When I tell people that I'm a lifeguard I often get the response "oh, so you just sit there all day." Life-guarding is one of the best summer jobs a teen or young adult could get for the summer. It pays well, you get to be outside, and of course sit near a pool all day. But even though the job may look easy-peasy and it has its perks, there is a lot that could go wrong during the day and you have to be ready for anything. There's a lot that we have to go through on a daily basis that not many people encounter.
1. Training
First, to even become a lifeguard you have to go through about 30 hours of training to just to become certified. There's an in-water aspect and a written test that you have to pass. After you are certified and working, there is a monthly amount of training you have to complete to be 'test-ready' at all times.
2. Rescues
When you go through training they teach you a lot of different techniques for each scenario in order to properly assist the guest in distress. You need to know each technique like the back of your hand and be able to decide which one is the best for that person in the drop of a hat.
3. Staying in the sun
Even though I absolutely love being in the sun, after an 11 hour day I just want to go home and sit in the air conditioning. Sun is great but it just drains you and makes you feel so tired. Even though were under an umbrella most of the day, it's still really hot and uncomfortable. When were not on stand we go sit in the air conditioning for a while or take breaks out of the sun.
4. Long shifts
In addition to being in the sun all day, we're watching the pool for most of our shift. Even if there are a lot of people in the pool and it's not a slow day, the hours that your on stand looking at the water becomes draining. The hours drag on, but the paychecks are worth it.
5. People who don't listen
The number one thing I repeat 50 times a day-no running!! And guess what, it's not just kids. There are so many people who either don't know the rules or think that they are above them. Myself and many other guards have had to tell people multiple times to stop what they're doing. There was even a man who told us we should just ignore it and look the other way. The rules are there for a reason and we have to enforce them.
6. Fecal/Vomit incidents
Yes, these are gross circumstances and we don't want them to happen, but they do. More often than you would think. There are many steps and precautions that we have to take when dealing with these and it might mean closing the pool for a certain amount of time. Thank god for the kids who get out of the pool before they start throwing up, they deserve a medal.
7. Storm closings
Was that thunder? Every time we hear thunder or there is a storm in the area we have to close the pool and have people wait at least 30 minutes until the storm has passed. This gets guests so frustrated, but it's only for their safety. And I can tell you that none of the guards are complaining. Their day has just been made.
8. No talking on stand
However long you're on that guard chair for, chances are that no one is going to talk to you. There are so many guests in the pool or on deck but it's very rare that someone will actually talk to us or ask a question. You're all alone up there.
9. Stress
Everyday I come into work and am prepared to have the worst possible scenario happen during my day. There's a very good chance that a child or adult won't be able to swim and go too deep, needing my help. It could be an easy rescue or it could be something much more serious. There's no telling what the day has in store for you.
10. Sweat, sunscreen, chlorine are your new scent
There are days where you'll have to put on sunscreen three times during your shift. Get use to the smell or get the kind that smells like sunshine!
11. Audits 
As I said before, we are to be at a 'test ready' level at all times. At any moment during the summer the company who trains us could come and record me while I'm on stand to make sure that I'm doing everything properly. If I'm not up to their standards and I fail my audit, I could face an array of punishments.
