Head Lifeguard

Overview

The Head Lifeguard assures the safety of all aquatic participants in and around the pool area, maintains a safe pool environment, and supervises all other lifeguards. In the absence of the Aquatic Director, the Head Lifeguard supervises all functions in the pool area.

Candidates will need to have flexibility in their schedule to work evening and/or weekend hours. 

Responsibilities

• Must be mentally alert to constant surveillance of pool area, identifying dangerous situations to assure the safety of all swimmers and able to respond to emergencies to accordance with your lifeguard training.
• Must be physically capable of performing all duties of a lifeguard, which includes but isn’t limited to standing and siting for extended periods, able to see, hear, and communicate clearly and be able to hear noises and distress signals in aquatic environment, able to swim to and recover a guest in distress, prepared to respond to emergencies and administer First Aid, CPR and/or Oxygen when necessary, as well as being able to use aquatic equipment to rescue a swimmer in distress from any part of the pool or deck.
• Exhibit a professional attitude at all times, which includes wearing proper staff attire, support and enforce pool rules, YMCA policies and decisions and answer member questions about YMCA programs and services.
• Must be able to communicate clearly with members and staff using Listen First skills.
• Responsible for leading lifeguards through shift assignments which include ensuring guards are actively scanning, performing lifeguard tasks and initiating and following proper rotation protocols.
• Must be knowledgeable of emergency action plans and acts as primary responder in case of incidents. Ensure the proper completion and submission of incident report forms following incidents.
• Conducts aquatic drills as outlined by Aquatic Director.
• Test water chemistry, water temperatures and report any concerns to a supervisor.
• Check rescue equipment and first aid supplies, and maintains all aquatic equipment by ensuring proper use and storage, notifying supervisor of any needs, broken equipment or unsafe aspects of the pool and/or deck space.
• Keeps pool area clean and orderly, ensures monitoring of locker rooms.
• Directing Members/Visitors in areas where the employee is both normally and not normally assigned

Qualifications

• 19 years of age and have high school diploma or equivalent
• Current YMCA lifeguard certification
• Current CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid and Oxygen certifications
• At least 2 years experience as a lifeguard
• Proficient in swimming and safety skills
• Must demonstrate qualities of a leader and be able to complete tasks with minimal supervision
• Must be observant, safety conscious and able to react calmly and quickly to an emergency