Lifeguard

Lifeguards are responsible for overseeing the safety of people in a swimming pool, a water park, or on a beach. This differentiates them from lifesavers who participate in lifesaving activities as a volunteer, as a sport or practical life skill. Lifeguards are employed to professionally perform lifesaving activities and supervision.

Lifeguards regularly practice first aid for distressed swimmers, improve their swimming skills, enjoy team-building exercises, and play water games.

Depending where you work, lifeguarding can be great fun. You meet a lot of people and watch them have a good time. You can also help and teach them about sun protection and water safety. Ask your national lifesaving organisation for training details.

Waterpark in India

My name is Rakesh, and I'm one of the lifeguards in a water park in Chennai. It has a big Tsunami which can run down the wave pool and raise the water level quickly by about half a meter. When the tsunami comes it soakes all the swimmers who are sitting at the shallow end of the pool.

In this water park it is customary that people dress modestly, covering their top with a T-shirt and wear shorts or pants that go below the knee.

It is a very colourful scene to see all the people having a good time in their wet clothes.

Getting Soaked by the Tsunami

The tsunami is a wet and refreshing event for the lifeguards who take turns attending it.

We get the swimmers out of the wave pool before the tsunami launches and make them sit at the shallow end.

We then form a people chain towards the pool to stop anyone getting to back into the pool when the tsunami rolls in and soakes them all.

The good bit is that we get hit by the wave and the spray first, soaking our uniforms completely.

This is great in the hot weather we have. I just keep my wet uniform on to stay cool, but it dries quickly, so I'll find a way to get my clothes wet again.

My friends often come from the nearby town. They always wear long pants and hoodies or anoraks when they come to the pool and join the people waiting for the big wave.

After the tsunami passed they are always completely soaked and run back into the pool with all their clothes on.

During my one hour break I also put on long pants and a hoodie over my wet uniform and join them in the pool. We all love splashing around and getting wet fully clothed. It feels so good.

Waterparks are great fun. You should come to India.