Lifeguard

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Lifeguard is responsible for the safety of all swimmers in and around the aquatics area. This requires the guard to prevent accidents, actively scan, and respond to incidents, accidents, and emergencies quickly and effectively.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Be rescue ready. Wear rescue tube, bathing suit, guard shirt, whistle, and personal protective equipment at all times.
• Maintain constant surveillance of the pool area. Actively scan your assigned zone every 10 seconds from bottom to top.
• Respond to any situation/emergency within 10 seconds based on your training/certification and the emergency procedures established by the YMCA.
• Choose your position based on glare, pool activity, swimmers’ abilities, and zone size. Be positioned so that you can best see all areas of your zone and respond to any distressed swimmer or emergency within 10 seconds. Guards may not be positioned next to each other.
• Rotate your position regularly. Check your zone and the pool area for hazards or dangerous conditions before assuming responsibility of a zone or the pool.
• Assist with ancillary duties, such as chemical testing, swim testing, cleaning, organizing the deck/equipment, checking first aid supplies, and other duties as assigned by the Aquatics Director during down times when no one is in the pool. Avoid performing ancillary duties while actively scanning.
• Know, understand and consistently enforce all rules and policies using the Q-1-2 enforcement method. Be firm, fair, and polite when explaining rules and policies to members. Swim test & mark participants based on YMCA guidelines.
• Follow all policies and procedures as established in the Aquatics Staff Manual.
• Attend monthly in-service trainings. Attend other staff meetings as required.
• Complete incident/accident reports following any incident/accident and submit to supervisor before the end of the shift. Notifies Aquatics Director of any issues.
• Find coverage for any shifts you are unable to work. Communicate your coverage with the Aquatics Director.
• Follow the pool schedule. Make sure the pool set up reflects the number of lanes available based on the current pool schedule.
• NEVER LEAVE THE POOL UNATTENDED
• NO CELL PHONES ON THE POOL DECK WHILE YOU’RE IN A GUARD SHIRT
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Ys values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fundraising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 16 years old
• Must be currently lifeguard certified by YMCA, American Red Cross, or other recommended nationally approved certifying organization
• Must be currently certified in CPR for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration by a nationally approved certifying organization
• Ability to stay calm and respond effectively in an emergency
• Quick, effective decision-making skills
• A positive, friendly attitude and strong interpersonal skills
• A level of professionalism and maturity that reflects the serious nature of aquatic safety and the importance of the lifeguard’s job

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Pass a water and skills test.
• Maintain certification-level of physical and mental readiness.
• Remain alert with no lapses in consciousness.
• Be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Observe all sections of an assigned zone or area of responsibility. If corrective eyewear is needed, it should be worn while guarding and should not interfere with the ability to perform a rescue or respond to an emergency.
• Ability to hear noises and distress signals in the aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility. Have a minimum hearing threshold of no more than an average of a 25-decibel loss in both ears over a range of frequencies (500-3000Hz). Candidates who use hearing aids or other corrective devices for hearing should be able to perform all rescue skills and emergency procedures without interruptions to adjust, retrieve, or install/attach hearing aid.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks necessary for a water rescue, including lifting a victim from the bottom of the pool and extracting them from the pool without assistance.
• Ability to communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING:

• Lifeguard – pre-hire and biannual recertification; cross over to YMCA Lifeguard at next recertification if not currently YMCA certified
• Basic Life Support (CPR-Pro) – pre-hire and annual recertification
• Adult and Pediatric First Aid – pre-hire and biannual recertification
• Emergency Use of Medical Oxygen – within first 90 days and biannual recertification
• Child Abuse Prevention – pre-hire and Annual Refresher
• Y Cause and Culture – within first 30 days