With pool, beach, and water park supervisors constantly facing extreme understaffing, these communities are putting their very safety at risk. This lifeguard shortage is getting more serious and challenges prospective candidates for jobs in this field. There could never be a better time to go into lifeguarding and certification than now, especially with organizations like the American Lifeguard Association (ALA) tirelessly working toward this.
Teaching CPR and First Aid, the ALA covers all necessary areas to equip individuals who might become lifeguards with life-saving skills for assisting those in dire need and proving to be a worthwhile asset in the community.
Lifeguard Shortage Crisis
The lifeguard shortage represents an opportunity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several lifeguards exited during the pandemic but the industry still lags. According to the American Lifeguard Association, the shortage affected nearly one-third of public pools across the U.S., leading to cutbacks in operating hours, restricted access to pools, and even some closures in certain areas.
Hence, the shortage poses not only an inconvenience but rather a grave concern in the interest of public safety. With fewer lifeguards working, there is a tremendous threat of drowning and other incidents occurring in the water.
Drowning, in part, is and has always been one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States, particularly among infants and toddlers, with trained lifeguards being primary deterrents in the path of such disasters. Lifeguards are trained in the ways of monitoring patrons while ensuring safety regulations are obeyed and responding rightly and quickly to an emergency.
Why Become a Lifeguard Now?
Now is that time in life when you want to swim your way into something good and even leave behind a few of your very own memories after having made organizations realize the onerous burden that they have just placed themselves under while searching for staff. Lifeguarding is way above being just some summer job: actually, you are being given opportunities to develop leadership abilities, and teamwork, as we start to make some fiduciary contributions to public safety as well.
For many young guys, it acts as one of the easiest platforms for being able to gain work experience while earning money as they go through the school system. For others, it may serve just as a launching pad into other professional environments, such as emergency services, healthcare, or public safety.
Even though CPR and First Aid would be invaluable assets while lifeguarding, they serve plenty of other professions but also outside of your working life. Knowing how to respond to an emergency can be life-saving in any situation, from the workplace to the household.
What You Need to Know Before Joining ALA
But once you are ready to dive into action, the best part is that the American Lifeguard Association makes it simple to jump right into becoming a new lifeguard. Their certification programs are open to students from 15 years and up, and prior experience is not required. Generally, courses bring both classroom learning and hands-on practice together so that there are fewer surprises when you hit the beach.
To enrol in a course, go to the ALA's website and search for a training site near you. The ALA has a huge network of certified instructors, so no matter where you are, you'll get quality training. Once you complete the course and past all requirements, you will be certified as a lifeguard and finally be able to step into your newfound industry.
The Impact of Being a Lifeguard
By becoming a lifeguard, you are not merely filling an empty position-you're doing something remarkable for your community. Lifeguards, in fact, function as representatives of a greater, if not absolute, public good. The presence of lifeguards would mean life or death; when lifeguard shortage puts communities at risk, such decisions as certification can reach further.
The skills gained and experiences gained as a lifeguard can lead to many other doors opening. Many lifeguards enter into careers in emergency medical service, firefighting, or law enforcement such areas where what you learned in CPR and First Aid would be very valuable. Even if you take a different career route, you still have the confidence and leadership you will learn in lifeguarding to motivate you in your future endeavours.
Final Word
The lifeguard shortage is an urgent problem and the best time to be a lifeguard and learning some lifesaving skills such as CPR and First Aid by the American Lifeguard Association, which has the complete means to enable a hopeful lifeguard to achieve. Taking up the lifeguard's call will alleviate the shortage, protect his environment, and add skills that last a lifetime.
If ever there was a thought of becoming a lifeguard in your heart, now is the time for such a one to rise. Together, we can keep the pools, beaches, and water parks safe for all to enjoy.
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