Being a lifeguard is the greatest summer job hands down. There's little to no commuting necessary, especially not via public transportation, you get paid to tan, there's easy access to a pool, ocean, or even both ... the list continues. However, just like with any other job, there are certain kinds of people that have the ability to ruin your day. As a lifeguard, I've come across the following types of people far too often and hope to use this as a PSA for those same types of people to stop ruining lifeguards lives.
1. The Fake Drowning Kid: We all see you swimming perfectly well all along, then take a good look up at us in the lifeguard chair in hopes that we've taken our eyes off you for a second, and begin to float face down in the pool, anxiously awaiting us to be fooled and save you. Nice try, but stop it. And don't pull this act in the ocean either.
2. The Ex-Athlete Dad Who Needs To Play Catch With His Son In Front Of The Lifeguard Stand: We cannot stress enough how much beach there is for you to have said catch, so why must you continue to have the most aggressive catch with your son in front of our stand and ultimately distract us. Go away, move over, leave the beach.
3. The First Kids To Go In The Water: Thank you for disturbing the morning peace and being the first annoying voices we'll hear all day. Yes, someone has to be the first in the water, and yes, we are getting paid to watch you swim, but just know that we consistently don't appreciate whoever it is that chooses to be that annoying first swimmer of the day.
4. The People That Continue To Swim Even When It Starts To Rain: Just know that while you're not feeling the raindrops because you're neck deep in the ocean, we are all sitting on the stand hating your existence for forcing us to get soaking wet for no reason. Can't you get out of the water while it rains and give us a break? Go up to your cabana, have a snack, sit under your umbrella ... please do anything but swim in the water right now.
5. Anyone Who Complains: As easy as this job may look, it isn't. Our eyes are constantly at 100 places at once, we see everything you think we don't, and are consistently doing our best to make sure everyone is safe at all times. So please don't complain about something we probably didn't do, because without us, the beaches wouldn't technically be able to run.
