ust like to be in the sun and you need to be very patient with pool patrons. They can be very rude to you, especially the older crowd who has trouble dealing with a teenager telling them that they can not throw their child in the air. You need to be an enforcer of the rules and stick to them. In order for people to respect you, it is important to be consistent with rules and not show favor. It is also necessary to be very patient with your fellow lifeguards and be willing to work tons of hours, due to the fact that many of your fellow co-workers may not show up for work. The three-week course not only teaches you how to perform rescues, but it teaches you how to be assertive by teaching you ways to deal with patrons who argue with the rules you place on them. You learn when its appropriate to inform a higher authority of abuse when you see children nearly uncovered. You may witness bruises a child might acquire from a parent and are recguired to report abuse by state law. You learn how to be a role model for children. Many children worship lifeguards and they follow your every move. So you learn when to say things in front of children and ways to speak with them. Being a lifeguard isn’t all about getting a tan its about being a role model to those younger than you are. After you finish the three-week instructional course and pass tests, you enroll in CPR/First Aid classes. Here you will learn how to give a person their life back after a serious accident, such as drowning. You learn ways to approach persons who are choking, how to use the Heimlich Maneuver and how to resesitate a persons heart. You learn how to use the Resuscitator when a victim has no pulse. Not only are you are someone to watch over the pool, but you can actually give someone their life back. In your First Aid, class you learn how to care for shock, deep abrasions, and how to clean up messes along the pool side. For example, if some one falls and their ...
