Lifeguard

POSITION SUMMARY

Maintains safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Creates a safe and positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program Delivery

• Provide continuous, uninterrupted scanning of pool and aquatic area.
• Follow Minimum Standards of Safety for Aquatic Activities 7.301 . Understand and consistently enforce safety rules, policies and guidelines for the pool and aquatic area.
• Perform equipment checks and ensure appropriate equipment is available as needed.
• Use problem solving skills to make quick decisions, instruct, evaluate, supervise, and recognize the potential for danger or injury.

Member Engagement

• Maintain effective, positive relationships with members, participants and other staff.

Administration & Compliance

• Review all emergency procedures and responds to emergency situations immediately in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures. Complete related reports as required.
• Maintain accurate records as required by the YMCA and/or the state Health Department code.
• Play an active role in continuing to identify ways to improve safety standards.
• Continuously monitor aquatic area for hazardous or unsafe conditions. Immediately report all hazardous or unsafe conditions to management and takes appropriate action.
• Successfully complete and pass periodic aquatic safety assessments.

• Sustain and demonstrate the listed physical demands below:

• Ability to perform the following:

  • Tread water for 2 minutes (legs only)
  • Swim 250 yards of front crawl
  • Swim 50 yards of each:
  • Front crawl with the head up
  • Breaststroke
  • Breaststroke with the head up
  • Elementary backstroke kick with hands on the chest
  • Perform a feet-first surface-dive in 8 to 10 feet of water (if branch facility accommodates). Then swim underwater for 15 feet.
  • Starting in the shallow end of the water, sprint for a distance of approximately 60 feet then perform an arm-over-arm surface dive in 8 to 10 feet (if branch facility accommodates).
  • Pick up an object (dive ring) from the bottom of pool, surface and tread water for at least one minute with legs only, replace the object back to the bottom of the pool where it was found.
  • Swim the remaining length to end of pool, and hoist yourself out of water.
  • Immediately begin CPR on an adult manikin for 2 minutes, stand and listen to directions from instructor.
  • Sit for extended periods of time in an elevated chair. Must remain alert and focused on the entire zone of responsibility for extended periods of time, even under conditions of high heat and humidity, with no lapses in consciousness. Move safely to various locations, including entering and exiting an elevated chair, while scanning the zone of responsibility.
  • Adequate ability to hear noises and distinguish distress signals. Must understand that significant background noise exists in all indoor and outdoor aquatic environments. o Ability to continuously scan all areas of the pool with clear vision.
  • Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks necessary for a water rescue. Communicate with others immediately when responding to an incident or an emergency. Must be able to communicate verbally, including projecting their voice across distances; communicate swiftly and clearly with emergency personnel over the telephone and or in person; and effectively give and receive directions.
  • Perform all rescue, resuscitation, and survival skills. o Act swiftly in an emergency and take action even when unsure whether a person is really in danger.
  • Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
  • Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
  • Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
  • Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
  • All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP DISCIPLINES & COMPETENCIES
The Y's Cause-Driven Leadership Competency Model is comprised of 14 leadership competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of cause-driven leadership:

• Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Provide visionary leadership to the organization and to ensure that all resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community

• Competencies include: Change Leadership, Engaging Community, Philanthropy, & Volunteerism

• Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y's cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships and collaborations so that Ys can co-create solutions to pressing social needs

• Competencies Include: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, & Inclusion

• Leading Operations: ensure relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so that we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community

• Competencies include: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Fiscal Management, Functional Expertise, Innovation, & Program/Project Management

• Developing & Inspiring Others: support the holistic development of self and others so that everyone can embrace the Y's cause, sustain the Y's culture, and inspire others to take individual and collective action to further our impact

• Competencies include: Emotional Maturity & Developing Self & Others

While all competencies are significant the following are critical to success in this position:

• Community
• Inclusion
• Decision-Making
• Emotional Maturity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• AGE: Minimum age of 16.
• MANDATORY CERTIFICATIONS: Current YMCA Lifeguarding, American Safety & Health Institute or American Red Cross or American Heart Association BLS for the Professional Rescuer, Standard/Community First Aid certifications and Emergency Oxygen Administration.
• PROVISIONAL EXCEPTION:
• Candidate may be hired in advance of obtaining the above certifications provided they will be registered into a YMCA Lifeguard V6 course within 30 days of hire, have participated in an interview, and passed the pre-employment skills assessment.
• Lifeguarding shifts may be scheduled only after certifications are in-hand and approved in SafetyZone. o Certified American Red Cross Lifeguards must obtain YMCA Lifeguarding Certification within 90 days of hire.
• RELATED EXPERIENCE: 1-2 years lifeguard experience preferred.
• SPECIALIZED SKILLS: Ability to maintain required certification; Must demonstrate lifeguard skills in accordance with YMCA standards.

• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Lifeguards under the age of 18 must always work alongside an on-duty Lifeguard over the age of 18.