Keeping the lifeguard pipeline full: junior lifeguards: finding enough lifeguards to staff your aquatic facilities is only half the battle

Keeping the lifeguard pipeline full: junior lifeguards: finding enough lifeguards to staff your aquatic facilities is only half the battle. Often those staff that you find are inexperienced and aren't loyal to your program. How do you find enough staff and then entice them to stay with your program? Implementing a junior lifeguard program enables the aquatic manager to train and develop lifeguards for future employment with their agency. The result can be a ready, willing, and able employee at the conclusion of the training cycle. (Aquatics)(Cover Story)

Providing sufficient trained lifeguards to staff facilities is a constant concern for recreation professionals. Often those lifeguards that are hired are new staff due to the high turnover rate found at most aquatic facilities, This necessitates a significant investment of training time in the new hire by the employing agency. The nationwide shortage of aquatic staff necessitates the constant recruiting of new lifeguards to fill anticipated vacancies as well as current ones, again costing the facility significant investment of time and effort to alleviate staffing shortages.

One method that may assist aquatic facility managers in overcoming this problem is the creation of a junior lifeguard program at their facility. Junior lifeguard programs train those youth just under the minimum age for lifeguard certification and employment. The goal of this program is to create an interested and oriented prospective staff member who is prepared to take lifeguard training when eligible, and interested in employment when certified. Most importantly, they're interested in employment at your facility, since you trained them.

Who Are Junior Lifeguards?

Junior guard programs are typically targeted for youth aged 12-14. This group is often searching for activities, but may have limited options due to their ineligibility for employment, inability to drive, and young age. The summer vacation period often emphasizes this problem, as the absence of school creates a large amount of free time. Junior guard programs provide this age group with meaningful activities, a sense of belonging, interaction with friends of similar age and interest, and the possibility of future employment.

Prospective participants in this program should have a strong swimming background, and be able to swim at least 400 yards consecutively, demonstrating freestyle, elementary back stroke, side stroke and breast stroke. Strokes do not need to be flawless, as you can work with the participants to improve them. Prospective junior guards can be found in swim teams, swim lessons, synchronized swim teams, and in the ranks of avid youth who frequent your facility daily in summer months.

The Junior Lifeguard Program

A complete junior lifeguard program should focus on skill development and experiences for participants. A firm foundation in basic aquatic skills is fundamental for these kids; early focus on stroke correction, swimming endurance, and other basic skills will increase their confidence and better prepare them for the eventual entry into the lifeguard training program.

Following assessment and improvement of the junior guards' swimming skills, they're ready for an introduction to basic water rescue. The focus here should be on low risk reaching and throwing rescues. These participants are still young and do not possess the maturity or physical strength for swimming contact rescues.

Basic first aid skills may be included as a separate unit, or interwoven to complement and add variety. The American Red Cross First Aid Basics program offers 2 hours of very simple first aid training that would be appropriate in this setting. This option also enables the junior guards to earn a certificate appropriate for their age and skill level.

While skill-based training is important, providing these students with an opportunity to be a part of your organization may be even more so. A "shadow guarding" or "teaching assistant" program allows the junior guard to actively participate, gaining valuable experience, confidence, and practical knowledge.

During the shadow guarding segment, junior guards are paired up with experienced aquatic staff and accompany them on their shift. They stand with the guard at their station, helping to scan and pointing out rule infractions and possible danger as spotted. They should be provided with rescue equipment suitable for reaching or throwing rescues, and a uniform that clearly identifies them as Junior lifeguards. Junior guards must never be left on the stand alone and must never assume sole responsibility for any part of the lifeguard's duties. This aspect of the program may be a one-time experience or a regular event, as dictated by interest and ability of the facility to accommodate it.

The teaching assistant option allows students to assist with the instruction of swim lessons for young children. Students in this group should always be under the supervision of a certified Water Safety Instructor or YMCA Progressive Swimming Instructor. Program directors may wish to incorporate the Water Safety Instructor Aide course into this aspect of the junior guard program, offering the students another opportunity for certification.