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Top 5 Benefits of Lifeguarding

Shallow Water Blackouts | May is National Water Safety Month

hbarboy — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:25:56 +0000

In honor of National Water Safety Month, we will be featuring weekly water safety articles that provide insight into important information regarding swimming pool safety.

By Sabraya Ghale
Safety Director, American Pool Enterprises, Inc.

Anyone that was a competitive swimmer 10-20 years ago will remember their hypoxic training. How many strokes or laps could you do without taking a breath? One of the thought processes was the fewer breaths you took the faster you would swim. One of the ways we thought we could hold our breath longer was to take rapid, deep breaths – basically voluntarily hyperventilating.

If we weren’t doing this for our swim coach, then we were showing off to our friends during recreational swim. Unfortunately, we have learned through many tragic events that this practice it NOT safe. In fact, it is extremely dangerous because swimmers risk passing out due to a lack of oxygen. This phenomenon has been labeled as Shallow Water Blackouts.

It has been recently discovered that one of the most common causes of drowning is Shallow Water Blackouts. This type of blackout occurs when a swimmer’s carbon dioxide and oxygen levels become too low. Once O2 levels are too low the person will become unconscious. Our breathing mechanism is triggered by higher levels of CO2 in our body. When someone voluntarily hyperventilates in an effort to increase their O2 level to swim longer distances without breathing, they are actually decreasing their CO2 levels. Low levels of CO2 deprive our bodies of its built-in system that notifies us to breath. Therefore, a person who hyperventilates and then swims underwater can pass out because their body does not know they are in need of O2. Once the body does realize it is in need of O2 and takes a breath, they will swallow large amounts of water causing the drowning process to begin.

Shallow Water Blackouts can affect anyone, but the population affected most is competitive, physically-fit swimmers. Therefore, it is much harder to recognize someone suffering from this type of blackout because they are usually the most confident and experienced swimmers.

Traditionally, lifeguards were taught to focus on the weak, young or elderly swimmers. Now that aquatic specialists have discovered the phenomenon of Shallow Water Blackouts, many preventive methods have been put into place. The American Red Cross, YMCA and USA Swimming have now banned hypoxic training and prolonged underwater swimming, although far too many people still practice it. In addition, training organizations such as the American Red Cross are helping to train lifeguards more aware of the dangers of hyperventilation and extended breath-holding.

Today, the best prevention strategy is education. Swim coaches, competitive swimmers, parents, lifeguards and pool managers should all be well-aware of how Shallow Water Blackouts can affect swimmers. Professional aquatic staff must not allow anyone to participate in any breath-holding activity, no matter their experience level. Regular pool patrons have the power to recognize this dangerous activity and notify the correct personnel in charge. As pool enthusiasts, we can all help reduce the risk of drowning in our communities and take steps to promote optimum water safety.

About the Author
Sabraya Ghale graduated from Villa Julie College in 2000 with a B.A. in Psychology. She began her aquatics career as an assistant swim coach for the YMCA and then became a YMCA Aquatics Director. The American Red Cross recognizes her as a Certified Lifeguard Instructor Trainer and she coordinates a top safety program for lifeguard management companies across the United States. She has continued with her training over the years by completing courses on Occupational Safety and Health and OSHA Construction Safety and Health. Currently, she serves as the Safety Director for American Pool Enterprises, Inc. and has spent the last seven years enforcing policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all full-time and seasonal employees.

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Top 5 Benefits of Lifeguarding

hbarboy — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:51:39 +0000

Being a lifeguard is one of the most rewarding jobs a young person could pursue. Getting the proper training in order to carry out the dream of being a lifeguard is one of the most crucial steps to start with. Because many pools hire year round for indoor staff and summer outdoor pools, and water parks hire in the winter, it is important to get a jump on training. Also following your training, you should begin to get active with the hiring process in order to secure your spot for your new career this summer pool season.

So aside from the benefit of just having a job, what are some other benefits?

# 1 — It Is Job Security Regardless Of Location

While this may not be the very most crucial aspect of getting a job in which you could save lives, in today’s competitive job market it sure doesn’t hurt. This is especially true for areas where finding jobs can be more challenging in general. Training as a lifeguard opens doors to jobs even in areas where the job market has been hit hard. Smaller areas such as Lancaster, Pennsylvania or Monroe, New York all provide jobs openings for lifeguards.

# 2 — You Get Your American Red Cross and CPR Certification

You do have to train and earn these certifications, but because they are required to become a lifeguard, it is certainly a plus to have. Even aside from needing them for your job, these two types of trainings and certifications can help you in your professional and personal life. Not to mention, this type of certification makes your resume that much more impressive, even if you are applying for careers not related to the field of lifeguarding.

# 3 — Love What You Do

Too many people spend their day at a job that cannot stand. Even adults and young teens who often take jobs such as retail or fast food to try to gain work experience often end up dreading their workday. Being able to enjoy what you do makes all the difference in your professional and personal life. Besides, few other jobs without college education enable you to go in and potentially save lives each and every day.

# 4 — Great Paying Jobs Can Still Mean Cool Jobs

Most workers make choice between good paying jobs or cool jobs. Working as a lifeguard means fun jobs that still let you earn good money for what the job requires. In fact, for the little amount of training actually required, the pay scale is quite impressive regardless of where you end up working.

# 5 — Learn Lifetime Skills

Above and beyond CPR and how to pull someone who is drowning in water to safety, you pick up even more skills and traits that you get to keep for life. From leadership skills and learning to handle various types of responsibilities, you are prepared for life. Knowing how to work as a member of an important team with others is just one of the skills and traits you acquire from training and working as a lifeguard.

Don’t just read about how rewarding it can be; sign up for training and find out for yourself.

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Want a Lifeguard Job this Summer? Prepare Now!

hbarboy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:12:09 +0000

One of the best ways to secure a coveted lifeguard job location is to keep yourself prepared for your job as a lifeguard. During the off season, make sure you are keeping physically fit and swimming regularly in order to maintain practice and stamina. Because being a life guard means being prepared to assist people in the water, make sure you are physically fit enough to do the job.

Get Certified

Another way to secure the best job site location is to be certain all of your certifications are up to date. It is of the utmost importance that your CPR certification is current and valid for another year. Also, be sure to have your lifeguard certification and American Red Cross training certificate ready. You will be asked to present this at the time of interviewing and having everything in order will make an excellent impression on your potential employer.

Once you have all of your required certifications in order, review your resume. If you have any prior life guard experience, be sure to include it on your resume in great detail. If you have worked at a pool, describe the age ranges of the swimmers. If they were mostly children, explain your qualifications to be a lifeguard for children. Make sure you have special training for child CPR and emergency rescue.

Prior Experience

If you previously worked at a beach or tourist location, make sure to include this on your resume as well. Prior experience at a beach means you have worked in numerous weather conditions with people of all ages and background and a large range of covered area to be responsible for. This is an excellent way to show your management and people skills.

Any volunteer work would also be helpful on your resume. If you did volunteer work for the Red Cross or the YMCA, this shows your dedication to your chosen career and potential employers will recognize those efforts.

Once you have updated your resume, get to know the pools you are interested in. Check out the American Pool Enterprises website for more information. Or learn about them through friends who go there or if you have gone there yourself keep in mind their specific rules and regulations. Be mindful of the age groups who frequent the pools and consider introducing yourself to the pool managers on a friendly basis prior to applying for the job. Let the managers see you as a person. This will build a repoire with potential future employers.

Off Season Work Experience

If you happen to live in an area that has numerous public and private pools, or a beach nearby, consider getting some additional experience in. Many off season swimming lessons or scuba lessons are held and you may be able to secure an off season teaching job to add onto your resume. Whether you live in Allentown Pennsylvania or Suitland Maryland, you are sure to fine positions to prepare you for your future.

Having the skills, experience, and training are a large part of securing the best job site location, however, having the right personality and leadership qualities are equally important. Be confident in your skills and abilities, this can sometimes outweigh any lack of previous job experience. Start planning for your lifeguard job today.

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CPR Certification & Other Things to Know about Lifeguard Jobs

hbarboy — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:04:35 +0000

Being a lifeguard is a rewarding and enjoyable career. Very few jobs make it on the cool jobs, fun jobs and good paying jobs lists at the same time. One of the other great advantages is that people, especially teens and young adults, who have trouble locating jobs in their area, open up the door to thousands of potential opportunities. Whether you reside in Bridgeville Pennsylvania, Annapolis Maryland or some other location altogether, there are always jobs for lifeguards.

Things to Know

Of course, when starting any training it is a good idea to have some details in mind. This gives you a clear idea of what may be required of you for training or even for the career, once you get started. Here are some key points to touch on:

You do need CPR and American Red Cross certification to be a lifeguard. Work with lifeguard training that also trains and prepares for this. The good news is that this type of training also meets requirements for other types of jobs and is useful throughout a person’s professional and personal life.

There is a good amount of swimming involved, but this is part of what practice can help with before training starts. It does get you in shape physically, and is great for your cardiovascular health, which improves your overall health and stamina. You will also learn the different swimming techniques required to help carry out potential job requirements.

You may also be interested in taking Lifeguard Instructor Classes to be able to teach others to become lifeguards. This is an extremely popular choice for those who started out as teens or young adults working as lifeguards. Expanding what was once a part time summer job into a lifelong career is an extremely rewarding career choice for many.

Getting training means having assistance finding a job, although you may not even need to use job assistance. There are thousands of jobs in the lifeguard field, so no matter where you live you can locate a job. From Cranbury, New Jersey to Dunwoody, Georgia and all points in between, there are almost more job openings than qualified lifeguards to fill them.

Think of getting your lifeguard training as a way to invest in a job with total security, not to mention a career people enjoy and get satisfaction from going to each day. Imagine getting great pay while working in a bathing suit every day. Envision a career in which you could be saving lives or at least helping to make a difference in someone’s life each day, not to mention the pride and satisfaction that comes from having a job that means so much.

Keep in Mind

Whether you are looking for your first job ever to occupy your time during the summer months or want to change to a career that has more meaning, lifeguard and related fields may be the perfect fit for you. Get started with the proper training and begin on the path to this life changing job choice. You can begin by improving your swimming and making it easier to get accepted into training.

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Hero Dog Saves Puppy from Drowning

hbarboy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:05:15 +0000

In this amazing video, watch as a golden retriever rescues her puppy from drowning in a pool. Seeing her little one struggling, the mother rushes to his aid and pulls him to safety. Turns out, dogs make excellent lifeguards too!

To read the full article and watch the video, please visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/hero-lifeguard-dog-saves-_n_1412776.html.

Top 5 Reasons to Get Your American Red Cross Certification

hbarboy — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:23:28 +0000

If you are ready to get involved with lifeguard training, you are probably wondering about Red Cross certification. Are there benefits? Is it important? Is it required for anything other than working as a lifeguard? Instead of wondering about it, it may be a good idea to consider some of the top reasons for getting your American Red Cross certification.

# 1 — To Get a Full or Part Time Career

If you are interested in the possibility of a career as a lifeguard, your American Red Cross certification is something you must have in place. If you are going through training, you will get the preparation and knowledge you need to make getting this certification much less challenging. Even if you are interested in other jobs such as working as a swimming instructor, having your American Red Cross certification is a requirement.

# 2 — For Pride and a Sense of Accomplishment

This can be an especially important reason for teens and young adults. Even kids who have done well in school need some sort of focus and a goal to work towards. Earning your American Red Cross certification is certainly one of the best goals a younger person can be working towards accomplishing. Once your son or daughter has earned this certification, he or she will certainly feel a great sense of pride for doing so. This can be a real self-esteem and confidence booster.

# 3 — Can Help in Both Professional and Personal Life Experiences

While it is certainly great to have the ability to save a life while on the clock, those who complete their American Red Cross certification requirements can use this ability outside of the workplace. Imagine the importance of having the ability to use the training earned in real life situations.

# 4 — Having the Ability to Save a Life

Training and being able to earn your American Red Cross certification is a way to be able to save a life. Whether on the job or in your day-to-day life, the ability to help save another person’s life is a wonderful skill to have. Not to mention having this type of skill set is a real confidence builder as well.

# 5 — Securing a Job Where There May Not Be Much of a Market

For teens and young adults with little or no job experience, finding a job can be quite a challenge. In communities where there may be less of a job market, this becomes even more of a struggle. By having American Red Cross certification and lifeguard training, your son or daughter can find a job regardless of location. Each summer thousands of lifeguard jobs open in locations such as Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and Chatham, New Jersey. No matter where you reside, your American Red Cross certification can help you or your child land a job no matter where in the U.S. it needs to be.

The reasons for getting your American Red Cross certification are many. To discover your own reasons, why not get your certification and find out how rewarding it truly can be? Get started now, American Pool Management is hiring.

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Pool Lifeguard- Cool Summer Job

hbarboy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:20:53 +0000

It is rare that when a teen says something is cool, the parent would agree. When it comes to cool summer jobs and lifeguarding, kids and parents agree. Not only that, but being a lifeguard also falls into the fun jobs category, as well as the good paying jobs classification.

Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, get this – it also means teens can have a job in which they stay physically fit and may even save someone else’s life someday. Very cool indeed!

What There Is to Know

There are some things to know or common misconceptions to clear up about cool jobs and lifeguarding.

You do not have to live in a tropical climate to work as a lifeguard, even to work year round. Someone has to be a lifeguard at the indoor community center pool in Media, Pennsylvania. The assisted living facility with a pool in Suitland, Maryland is not going to watch over itself. Not to mention the YMCA in Newburgh New York will need someone as a lifeguard indoors even in January. Yes, this is in addition to any water parks in the summer or outdoor pools from Valley Forge to Millersville Pennsylvania.

This is something that can lead to a lifelong career. While most teens give up their newspaper route and pursue a completely unrelated field when the stint is done, many teens stick with a career related to lifeguarding. For example, through college a young adult may continue to act as a lifeguard. This can result in becoming a lifeguard training instructor or managing the pool at a fitness center. It could even bloom into a career as a recreational manager for any number of different types of rec centers.

This is one of the coolest ways for your youngster to develop skills other than a good breaststroke. For example, this type of serious but fun job helps your child develop leadership skills and learn about the importance of responsibilities. Your teen will develop the ability to learn to work in a team setting and take direction or instruction from peers and authority figures while using their American Red Cross and CPR certification to potentially save lives.

How cool is watching your teen develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and self-confidence? Having a summer job in general tends to help in this area for the average teen. Add to this the chance to have a job as meaningful as lifeguard and the likelihood only increases. Your young adults will have goals to meet during training such as getting their CPR and American Red Cross certification. By working towards and accomplishing these goals, young people cannot help but develop a stronger sense of pride and better self-esteem.

Get Involved!

If your teen has been asking about the cool summer jobs, you may want to steer him or her in the direction of being a lifeguard. Or maybe your teenage son or daughter has already asked you about getting involved with lifeguard training, and you wanted to do some research. The thing to keep in mind is that many pools do their hiring in off-season months to prepare for the upcoming season, so get started today.

American Pool Management is hiring. Contact them now to get started.

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Get Long Term Benefits with Lifeguard Training

hbarboy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:19:16 +0000

Training to become a lifeguard is not just a quick fix and simple solution to your teen needing a part time job in Bel Air, Maryland this summer. There is a much more to becoming a lifeguard than filling some free time while school is out. Sure, earning a paycheck and having responsibilities are great reasons to get this type of summer job, but there is a great deal more to it than that. Getting your training as a lifeguard is a way to invest in long term benefits.

Earning More Than a Paycheck

Training is certainly the first step in getting a great career as a lifeguard and having at least a part time job, but few jobs have the type of benefits that lifeguarding does. For instance:

It is a great way to develop long term, lifelong leadership skills. This type of leadership skills is what kids draw on as they reach and grow into adulthood as well. In other words, the training your son or daughter will get for a summer job helps them gain leadership skills and develop leadership qualities they will have for life.

It looks good on a resume, which is especially important as your teen or young adult aged child tries to get a foot in the door with other types of jobs. Even if your child eventually seeks a career in a completely unrelated field, having experience with a respectable career such as lifeguarding still does a lot.

Becoming a lifeguard teaches young adults a great deal about responsibility. Having the American Red Cross certification and CPR certification as a lifeguard means holding the ability to save another person’s life. Your son or daughter can really learn to step up to the plate and learn about responsibilities in their professional and personal lives from here on out.

Learn to be a team player. Working as part of a team is what helps young adults learn how to work with others and take direction from others. This can be one of the most challenging skills to pick up, but working in a team environment helps this happen. Working as part of a team that carries out such crucial tasks helps individuals truly value the importance of working well as a team.

It doesn’t hurt that having a paycheck could also help a younger person save up for a car or for college. Many young kids find it tricky to find jobs at some locations, and that makes it that much more difficult for families or teens alone to put aside money for a car or future college studies. Training as a lifeguard means your son or daughter can find work whether you live in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania or Frederick, Maryland. The location does not matter because there are thousands of jobs out there for lifeguards.

It’s about Becoming an Adult

Few job choices can provide teens and young adults with the type of long-term benefits –training and working as a lifeguard can. It is more than training to be a lifeguard; it is about training to become an adult. Young folks learn about having responsibilities and working alongside others to carry out an important job.

Do you want to reap the long-term benefits of being a lifeguard for years to come? Contact American Pool, we are committed to providing you a rewarding lifeguarding experience.

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Lifeguarding- Teens Can Develop Skills for Life

hbarboy — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:07:06 +0000

At some point or the other, almost every teenager wants to get a job and earn some extra spending money. Or perhaps, it is time for you as a parent to gently “suggest” that your son or daughter spend part of the summer hours working instead of just playing video games or updating their Facebook status.

Even if your teen isn’t too keen on the idea of getting a part time job, once he or she gets a feel for the job of a lifeguard, that attitude will surely change. Help your teen make more of their free time, just as kids from Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Canton, Georgia are doing, and learn about becoming a lifeguard.

Lifeguarding – What Good Will Come of It?

There are plenty of benefits to your teen getting a part time job, regardless of what type of job it is. The number of benefits increases when the choice is something as admirable and respectable as being a lifeguard. Aside from some extra money in their pocket and a sense of pride from being employed, there are several other advantages. From Annapolis, Maryland to Clifton, New Jersey and all points in between, kids gain:

Leadership Skills
Sense of Responsibility
Resume Attributes
Work History
Fun & Cool Job
Well Paying Job
CPR Certification
American Red Cross Certification

Lifeguarding Benefits that Parents Love

Helping your teenager develop into a motivated and productive adult is a challenging part of parenting.

While other teens are settling for part time summer and after school jobs they can’t stand, your son or daughter can be poolside as a lifeguard. Almost any teen would agree that is a fun and cool way to earn a paycheck.

As a parent, you can feel good about knowing your child is:

Getting fit and healthy or staying in shape by working as a lifeguard
Performing a job that can help be as meaningful as saving people’s lives
Working in a safe, fun, family friendly environment
Socially interacting with like-minded teenagers
Developing skills that will last for life

Many teens keep this great summer job through part or all of the school year. Plenty of climates allow for prolonged outdoor lifeguarding, indoor pool management, or recreational jobs.

From community centers to water parks, your teen could be earning great money from a job they love. The CPR training and American Red Cross certification alone are worth this life changing experience.

Additionally, many teenagers go on to use this training to continue earning money into college, and often times beyond.

As your teen grows and needs a job to help with college, there are plenty of opportunities in this career field. Those who go on to work in fitness, with children or seniors, or as managers of recreational centers find that their lifeguard training and experience is indeed invaluable.

Do you think that your teen has what it takes to become a lifeguard? American Pool Management is looking for responsible, motivated teens. Whether you are from Chatham, New Jersey or Lancaster, Pennsylvania – you should know that your teens have various opportunities to become a lifeguard. Click here to get started.

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