The Lifeguard is rather called today Educator of swimming activities.
This swimming professional has several roles:
- Ensure the surveillance, safety, prevention of swimmers and the hygiene of pools and their equipment. (Reference to POSS).
- Implement the POSS (Organization Plan for Surveillance and Rescue) to prevent accidents related to aquatic activities, swimming and training.
- Know the alarm and evacuation procedures and first aid.
- Know how to welcome and manage different audiences in complete safety, schoolchildren, pregnant women, swimming clubs.
- Supervise and lead aquatic activities, aqua gym, aqua bike, baby swimmers, group training for advanced swimming.
- Manage the security post and stay most often at the edge of the pools in order to have an overall view of the swimmers.
- Practice first aid if needed.
- Ensure that safety rules are respected by all.
- Check and use first aid equipment (O2 bottle, Defibrillator).
- The swimming activities educator is brought into contact with all kinds of public (elderly people, children, pregnant women, etc.).
WHERE TO PRACTICE IT?
The lifeguard can work in the public sector or the private sector. His work is done indoors or outdoors, in swimming pools or on bodies of water. The summer season causes a high demand for lifeguards and lifeguard training.(approximately 12,000 positions), while the rest of the year, demand is much lower (5,000 permanent positions).
Public :
If he works in a municipal swimming pool, the lifeguard is considered a territorial agent.
Private :
The lifeguard also has the opportunity to work in the private sector in hotels, associations, holiday villages, sports clubs or fitness centers.
CAREER EVOLUTION
A lifeguard can evolve by his seniority and training, in sports educator, head of pool or deputy head of establishment or director of nautical facilities.
ACCESS TO THE PROFESSION OF LIFEGUARD
Human qualities
To be able to flourish in the profession of lifeguard, certain qualities are essential:
- To be a pedagogue.
- Know how to listen and be understanding.
- Be patient but responsive.
- Have a sense of responsibility.
- An excellent physical condition.
- Know how to keep your cool and be resistant to stress (in case of interventions.)
- Access level: Bac level
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SKILLS TO BECOME A MASTER SWIMMER
His responsibility in the event of a serious accident is constantly at stake. This is why he must be very attentive to all that is happening around him in order to be able to intervene very quickly if it happens. something.
His physical condition is judged according to his sports performance, his visual and auditory acuity.
Obviously, the fact that he is sociable is essential since he is constantly in contact with many people.
Beyond that, he must be able to perfectly reproduce first aid gestures, as well as know the rules of safety and hygiene specific to the aquatic environment.