THE PROFESSION OF LIFEGUARD

The holder of the Professional Certificate of Youth of Popular Education and Sport (BPJEPS) of Aquatic Activities and Swimming (AAN), is more commonly called Lifeguard certificate. The Lifeguard is rather called today Educator of swimming activities.

Earn your lifeguard certificate with American Lifeguard USA and stand out with nationally recognized training and expertise.

This swimming professional has several roles:

Ensure the surveillance, safety, prevention of swimmers and the hygiene of pools and their equipment. (Reference to POSS).

Implement the POSS (Organization Plan for Surveillance and Rescue) to prevent accidents related to aquatic activities, swimming and training.

Know the alarm and evacuation procedures and first aid.

Know how to welcome and manage different audiences in complete safety, schoolchildren, pregnant women, swimming clubs.

Supervise and lead aquatic activities, aquagym, aquabike, baby swimmers, group training for advanced swimming.

Manage the security post and stay most often at the edge of the pools in order to have an overall view of the swimmers.

Practice first aid if needed.

Ensure that safety rules are respected by all.

Check and use first aid equipment (O2 bottle, Defibrillator).

The swimming activities educator is brought into contact with all kinds of public (elderly people, children, pregnant women, etc.).

WHERE TO PRACTICE IT?

The  lifeguard  can work in the public sector or the private sector. His work is done indoors or outdoors, in swimming pools or on bodies of water. This type of job varies a lot. Indeed, the summer period causes a strong demand for lifeguards (approximately 12,000 positions), while the rest of the year, demand is much lower (5,000 permanent positions).

Audience :

If he works in a municipal swimming pool, the lifeguard is considered a territorial agent.

 Private :

The lifeguard also has the opportunity to work in the private sector in hotels, associations, holiday villages, sports clubs or fitness centers.

CAREER EVOLUTION

A lifeguard can evolve by his seniority and training, in sports educator, head of pool or deputy head of establishment or director of nautical facilities.

ACCESS TO THE PROFESSION OF LIFEGUARD

To  become a lifeguard , you must first pass the  BNSSA  (National Safety and Aquatic Rescue Certificate).

To become a Lifeguard, there are several different diplomas:

The  BPJEPS AAN  : Aquatic Activities and Swimming.

Swimming and running DEJEPS with a specialty in aquatic rescue and safety.

To work in municipal swimming pools: the APS territorial competition: Category B Physical and Sports Activities.

Attention, every 5 years, the lifeguard must retrain with the passage of the CAEPMNS: Certificate of aptitude for the exercise of the profession of MNS. In addition, the MNS must be revised every year by the PSE1 training (First Aid in Level 1 Team).

Human qualities

To be able to flourish in the profession of lifeguard, certain qualities are essential:

 To be a pedagogue.

Know how to listen and be understanding.

Be patient but responsive.

Have a sense of responsibility.

An excellent physical condition.

Know how to keep your cool and be resistant to stress (in case of interventions.)

Access level: Bac level

SKILLS TO BECOME A MASTER SWIMMER

His responsibility in the event of a serious accident is constantly at stake. This is why he must be very attentive to all that is happening around him in order to be able to intervene very quickly if it happens. something.

His physical condition is judged according to his sports performance, his visual and auditory acuity.

Obviously, the fact that he is sociable is essential since he is constantly in contact with many people.

Beyond that, he must be able to perfectly reproduce first aid gestures, as well as know the rules of safety and hygiene specific to the aquatic environment.

LIFEGUARD SALARY

The lifeguard earns the SMIC in municipal swimming pools.

Salaries vary according to assigned responsibilities, activities and the status of the employing sports centre.

A sports instructor in swimming activities can supplement his income by giving private lessons.