Lifeguarding

I just got offered a lifeguard job this morning (5/28), and I process in during the beginning of June. I was just curious about the difficulty of the lifeguard certification, as well as the requirements that are needed to be met to be certified.

Also, footwear, does anyone have any recommendations?

:)

Thanks!

I was a lifeguard for 2 summers on a waterfront. Due to it being a lake, we had to have special certification. It was called professional rescuer, which is basically one step above lifeguard. A HUGE THING the instructors are looking for in the training is perserverance. Don't get me wrong, they are also looking for you to have the skills to rescue someone in need and also the skills to prevent the needs of making a rescue. A great lifeguard should never have to make a rescue. In my 2 years on the job, I only had to make two rescues. Once during swim tests, and once during a canoe trip, when a non-swimmer unzipped their lifejacket and the damn canoe tipped over soon after.

The training isn't difficult as long as you put your mind to it. Good Luck!

Actually, that's not the same way Cedar point worked. Within soak city there was the general certification that everybody got and within the same test they watched people and included the harder parts of the test. That portion they called the special facilities and open water, which meant you could work the beachfront or wave (because of the wave pool)

If you can swim you can pass the general cert pretty easily. The other section is a little tougher but still doable if you are a strong swimmer. The year I was there we had an international girl who couldn't pass any and she got stuck watching the shallow water kids areas.

A lot of people where crocs, I had a pair of sandle type things, you just cant have flip flops. I think the requirement was they had to have a type of heel strap so you could run in them easily enough.

Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions, I appreciate it! :)

Steven_01 said:
Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions, I appreciate it! :)

Good Luck. I'll be operating the Mean Streak.

Jake10 said:

Steven_01 said:
Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions, I appreciate it! :)

Good Luck. I'll be operating the Mean Streak.

Next time I'm riding, I'll be sure to send a "hey!" your way!

:)

I was a lifeguard in Soak City last year. The certification is through Ellis and Associates and very simple, taking 2-3 days. Make sure you pay attention because if you mess up when you start working as a lifeguard then you'll be put on tops only and that absolutely SUCKS! Your TL will periodically do VAT (visual awareness tests) which involves throwing a doll in the water that you have to spot and rescue in an allotted amount of time. The most important thing is to always, ALWAYS keep your eyes on the water.

Every week you'll be required to come in early for in service, which is basically reviewing lifeguard techniques and going through rescue scenarios.

I bought cheap water shoes and they wore down after a few weeks from walking so much (you usually end up walking about 15-20 miles a day because of all the roving Ellis lifeguards are required to do). I would suggest Chacos because Crocs also wear down fairly quickly.

Good luck, and if you have a choice you should do East Crew...it's the best;)

Have a great season...it will be unforgettable!

Steven_01 said:

Jake10 said:

Steven_01 said:
Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions, I appreciate it! :)

Good Luck. I'll be operating the Mean Streak.

Next time I'm riding, I'll be sure to send a "hey!" your way!

:)

Sounds good. I process in on the 12th. My school is on Quarters.

last year i wore crocs.
ellis training wasn't too difficult...just repetitive. it's soooo fun!