Life Guard Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is the average rate of hourly pay for a swimming pool life guard? I'm looking at becoming a life guard, mainly because it'll be a good job and a nice way to stay in shape. But what kind of wage could I expect?

Answer: It's hard work becoming a lifeguard. You have to do practical and theory exam for the NPLQ and the exam and course will set you back £300. You also have to attend monthly training. I'm a lifeguard and started out on £5.40, at a private club. I get slightly more now (although nothing to shout about). I do this part time as I am at uni, and I get free gym membership.

Question: How hard is it to be a life guard? well i am going to go 2 a life guarding class tommrow and so to learn to be a life guard. I have to swim 500 meter lap thats 20 right? Any tips on life guarding?

Answer: It's not hard if you do what you're supposed to do and if you know your stuff 500m= 10 laps in an olympic size pool (if the pool in question is very long, the most likely it's olympic) otherwise yes to 20 laps. As for the class, pay attention to your instructor(s) and ask every question that comes across your mind (I asked what do we do if a space shuttle falls out of the sky) Remember the more you ask the better you'll be. People's lives have to potential to be in your hands. There's not much I can say because you'll learn it anyway. If you have specific questions thoughout your course, i'd be happy to answer them. but here are some things new guards often forget: Use your gloves during CPR. (for sanitary reasons, you will fail your final test if you don't) never jump in the water on a spinal injury don't scan only the top of the water, look IN it too. Everything is just common Sense, but we all forget the little things!!!

Question: How much does it cost to get your life-guard certification and how well does a life-guard job pay? I was thinking about getting my life-guard certification with a few of my friends but then someone said that the classes cost like $500. prove or disprove?

Answer: I think i paid $300 for it and then every year you spend anoth $100 on CPR recert. (unless you work at a pool that covers this cost) But depending on your age, this is probably the best paying job available to you. One top of that I think it is one of the coolest. At 16 I was making $10/hour (far more than any of my friends) and my uniform is a bathing suit. To top it all off, I get a killer tan each summer.

Question: What should i do go to school or be a life guard? Im training to be a life guard and someone already offered me a job for the summer but have to go to summer school.What should i do?

Answer: Go to school for your base job, and in your free time or in the summer/ breaks be a lifeguard!

Question: How much does a average Pool Life guard get paid? I am looking into being a life guard at the community pool next year during the summer so any help would be great.

Answer: I work at a small, yet high end country club, and i make $11.50 an hour. When I started off, I made $9.50. On average, lifeguards make anywhere from $8.00 to $10.00 and hour, which, considering there are other lifeguards on shift, you are getting paid to just sit around and tan half of the time.

Question: Is it law to have a life guard at the pool at all times uk only pls? I use the 'next generation' fitness club and sometimes the life guard is absent for as long as 30mins but there is a sign up 'on duty/ off duty' ,and the max depth is 4ft so have they got a loophole , if a kid started choking on water or someone had a heart attack in the pool would it be my job to perform cpr while the lifeguards on a break or changing shift ?

Answer: I dont think there is a law... just a obligation to provide some kind of cover, If there is a sign up saying no lifeguard on duty then you swim at your own risk.....

Question: Do you have to know all the swimming styles to be a life guard? i am very good at free syle... a bit ok at back stroke... i have no clue how to do butterfly and the others... can i still be a life guard?

Answer: I'm a certified lifeguard. In the course, or the course that I took to get my certification and CPR we had to swim 400 yards i think it was using freestyle, breast stroke, and the side stroke. Those are it from what i remember. It's really not that bad, just don't over-do it, or you'll get tired very very easy. The rest of the course is basically bookwork and practicing your saves. I had to practice my hardest saves on about 250 pound men. Wasn't very easy but if i can do it, you can do it. Good luck! =)

Question: What do I do about this cute life guard? There is this cute life guard at the YMCA that I like and I want him to notice me at the pool. I am 10 and he is like 16-18. I know i don't have a chance with him I just want him to notice me. Thanks!!! :) P.S It is a very shallow pool so don't say swim.

Answer: how about you go ask him how old you have to be to work there. then he will start talking to you. then you ask him if he likes working there. it all gets carried away from there. just stay calm and everything will be good.

Question: I need 25 attributes for the job role of a life guard? I need 25 attributes for a life guard help me out ?

Answer: Well, I'd put 'Strong swimmer' at the top of the list.

Question: How do i turn off my half life guard? How do i turn off or delete it and i should be able to play da game after i delete the half life guard. plz tel me desperate person!

Answer: To delete it, it should be in the add/remove programs. Click start, click add/remove.

Question: Do you have to have had some swim classes at all before you can pass the life guard course. I was taught by? a retired life guard on some of my techniques. Do you have to have had any swim classes at all before you can pass the life guard class? I can swim. I know all the strokes and I swim a lot of laps at least 70 laps a day in all the different strokes and techniques. Is this class hard for people who haven't had swim classes?

Answer: You should be just fine. One of the biggest things that you must be good at for that class is treading water. You must be able stay above water while holding a backboard above water and strapping it in. Sounds like you should be fine though. It also sounds like you should take the WSI course (to teach swimming lessons) you do not have ever had to have taken lessons you just must be able to swim all the strokes.

Question: Where can I do a Life guard training course? I need a qualification in life guard training for the job I wish to do, does anyone know where I can go for this? Do leisure centre's do these courses? (I am from manchester in the u.k)

Answer: YMCA, YWCA

Question: How long was life guard school was it 5 days a week for a month how long was it, and how much did it cost were? did you go to life guard school at? Do they have a certain school that is listed in the phone book? How does all this process work,and do you swim for 8 hrs. a day at life guard school how does all this work?

Answer: Depends on the course- done my intensive for 5 days, but it can range to a day and a 1/2 on weekends for a month or so. I recommend the fast track 5 day one :)

Question: What is the timed swimming requirement for a trained life guard? I am starting Bronze Med (the begging of life saving training here in Calgary, Alberta) and I can't seem to find out what the required lap/timed swim is. If anyone has any information about this or links where I could find some info it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer: For the Red Cross USA lifeguard, you have to do 400 or 500 yards in I think 20 minutes or so. The trainer needs to see that you are a strong enough swimmer to rescue someone. All you have to do to finish it in time is keep moving. But some trainers won't just pace you because of that- they may want to see that you really could handle swimming that on you way to rescue someone. The best advice would be to practice swimming and do it at a stay pace.

Question: what do they teach at a life guard swim orientation? so, i swim for my high school. i am a "candidate," to teach little kids to swim / life guard. what do they say at the orientation? they also said ,"we might swim." i'm extremely nervous. i don't know what to expect, or what to say or do. ahh.

Answer: they teach you how to use the life guard equipment, how to control kids, and how to teach them

Question: What was the cost (money) of life guard school? and What was the cost of diving school? Where was diving ? school held at? How long did you have to go to diving school ex. months, years, et.? How long of days was the diving school ex. 8 hrs, 4hrs., etc.? My main question is what is the cost of life guard school?

Answer: in the UK, a Royal Life Saving Society Pool lifeguard course costs around £180-225 pending what add ons etc your opting for. Ending on your age, the council or your school/college etc sometimes chip in for it :) check out www.iql.org.uk