My first official job was as a lifeguard at a municipal pool that I had frequented throughout my childhood. I quickly learned that while a lifeguard job appeared to be sitting around in the sun making sure no one drowns in reality it involved cleaning the locker rooms, bathrooms, showers, and changing area, teaching swim lessons, putting in and taking out lane dividers multiple times a day, enforcing and following rules, staying alert and engaged when bored, finding productive ways to stay engaged between rotation tasks, answering phones professionally, tracking time with a punch clock, making loudspeaker announcements, making judgement calls about situational rules, being prepared for weather, emergencies, oddball requests, and dealing with angry patrons, drunk patrons, and unaware or misinformed patrons.
When you were not on rotation actively monitoring a pool area, you were to walk the marina, check the locker rooms, or help in the office. There were cold rainy days with more free time than responsibility and hot summer Saturdays with the pool at capacity, large picnic gatherings, and little down time. In general you were expected to be responsible, address cleanliness and safety issues, and remember you were providing a service to the community patrons.
One day a boy of about 6 years old was playing in the water near my guard stand. While aware of the whole pool, I would regularly return to check that he was ok. He ventured further into deeper water. I sensed he was growing tired as he was less able to keep his head above water and would gulp and gasp for air when he did surface. When his hands reached above the surface and his head did not I decided to jump from the stand and assist him. I reached him instantly and guided him on his back to the closest pool wall. Even in that short span of time he recovered his breath and immediately yelled at me for jumping in and getting him. He was not grateful and did not think it was necessary.
It was my decision to take action and I stand by that decision based on the information I had. Being a lifeguard taught me to trust my training and skills, make my own judgement, and act on it. My first job prepared me for every one I’ve had since.
- Don’t walk by a problem
- Trust your training & judgement
- Take action