond to offer the best of their abilities, and more. The best of them all is considered our National Lifeguard of the Year.  It takes more than a strong work ethic and showing up early to become the National Lifeguard of the Year. Nominations come in from all our regional offices to offer their best and brightest candidates. The winner for 2021 was Helen Carter from the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia office!  ..read more

I was 15 when I received my first paycheck … and I blew it on a pair of Converse high tops. Sure, I looked cool for a while before holes started to form in the soles. But while the shoes came and went, so did other opportunities to put my money to better use. Now that the summer season is winding down and Labor Day weekend has come and gone, you could be finding yourself sitting on a payday or two. That’s awesome! But what should you do with it? Please note: We’re not financial experts (and don’t claim to be). Please consult a financial advisor or expert if you do have any questions. That bein ..read more

If you’ve ever played a game of who can hold their breath underwater the longest, you probably were not aware of just how risky this behavior can be. The fact is that breath-holding games, even among strong swimmers, can result in serious injury or even death. The condition is often referred to as Shallow Water Blackout and this is the reason why these activities should not be allowed in any facility. Shallow Water Blackout is an important topic covered during the Lifeguard Training class. It’s important that all lifeguard candidates learn about the risks to swimmers so they can help prevent i ..read more

Here are 10 quick tips to ensure you don’t miss a thing! Know Your Zone – Review what your zone has been validated for. This could be the whole pool if you work at a single guard facility, or a portion of the pool with overlapping zones if you work at a multi-guard facility. Proper Position – Make sure you are seated in a position where you can see your entire zone.  This position should be at the edge of the pool and predetermined with your supervisor. Scan With A Pattern – You will need a systematic pattern that you can change up every now and then to ensure you scan the ..read more

This summer has to be one of the most anticipated by both patrons and lifeguards. That’s because many pool guests are coming off a year with limited opportunities for recreation and fitness. How do we prepare our guard team to meet the challenge of so many swimmers who are out of shape and out of practice? How can our new relationship with Ellis & Associates help guide us through these uncharted waters? Read on to learn about the changes we’re making to refine our safety practices. Improvements to Training Our updated lifeguard auditing program is all about training our area supervisors to ..read more

This is your time to shine! Enter our summer lifeguard design & blog writing contest for the chance to win. This year, we will be running both a design and writing contest so you can choose the one most interesting to you! Our design winner will see their art featured on this year’s lifeguard appreciation t-shirts, social media, and more. Each month of the summer we will select one blog winner to feature on our website, social media, newsletters, and more. That’s 4 chances to win! One lucky design winner will get the chance to collaborate with our marketing team to create this year’s Lifeg ..read more