As summer comes around many teens are looking for a job, which is getting harder to do. One job that is available to job-seekers for the summer; lifeguarding.

Seeing lifeguarding on television can sometimes look easy. I myself took a class for a lifeguarding job and let me tell you, it was not as easy as it looks.

You have to go through training to learn all the necessities of the job. Which include, CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, how the use an AED, automated external defibrillator, how to scan the water, etc.

These are some of the requirements to be able to do the job correctly. There are hand signals, different whistles, and positions to stand in as well.

The lifeguarding course all together takes 35 hours if using Jeff Ellis and Associate. There is also an online course that has to be taken as an addition to the 35 hours in class.

There is a test that follows each course and the test taker must get an 80 or better to receive their license, which will expire one year from the day the license was issued.

The lifeguard is also required to maintain their skills at a test ready level, and take an hour class each week to keep their license and keep their skills fresh.

Another way that the lifeguards make sure that their skills stay sharp is every three months an Ellis and Associate candidate comes and audits the worker.

The lifeguard does not know that they are being audited, watched to make sure they are doing their job correctly and accurately.

The audit either passes or fails the guard and they have to shadow another lifeguard.

Junior at Crosby High School and lifeguard at Coco Key indoor water park, Charles Davis says, “A major difficulty while lifeguarding is keeping the 10/20, continuous watch of the water: 10 seconds to recognize, 20 seconds to respond, while dealing with the children around you.”
It is very difficult to keep the 10/20, but it is all part of the job that you have signed up and trained for. “I love my job.” Says Davis

It is also a rewarding job knowing that you have helped people in need.

Photo Credit: http://www.tntdownunder.com/images/photos/large/article_2471543144.jpg