Everyone assumes that being a lifeguard is exactly like another episode of Baywatch but in reality, it's just regular people who wear bathing suits who tell you what to do and make sure you're safe. But people don't really understand what exactly it's life to be a lifeguard. Here are some of the many things almost every lifeguard faces while on duty.
1. Your wardrobe is a bathing suit, flip flops, and a whistle.
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You can even wear it to an interview and still get the job.
2. Constantly yelling “WALLLLLLLLKKKKKKK” at kids who just don’t get it.
You'll be saying this in your sleep because 98% of people don't understand that the pool isn't going anywhere…unless the water drains.
3. "OFFFFFF THE LANELINEEEEEEE"
Pleaseeeeeee? It is not a place to hang on or swim over that is what the wall is for. Even in shallow water people want to grab the lanes, just stand up.
4. When kids ask you for goggles like you supply them…
Goggles are as cheap as $5…we are not a pool shop.
5. People trying to talk to you while you're in the chair.
Especially standing in front of you while you don't care about what they are saying. (If someone is actually doing this, just politely tell them that you aren't allowed to take your eyes off the water; or they should just find another lifeguard, they should get it. You'll get in more trouble talking to a person than not talking.)
6. Blowing the whistle for everyone to leave the pool and that ONE kid who takes years to get you out.
I swear they always act like they were just swimming to the ladder but purposely swim to the FARTHEST ladder possible.
7. Your whistle is your best friend
Incase if you don't feel like yelling or your voice isn't loud enough. 9 times out of 10 the person who knows that they're doing something bad will instantly look at you as soon as you blow it.
8. When a kid is doing the breathing game underwater and you stare at him until he comes up (because you’re not sure if he’s dead).
You're sitting on the edge of the seat panicking because you might have to backboard them and make a save. But then they come up and you're fine.
9. You get excited when you hear even the slightest bit of thunder.
Getting paid to relax while the pool is closed is pretty fine by me.
10. Doing the lanes...
The most tedious work of all; even worse, nobody wants to help.
11. Little kids catching an attitude when you tell them to stop fooling around.
Once again, if you don't like it, you don't have to swim here.
12. Being the one to clean up the poop or vomit
Yes, it's good that we can close the pool but guess who has to grab the giant net and fish it out? Yup you guessed it.
13. Announcing that the pool is closed and little kids keep asking you for “5 more minutes.”
"FiVe mOrE MiNuTeS," nope time to go.
14. Making a save and almost getting drowned by the person you're saving.
*Record scratch* "Yeah, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got into this situation."
15. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and pretty much every weekend is a nightmare.
And weekends is when lifeguards barely come in so basically, you're stuck guarding 50 people by yourself.
16. Sitting on the edge of your seat when a person who can't swim goes into the deep end.
*Kicks off flip-flops and makes the child uncomfortable by staring them down until they start actively drowning…*
17. You have a heart attack every time a kid tries to do a backflip off of the diving board.
HOOOOOOOOOOOMAAAGAWWWWDDDDD PLEASE NO!
18. When parents leave their badass underage kids and expect us to baby sit.
"Can you watch my son and make sure he behaves? My daughter has to go to the bathroom can you take her? How long are you open for because I'm just going to drop them off and come back in 5 hours! Or can you make sure my son is ready by 5 p.m."
19. When people think your job is easy but it’s super hard to stare at a body of water and not get tired and also being ready when something life threatening happens.
Your job is to also enforce the rules and have a duty to act. But most of the time, you're just watching the water and it gets hard to focus…that's why it's so hard.
20. You still love your job even though the kids get under your skin.
Because saving lives, wearing a bathing suit, relaxing, swimming on your free time, AND making money is a pretty good thing.
