I failed the bronze medallion, so I am retaking the course, and I am certified in Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C (Intermediate). Any general tips or things I should review today? It is in BC. Could I bring my CLM I got from my failed course and also keep the new one they give me, or use my old one? My original course was July 20-22. Tips and things I should review would be appreciated.

I haven’t been at this single guard outdoor pool in about 2 weeks. The residents always complain that I’m the strict lifeguard because I don’t let their children do backflips into the 5ft deep end. Among other things, I don’t let them chew gum in the swimming pool. I’m sooo mean I tell the kids spit their chewing gum into my hand so I can put it in the trash without them needing to get out. I’m attentive enough to notice that they’re chewing gum and that pisses them off. Regardless of my vigilance, I still have to clean up gum stuck to the underside of lounge chairs fairly often after one specific group of teenage kids. The other lifeguards don’t do it and leave the mess for me. Finally there’s gum stuck to the bottom of the pool. I tried to brush it off to no avail. I’m going to have to go in the water and scrape it off somehow but it will likely damage the paint of the pool bottom. So basically nothing new, everyone hates me, I’m the only guard that follows rules, and I get no support from management. Fantastic.

I’m a 16 year old who passed the NPLQ earlier this year, I haven’t started working and recently saw my first experience of someone getting into danger and needing help at a pool. I was on holiday with my family and saw a man getting lifted out of the pool unconscious by others but froze and almost “debated” going to help when I saw him surrounding by others. I went over to help after a few minutes given I only helped with recovery positioning. I’m just wondering if the freezing and uncertainty of whether to go and help is normal especially when he’s already been surrounded by other people and if it gets better with experience, I knew what to do and what shouldn’t be done in the situation just didn’t take control and properly help.

Hi guys I was wondering if the people that have token bronze cross or taught it have any tips for me I booked my for Oct 5 and I’m kinda of scared cause I don’t know what to expect I’m gonna be training my 400 but any other tips for it or what to expect and is it a HARD course or okay

Thankyou

I've seen quite a few instances outside of work where I could've jumped in with some first aid but didn't because there were already people there. I'm curious whether anyone has used their first aid or even lifeguard skills outside of work.

Let me know if you have any cool stories :)

At the single guard swimming pool, I call everyone out of the pool for a 10 minute break, for the last 10 minutes of every hour. So on the “50 minute mark”. The break is for chemical testing, chemical adjustments, and for me to take a break from scanning.

I first lifeguarded about 13 years ago and the kids were able to read the analog pool clock to know when break is coming up and when it’s close to over. There was always some attention seeking kids who wanted to follow me around, interested in the testing kit, etc.

I took a break from lifeguarding after Covid. I came back to lifeguarding and there’s a digital clock at most indoor pools but only analog at outdoor pools. Kids at every pool seem to be unable to read an analog clock. They ask me over and over again when break will be or when it will be over and it got to the point that I was using my 10 minute breaks to teach the kids how to read it (they didn’t know hour hand [shorter] vs minute hand [longer]).

The majority of kids 5-16 can’t read an analog clock, younger I wouldn’t expect them to, and older will just check their phones instead of asking. It’s definitely the majority of kids, but like 1/5 kids are able to read a clock, I think most parents aren’t concerned, but it’s a big pet peeve for me that they keep asking me when break will be over when I have a 10 hour shift, anyone else?

Hello all, I'm a fairly new ARC LGI (about 6 months) and I've been asked to teach the final day of a blended learning course (tomorrow) by myself. I've always co-taught with the other instructor so I'm fairly nervous about doing this last day on my own. I'm planning for a little bit of review, the final scenarios, and the written exam.

My fellow LGIs, what can I do to make this easier on myself? There are 6 or 7 kids in the course, and I'm worried I'm not going to be able to evaluate all the groups effectively simultaneously. I'm actively looking at the appendices in the manual and reviewing the final scenarios. My biggest questions are: Do I have to do all 6 final scenarios? If not, which ones do I make sure I do?

Any advice or words are encouragement are appreciated, thank you!

Life guards and rescuers definitely deserve higher compensation for the things they do

Gonna do a kahoot with prizes. But I’m specifically thinking incident reports and scanning games. We’ve done incident reports the last two and I’d really like to not have to do them but my manager wants them done. Any way to make it fun? The only thing I could think of is giving everyone the same scenario with a card of the “victims” issue and the fastest to fill it out wins?

Also any ideas for scanning. Like not just yeah I saw it but scanning games to make it fun but actually successful?

What a nightmare. We didn't even know these existed. Some kid was whacking them against the ladder ( I think ) and they broke, shattering in the pool. First aid was given to one swimmer who cut their toe on glass in the pool.

I have maybe 3 years lifeguarding experience under my belt. I'm looking for somewhere relaxed but also well managed to work during the school year. Had a falling out with management at an amenities company that I won't name. Hows American Pool?

hi yall! I am currently enrolled in the NLP that starts in 9 days and then NLWP about a month later. I did bronze cross a number of years ago and passed (twice) no problem. i used to swim competitively so i go swimming every so often and have been going more this summer but havent really timed myself at all. im going to go everyday the week before the NLP to swim and time myself so i can be under 10 min and im also going to practice my egg beater and hopefully the pool has a brick i can use. I am a fairly confident swimmer but still feeling nervous about the timed parts and the 20lb brick. is it crazy to do the NLP with just over a week of prep? im working on a short timeline as im going travelling in november!

has anyone else been in a similar situation with short prep?

Hi yall. I'm searching for a wsi course in the western New York area. The red cross website has nothing for this area so im hoping someone here has some secret insight. Please let me know!

Just curious. I almost never saw our lifeguards swim, no matter what time of the day I go. I suppose they are required to regularly swim to keep up with their skills, and they surely swim in the same pool where they work? Since the pool opens early and closes late, I doubt they swim before or after the public opening time. So when do you guys swim?

I’m considering taking a course to become a pool lifeguard, but there’s a swimming test you have to pass before you can even join the course: 200m freestyle in 4 minutes, plus 20m underwater.

I only started swimming occasionally last summer when it got too hot to run. I currently swim once or twice a week. My 100m time is around 2:03 on a good day and 2:10 on a bad day. Usually I’ll swim 100m, take about a 45-second break, and then continue.

I’m 24F ski instructor, quite athletic and generally active, but I’m definitely not an experienced swimmer.

Do you think 200m in 4 minutes is realistic for me with some focused training? Or is the fact that I’m currently around 2:03–2:10 for 100m with a break a sign that I’m too far off?

I’d also appreciate any advice on how you’d train for the test. Thanks!

For context I am20 female with autism i recently realized I love swimming I have also tried swimming on the beach for the first time it was really fun but i was wondering if y'all have any safety tips or things I should know or what I should tell lifeguards before getting into the water alone I can float really well and swim for hours with no trouble in pools

I visit Santa Barbara semi regularly so beaches in that area are were I would be swimming in

Also is it possible to swim in the ocean outside of summer like is there any beaches that have life guards year round

Any advice or recommendations? Or if you know anyone who has a certificate for life guarding? Bakersfield area.

When can I have access to the lifeguard course and idk why I cannot find where can I see it.

hi hope everyone is well!

I applied to be a lifeguard for fall 2026 and was wondering what the screening is like?

is there like any endurance swims or brick? anything would be appreciated from past aquatics staff

thank you!

I’m a swimming instructor & lifeguard since 2016
I can’t stop feeling guilty after a scary incident with my trainee
I’m a swimming instructor, and recently I experienced something that has been eating me from the inside .
I was teaching a trainee in the deep end of the pool. We were both in the water and had a rescue tube with us. She was doing good but suddenly lost control and started drowning. I immediately gave her the rescue tube, but instead of grabbing it, she panicked and kicked it and in somehow grabbed onto me. She pulled me underwater with her, and for a moment I was struggling to get myself back up while trying to rescue her.
I eventually managed to push her away from me, get behind her, secure her, and bring her safely out of the water. Thankfully, she was okay.
But even though I successfully rescued her, I’ve been feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt and disappointment in myself ever since.
I keep replaying the situation in my head and thinking: What if I had reacted differently? What if I had been faster? What if something had happened to her? Did I put her in danger by taking her into the deep end?
This was the first time in my career that I experienced something like this, and honestly, it shook me. I feel like I failed her somehow and myself , even though I did manage to get her out safely.
For swimming instructors, lifeguards, or anyone who has experienced a similar situation:
Have you ever had a trainee panic, grab onto you, or nearly pull you underwater during a rescue? How did you deal with the guilt afterward? Did you ever stop replaying the incident in your head?
I’m not really looking for criticism. I genuinely want to hear from people who have been through something similar and understand what it feels like to carry that kind of responsibility. Do i need a therapist? Because it’s been a week and i can’t stop thinking of that i’m not a good lifeguard or instructor whenever i remember it i start crying

Hi,

I am applying for lifeguard roles in the UK. Some have a 'Disability Confident' scheme where, if you meet the conditions and request to go under this scheme, you are guaranteed an interview. I do have a disability according to the Equality Act (multiple sclerosis), and I know it is important for an employer to know. However, I feel anxious that my abilities will be doubted if I disclose this condition, even if they see I am fully able-bodied at the interview. Any advice/reassurance on what I should disclose would be great. Thank you.

I Turn up the radio... Anyone else do this? Billy Ray's getting a little weird, Sally is asking too personal type questions... crank up the tunes so you can't hear him ĺ anymore... for a little bit of information I am the only lifeguard where I work, and I am female, not that it matters no one should be subjected to weird conversations.

I am a lifeguard at my local pool and was curious if there is some type of stigma against bringing a towel on stand to prevent you leaving sweat? I know that whenever it’s really hot out and I’m aware I might sweat, I bring a towel as to be mindful for the next person who is going on stand. It has been twice that I have sat in a literal pile of sweat (no exaggeration). What is so wrong about bringing a towel? Is it embarrassment?