SELF-EMPLOYED LIFEGUARD

Watching the bathing area and whistle around his neck, the lifeguard class carefully monitors the safety of bathers by fully assuming his role as lifeguard. 

At the water's edge, this professional also takes care to secure the area dedicated to swimming by ensuring that it respects all the conditions conducive to safe swimming. In this article, you will find all the information you need to become a lifeguard on your own thanks to the status of auto-entrepreneur. 

The role of the lifeguard

The lifeguard is responsible for supervising a bathing place. Whether at the beach, at the swimming pool, on the edge of a pond or in a space dedicated to swimming, it ensures the safety of bathers by ensuring that the safety rules are respected (prohibition of running around the pool , do not leave the children without the accompaniment of an adult ... etc.).

In addition to ensuring the safety of people, the lifeguard must also supervise the safety aspect of the bathing area. At the swimming pool, he is responsible for checking the equipment, the condition of the buildings and compliance with hygiene rules.

In natural areas, he ensures that the authorized bathing area is delimited and that all the conditions linked to the safety of bathers are met (power of the waves, temperature, intensity of the wind, UV rays, etc.). 

The lifeguard is also a lifeguard since his mission is to help bathers in difficulty by getting them out of the water and providing them with first aid, if necessary. 

He is also authorized to give individual or collective swimming lessons , to a variety of audiences, ranging from baby swimmers to the elderly, including school groups and members of a swimming club. Indeed, the lifeguard is able to teach all strokes and other swimming techniques to his students.

Clients of self-employed lifeguards

The independent lifeguard is above all an athlete. Passionate about swimming, he can offer his services to a large number of entities , ranging from individuals to professionals and public bodies:

Individuals wishing to learn to swim or improve their swimming techniques as part of competitive practice; 

Municipal swimming pools and natural bathing areas , as a full-time lifeguard to ensure the safety of bathers and the bathing area;

Sports clubs and rehabilitation centers specializing in coaching or supervision for rehabilitation;

Holiday , leisure and fitness centres.

Maximize your income as a self-employed lifeguard

As a lifeguard and according to your desires and your availability, you can combine different functions in order to maximize your turnover. Indeed, by diversifying your offer, it is quite possible to double your income. 

Private swimming lessons are a good supplement to your salary. You can also offer courses in other nautical disciplines such as aqua gym or aqua jogging, for example. 

Some lifeguards act as high-level coaches by supervising groups of advanced swimmers for competition.

In terms of career prospects, it is possible to act as pool manager or assistant pool manager , provided that you have some experience in the field (minimum 3 years).

The qualities to be an independent lifeguard

To fully carry out his mission as a lifeguard, it is necessary to demonstrate excellent swimming skills and good physical condition. The lifeguard must also have great resistance to stress, excellent eyesight, good hearing and a perfect mastery of first aid gestures. Here are some examples of the essential qualities to be a lifeguard :

Vigilance: mainly responsible for monitoring the bathing area, the lifeguard must constantly keep an eye on bathers and ensure both their safety and compliance with the rules;

Reactivity: if by misfortune an incident were to occur, the lifeguard must react quickly to help the swimmer in distress. In addition, he must be able to apply first aid techniques in the event of a situation involving the health or survival of the person concerned;

Pedagogy: as a teacher, the lifeguard is called upon to teach swimming to a wide variety of audiences, ranging from children to the elderly and experienced swimmers. As a result, he must show patience and a great sense of pedagogy to correctly transmit his knowledge;

Relational and communication skills : the lifeguard remains in constant contact with the swimmers or his students. He must therefore be able to mobilize them, motivate them and remind them of the rules relating to the bathing area, while keeping his cool.

Training to become a lifeguard

To become a lifeguard, the first step is to pass the National Water Safety and Rescue Certificate (BNSSA) . Accessible after the 3rd, it only gives the right to supervise swimming, but not to give swimming lessons.

To be able to fully exercise the role of lifeguard and swimming teacher, you must follow the following path:

After the Bac, choose the Professional Certificate of Youth, Popular Education and Sport Aquatic Activities and Swimming (BP JEPS AAN) and obtain the certificate of specialization "rescue and safety in the aquatic environment" ;

Continue with the State Diploma of Youth, Popular Education and Sport Bac (DE JEPS) ;

Finish with the Higher State Diploma of Youth, Popular Education and Sport (JEPS) or with a STAPS License (Science and Technology of Physical and Sports Activities) Sports Training, swimming specialty. 

If you wish to work in municipal swimming pools, you must pass the territorial competition for Physical and Sports Activities (APS) , category B.

To renew your lifeguard status, you must update your knowledge from time to time:

Attend First Aid training in Level 1 Team (PSE1) , every year;

Obtain the Certificate of Aptitude for the exercise of the Lifeguard Profession (CAEPMNS) , every 5 years.