Interested in becoming a lifeguard in Bloomington-Normal or just interested in what they do? Well here is where you'll find all the information you will need. There are quite few places in Bloomington-Normal to lifeguard, some are year round others are seasonal. Lifeguards do a lot more then sit in chairs and save drowning people.. There are a lot of skills and knowledge needed to become a lifeguard.
Locations
https://www.normal.org/facilities/Facility/Details/34
Fair view and Anderson are two different locations but employees work at both regularly. The larger and busier of the two is Fair view, it features 3 large water slides, a kiddie pool, splash pads, a regular sized pool, a sand area, and drop slides.
Work environment : Fair view is a seasonal pool, its only open during the summer. Life guarding is a very serious and important job. Every person inside of the facility is the responsibility of all the lifeguards on duty. Their lives and saftey are in the hands of the guards. that being said the guards and mangers try to make the work environment light and casual when the guard are down on break. Lifeguards get a lot of down time to read, eat, converse, and play around as long as its acceptable for the work environment. There are usually about 15 guards on duty through out the day. You don't always work with the exact same people everyday. The teams of guards switch often, it just depends on who was schedualed to work that day and time.
Duties and skills: At Fair view there is alot more work to be done because it usually is pretty busy as long as it is nice outside. The main job that the lifeguards have to do is scanning. This is done when a lifeguard is either up in a chair watching a specfic area or zone. Also can be done while walking. The type of scanning you could be doing depends on what zone you happened to be asigned to at what time of day it is. There is three rotaions at Fairview and 11 different stands to be placed at. There is Far side Near side and slides. When up at any of the stands the guards are required to be paying full attention to their zone scanning the zone entire zone with in ten seconds. This is done consistently for 30 minutes then they are switched out and are moved to another stand with in the rotation. After a guard completes a full rotation he or she comes down for a break. The break time depends on how many lifeguards are on duty at the time and how many stands are up. Scanning is probably the most important duty because a guard is supposed to scan to catch any problem that is occuring or prevent problems from occuring. Scanning and reacting isn't the only job lifeguards have. They are required to do lawn and deck walks often to make sure the facility is clean. They clean any mess they come across wether its in the locker room or anywhere else in the facility. Guards enforce rules as well and tries to prevent any conflicts going on in the facilty. If you are a morning guard you are responsible for laying everything out that will be needed to get trough the day and sometimes cleaning the pool out. Closing guards put the facilities chairs back in order clean concsessions and boys and girls locker room. Ski,ls needed to be a guard vary on the location you are at, but alot of skills role over to other locations it just may be a few skills here and there that may be added or dropped.
The program needed to lifeguard for Anderson and Fair View is the International Lifeguard Training program it offers one of the most comprehensive lifeguard training program available. Participants will learn the water rescue, CPR, AED, First Aid and Oxygen administration skills required to be a lifeguard. Potential lifeguard for the Normal Parks and Recreation Department will be selected from these classes.
This lifeguard class is for certification purposes only. Passing this class does not guarantee a position at any aquatic facility.
Requirements
Participants must be 15 or older at the time of the class and will be required to pass a swimming/skills test on the first day to continue in the class. Swim test includes a continuous 200 yard swim (eight lengths), treading water for two minutes (one minute regular treading, one minute without using their hands) and retrieving a diving brick (approximately 10 pounds) from the deepest part of the pool. An online study guide and test must be completed before the first day of class. Each student will receive their online key code at the time of registration.
Participants must register a minimum of one week prior to class to allow time to complete the online course. Registration is only available at the Parks and Recreation Office, 100 E. Phoenix Ave.
Anderson
State Farm
Four Seasons
Certifications
Skills
Pay
