Reliability, maturity, consistency, courtesy, positivity, professionalism, leadership, health and fitness, etc. All great qualities recommended by lifeguarding courses and textbooks. Each important in its own way; in fact, so important that I cannot imagine any lifeguard being successful on the job who is not reliable, mature, consistent, courteous, professional, etc. And yet, these characteristics not withstanding, I would like to suggest the addition of one of the most essential (yet most often overlooked or forgotten) qualities of any lifeguard: RESILIENCE.
According to Psychology Today, “resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.” From the Latin resilire, it literally means to recoil or bounce back. Why is this such as important quality for lifeguards to develop?
Even though the bulk of a lifeguard’s job is a mixture of fun in the sun with daily prevention, supervision, and maintenance, lifeguards, like other professional rescuers, must be ready at any moment to step in to rescue and administer care when it matters most. When this happens, lifeguards may have to deal with unpleasantness of severe bleeding, vomiting, disfiguring injuries or baffling sudden illnesses, and even life and death. This aspect of the job is highly stressful and fraught with emotion. If a lifeguard is resilient, he or she can face these challenges, see them through with courage and determination, regardless of the outcome. Without the capacity to be resilient, lifeguards and others in these roles may succumb to debilitating stress, obsess about their problems and failures, and feel overwhelmed or victimized. They may even develop mental problems or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as isolation, denial, and drug or alcohol abuse.
Fortunately, resilience, like other traits and characteristics, can be developed. It begins by taking personal responsibility for your physical, mental, and psychological health and preparation for the job. This means that we must:
- Understand and accept that the job of a lifeguard may have unpleasant, stressful, and difficult challenges. We want to prevent them if we can but these challenges are not insurmountable; they can be faced and managed.
- Get the training and knowledge we need. As a lifeguard, your goal should be to get smarter; more skillful; and more confident every day.
- Come to work prepared (i.e., well rested, energized, positive, and ready to work) and stay focused.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, a well-balanced diet, and a positive outlook.
- Build healthy relationships at home and at work. Make and maintain connections with family, friends, and coworkers. Train with our lifeguard team and have a good working relationship with our supervisors. Help and cooperate with each other on the job, and, when appropriate, have some fun together.
- Remember our training when facing an emergency. We know what to do. We can be decisive and follow through until relieved. We will give assistance to teammates and accept their help as well.
- Despite the outcome of the emergency, accept that we have done our best and keep a realistic perspective. We will participate in staff debriefings, including critical incident stress debriefings, if necessary and appropriate.
