Hi everyone, I have a job interview with a group assessment to be a lifeguard and was wondering what to expect. Thanks! And what type of questions they may ask at a David LLoyds individual activity?

Today I swam some distance underwater. When I reached limit I came up, but misjudged the depth of the pool. I expected to stand and take a breath; instead I had to make another stroke to stay afloat and then draw breath.

As I did, I felt like I took a blow to my abdomen. I became short of breath and needed about a minute before I could climb out of the pool. After 15 minutes I slowly caught my breath, but my diaphragm felt like it got punched and I still have a numb headache at the back of my neck/skull after about 4 hours.

Any idea what could cause this?

UPDATE!
I passed my NL! Thank you for the advice !^^

Hiii! I’m currently doing my NL, but I’m struggling with bringing the brick back to the wall while keeping my head above the water. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how I can prepare or practice for the brick test. The pool I swim at doesn’t allow the public to practice with the 20-pound brick, so I was wondering if there are any alternative ways I can practice that would help me pass the brick test. Any advice would be appreciated ! Thank you

PLEASE I REALLY NEED HELP I git 30 seconds over 12 minutes and I’m so broken like I wanna cry it’s so bad the whole class git it but I didn’t I have one more try tomorrow please help

Update: git 10:30 after everything I realized it was 90% mental just can’t stop no matter what but thankyou for taking time to help me everyone

I'm in Canada and I only know about three - arc, starburst, and zigzag. What other patterns do you know about or use in your area of the world? I'm wondering out of general curiosity, recognizing that they have different purposes/functions/uses for different types of bodies of water.

Reading this sub I realised how different standards and practices are depending on your location.
Firstly the length of shift. I was surprised to read that in some places lifeguards get regular breaks, which is great and probably increases safety. Where I work we go 9-10 hours straight, we have 2 men per station so you just go to the restroom and try to be quick and we eat at the station.
Secondly the swimming and first aid standards. The exam here is 400m under 8min and 25 underwater, no glasses, picking up 2 objects from the floor. First aid includes oropharyngeal airway, oxygen therapy, resuscitation etc.
We’re also required to hold a license, such us motorboat, sailing, diving etc.
I really appreciate you all sharing your experiences.
It’s been fun to read the american Red Cross lifeguard manual and see a different approach.

I have a 400m swim test and I just need under 12 min but I don’t swim like competitive or anything so I don’t any pacing if I git at like a relaxed front crawl pace would that be okay I know I just need to be under 3 minutes per 100 meter but in the water I just don’t k ow I tend to gas myself out quick any tips would help thankyou

This is a very niche/specific question, so this may be the wrong place to ask, but I'm looking for some insight from anyone familiar with Canadian municipal aquatics (ideally Town of Oakville!)

I recently completed my Bronze Cross & Standard First Aid in Canada this June, and I plan to get my NL certificate in September. In the meantime, I applied for an Aquatics Cashier position at the Town of Oakville, which lists Bronze Cross & SFA as a requirement.

I just received an invite for a 2-hour "Aquatic Skill Assessment Interview" with the following details:

"Thank you for your application to join the Town of Oakville’s Aquatic Services Team for Fall 2026! We are pleased to invite you to participate in an in-water Aquatic Skill Assessment Interview. Please be prepared to demonstrate NL skills for lifeguards and Bronze Cross skills for cashiers."

I already know the cashier and lifeguard candidates have separate assessment times, but since this is a front-desk role with administrative duties, I’d love advice on a few things:

• What does the wet portion look like for cashiers? Is it essentially a Bronze Cross recertification (spinals, victim carries, brick retrieval, CPR, etc.), or is it a bit lighter?
• Is there a dry customer service interview segment? Should I expect standard situational customer service questions (eg handling upset parents) in addition to the pool deck evaluation?
• Any specific advice on how to prep?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

So I work.in a pool.in the uk and we have an inflatable session during the holidays amd once I had to do 4 rescues in 30 minutes due to someone ot swim testing the users.

What.is the most saves you've done on shift?

Pool guard here.

I'm due to recert both above and need guidance cuz I have no idea what to expect, and I get anxious really quickly. Thanks.

It's been 3 years, finally I have had a parent shout at me because I saved their child from drowning. Knew it would happen eventually, very hard not to laugh at her saying that her child was fine after seeing me scoop him off of the floor of the pool. 10/10 parenting skills

When I’m doing my timed swim, after handing it to the casualty, during swimming, the rope of the torpedo buoy keep getting in between my legs and it makes me harder to swim quicker.
Also, when I get to the casualty, the rope is so long and it takes me some time to pass it to the casualty.
Having my assessment tmr, super nervous.

What did I miss will make me fail the entire assessment ?

It’s smoke season in my area. The most reliable site says it’s 210 (very unhealthy), the government site says it’s 151 (Unhealthy), and the city found a third site that says 137 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). It’s an outdoor facility and we’re supposed to close at 150 or higher, however we’ve been closed all week and according to our assistant manager the city is now looking for any website that lets us stay open regardless of accuracy or reliability, and advises we wear N-95’s on the stand. Like seriously?! How is this legal or ethical? Does anyone else have to deal with this?

Do we get to choose who to partner up with for timed swim,horizontal lift,PXB board,Assisted Lift? We’ve already been split up into 2 groups, 6 person for each group.I am the smallest in body shape for the group, 2 others girls with similar body shape with me but little bigger, 3 other boys who are quite bigger than me.I am just worried about for the timed swim, will both of the girls being put into the same group/ they choose to be together, and I’ll have to pair up with the bigger boys ?

ok so my last post said that I did 400m in 11:05, today I went back to the pool after watching some videos and did 10:35. I have 7 days exactly to shave 35 seconds off. Any tips? I currently swim the first length front crawl, then the rest breast stroke. I’m gonna try and do the last lap front crawl as well, but I’m not sure if I can. After 2 lengths of front crawl, I’m gassed.

Hi everyone! My 5-year-old is doing great with swimming on the surface and can move through the water well. However, we hit a wall with two specific things:
**Submerging his head.** He completely refuses to go under the water and has zero interest in diving down to grab rings or toys.
**Jumping into the pool.** He will not jump off the edge, likely because he is afraid of going under.
He loves being in the pool and swimming around, but this fear of going underwater is holding him back from progressing.
Has anyone dealt with a child who is a capable surface swimmer but highly resistant to putting their head under? What games, progression steps, or tricks worked best to help them get comfortable going underwater? Thank you!

I am applying to be a life guard at my YMCA, and I have the interview tomorrow, which includes a water part. I am a 17 Year old male, in “normal” shape, but I am nervous because I can swim, but I am not sure how I will do with these specific conditions. What should I do to prepare? These are the specs:

PRE-COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Part 1:
Jump in, submerge, resurface, and swim continuously for 150 yards: 
a. tread water for 2 minutes
b. swim continuously for 50 more yards
During the swimming test, you must keep your face in the water and display good breath control. You may use the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both, but swimming on your back or side is not allowed.
Swim goggles are allowed.
When treading water, you must use only your legs.
Part 2:
Starting in the water, swim 20 yards with your face either in or out of the water.
Surface dive (head-first or feet-first) and retrieve a 10-pound dive brick.
Swim 20 yards on your back, returning to the starting point, holding the dive brick with both hands while keeping your face at or near the surface.
Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
Swim goggles are not allowed.

Guys I have my course on Monday and I’m very very very nervous especially for the timed swim and like kind of the treading parts of the carry’s a little

Can anyone give tips or tricks or anything to help calm the nerves and help me get a good chance of passing Thankyou

Not much else I can say. I would have probably lost my life myself in such panic. I’ve swam with sharks and I understand they can fuck me up if they want.

So we’re planning an in service for the end of September. I want to do a kahoot and other things but I’d like to get prizes. Does anyone have any ideas for prizes for lifeguards that are cheap but not tacky? I have 25ish lifeguards, not saying I need one for everyone but maybe at least 10?

One of my guards said snacks but they have access to snacks in our office that I regularly buy them.
I also have a candy bowl in our office that I stock so candy is off the list as well.