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Home » Consumer Information » Water Safety

Public vs. Lifeguard Responsibility

Many of the public pools and beaches that people visit every year are patrolled by lifeguards. It is always beneficial to swim in a location where a trained professional is watching over you, but it is important to understand the responsibilities that the public must uphold, and the responsibilities that fall on the lifeguard.

Public responsibility

Any parent will need to watch over their children at all times, whether they are in the water, around the pool or on the beach. Lifeguards are responsible for the general aquatic safety of everyone they are supervising, but it is up to any parent to keep a protective eye on their young ones.

Every person should take it upon themselves to learn to swim before getting into a pool or the ocean. A lifeguard will be there to help save lives, but knowing how to swim will help keep you out of danger in the first place.

Adults are responsible for protecting themselves from the sun and the heat. Anyone going to the beach or a pool should bring a high SPF sun screen that will not wash off in the water, proper footwear to guard against hot sand or sharp objects, and sunglasses to protect their eyes from dangerous UV rays.

Adults must also take responsibility for remaining sober while in public areas. A lifeguard who determines any person is under the influence has the right to refuse them admittance into the beach or pool area.

Lifeguard responsibility

The primary job of a lifeguard is to watch over the swimmers and keep people from harm. Lifeguards must be well trained in methods of saving drowning victims and getting them out of the water and on to dry land. They must also know how to properly administer CPR and other first aid techniques that could save a life.

A life guard is employed to enforce the laws of the beach or pool they are watching over. Since they are employees of the city, they do have the right to extend warnings and discipline to patrons who refuse to follow the rules.

Lifeguards are also responsible for keeping the area in and around a public pool clean and in useable condition. The extent of these duties may vary from location to location.

If a lifeguard feels an individual does not have strong swimming skills, one of their duties may be to stop that person from going into deeper water. They have the right to ask swimmers to prove that they are able to swim well by testing their abilities. This is done to make sure that anyone in the water is kept safe at all times.

The public and lifeguards can work together to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. Individuals should follow any instruction lifeguards give, and not break the laws of the beach or pool areas. Lifeguards must watch over the public and keep them safe while they are in the water.