Lifeguard

Industries: Leisure operations

Overview and responsibilities

Lifeguards ensure that the aquatic environment is safe so that participants can take part in a range of aquatic activities. They work in a range of different environments including swimming pools, inland water and our amazing beaches.

Lifeguards work as part of a team and are responsible for the safe supervision and rescue of users within their care, as well as for intervening in and preventing accidents and dangerous situations. As a part of their role, Lifeguards also deliver high levels of customer care and are public facing.

Working hours

Lifeguards are usually employed by fitness or leisure centres and often work varied hours. This may include evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Education

To be professionally recognised as a CIMSPA Lifeguard Practitioner, we ask that Lifeguards provide us with evidence of holding a relevant CIMSPA-endorsed qualification, degree or apprenticeship certificate issued by a CIMSPA Awarding Organisation Parter or Higher Education Partner or the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

If you have a qualification or degree that is not endorsed by CIMSPA or is over five years old, or if you have an international qualification, we still encourage you to apply for professional recognition. We may, however, need to ask you for additional evidence of other training you have undertaken as part of your application.

Achieving this level of qualification demonstrates that a Lifeguard has a good knowledge of enhancing customer experience, safe equipment, activity areas, cleaning and maintenance, and technical lifeguarding. They will also have a strong understanding of the Lifeguard’s role within the organisation alongside knowledge of industry legislation and organisational policies and procedures.