Far from being an easy job, lifeguards in swimming carry a huge responsibility and the trials of the job are often underappreciated. This is your look under the surface…
“I don’t remember the water feeling cold, or warm either. The adrenaline running through my body meant I just did what I needed to do. I choked on some water when I dove in. I remember grabbing her under the arms and swimming to the side thinking ,’this has actually happened.’ I had just prevented something very bad from happening. That was the time I made my first and only proper lifeguard save, and it will never leave me.”
Soryin Han started swimming competitively when she was just eight years old, blissfully unaware that 10 years later she would still be at the pool, this time saving lives. Here’s a deeper dive into the world of a lifeguard at swimming competitions.
What happens if you spot a problem in the water?
Press the alarm, grab your stuff and jump in.
And what runs through your head in those moments?
Lots of swear words. And some panic. But not enough panic to throw me off my job. I will always contain myself to do my job properly. Most of the “saves” I do are preventative, like grabbing a child while their parent wasn’t watching. In those moments, my thoughts can get quite dark. If I hadn’t seen that, I hate to think of the what-ifs. But that only occurs with public swimming hours, not at galas or races.
Do you find a competition environment, like a gala or a race, more difficult to lifeguard?
Lifeguarding for competitive swimming is generally less tiring. It’s more of a mental game. Every swimmer is competent, so it is hard to not drift off and to stay focused. Focus is kind of rule number one in lifeguarding. But with competitive swimming, even just doing your job gets monotonous. You’ll notice the lifeguard looks bored at galas because you worry less about someone drowning, you aren’t actively looking for weak swimmers. With competent swimmers, any casualty in the water would be a health issue, or they get into danger by pushing their bodies too far. That can lead to some pretty bad injuries.
Have you learnt how to not doze off on shift?
I’m glad you asked, I don’t want to come across as a lifeguard who drifts off! It’s actually part of both the initial training and monthly training. We are taught focus techniques like counting people wearing hats or goggles. With competitions, I find it easier to stay focused than some other lifeguards purely because I enjoy swimming. To stay focused I simply watch the race, and I enjoy it.
Is that why you became a lifeguard, because you enjoy swimming?
Yes. I love to swim. It’s one of my greatest joys. I have swam since I was a child, entering any competition I could. As I got older, I needed money, and I still loved to swim. The rest can answer for itself!
What is the initial training of becoming a lifeguard?
You need to complete the NPLQ, National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, which includes things like swimming 50 metres in under a minute, or climbing out the pool without a ladder. It also covers first aid training, and CPR. Also, you have to be over 16.
You mentioned monthly training, what is that?
Firstly, I think monthly training emphasises the importance and difficulty of a lifeguard’s role. Imagine having to retrain at any other profession every single month! But to answer the question, we spend an hour dry training, which means answering first aid questions and practising CPR. We then get in the pool for an hour, warm up with 100m front stroke, backstroke, and sidestroke for fitness. The rest of the training changes every month. Last month we did a bleep test, which was as horrific as it sounds!
Does the training differ for lifeguarding big competitions?
At my level, local competitions and galas, no. At the Olympics, there is a much bigger qualification criteria. You’ll also notice at the Olympics you can’t even see the lifeguards! They stay hidden away, which I imagine has its challenges.
Can you recall a memorable event in your career?
Before I had made a save myself, I was in to do my monthly training and there was a local race an hour after so I thought I’d stay to watch. One of the swimmers got a cramp mid-race while in the deepest end of the pool, in the middle lane, and the lifeguard went in. It was a wake up call for me. It goes to show these things do happen and you really do have to be alert at all times. Young swimmers are not only anxious for their race, but they want to do their best and beat their own records, and they push themselves too far. The girl was okay, she was shaken up, but okay.
Was that distressing? Is there mental health support available to lifeguards?
Yes! Mental wellbeing is a huge part of our training. We learn a few stress management techniques and there is a big emphasis on healthy coping mechanisms. We are also encouraged to ask for any help when we need it, especially if you have actively saved someone’s life. That is quite traumatic, even when it has a good outcome.
Is that something you feel is overlooked in the job?
Definitely. I think people perceive lifeguarding as an easy job, easy money. Sure, in a physical sense most of the time you are not doing anything, but we have a job to do. It’s mentally challenging.
Why?
People’s lives are in our hands. You have to constantly be alert, with the understanding that you might be diving into the pool in front of you any minute to save a life. And the trauma of having to do that is another story. It is also hard to not switch off, especially at a gala. Those go on all day.
At a gala, do you get breaks?
Of course! But not as many as I think we should. It definitely depends on the centre or the competition, but generally you have to sit in the chair for a minimum of 30 minutes. I know that sounds like light work, but focusing as hard as we do for at least 30 minutes, normally far longer, it is a lot to handle.
So, do you think lifeguards get the credit they deserve?
Naturally in sport the focus is on the athlete. As a viewer or a fan, you aren’t tending to think about who cleaned the pool, who organised the running order, who is timing the races, and I think lifeguards fall into that category. Every sport is like a puzzle. The big finished result is what looks the best and is what everyone aims for, but without all the pieces you don’t get the result. There would be no swimming if there were no lifeguards!
Could it be argued that lifeguards are recognised, because when they aren’t there, they are called upon?
That’s a great point. When a lifeguard is late or not present, no one should be near or in the pool, but it does happen and coaches and parents will complain. I guess we are recognised in that sense, but only because the training session or the race cannot go forward until the lifeguard is there. I don’t think the training or mental strength of our job gets the credit it deserves.
What is your relationship like with swimmers?
I’m a lifeguard at a youth swimming club so I see those members the most. They know who I am and we have a chat after their session which is always really nice. It definitely helps, because they respect me as well as trust me, which is a nice touch to the job. We can have a laugh too. In the last session of the year, I jump in with them at the end!
What about others? Parents or coaches?
The parents I don’t see as much, but they will always have a few questions. At a race once, I was asked by a parent if I definitely knew what I was doing because I looked far too young to be a lifeguard, which caught me off guard slightly. No pun intended.
Why do you continue to be a lifeguard?
I love to swim. And I love to give others the opportunity to swim. To have the willingness and ability to allow people to progress in swimming, and do it safely, that is worth everything. It sounds silly because it is perceived as an easy job, but I truly do love it.
Can you see being a lifeguard in your future?
I think I will always continue to be a lifeguard, maybe even just in the summer. I want to get into politics, and pursue a career somewhere in that industry. But my heart will always be at the pool, not the polls!
