Anonymous
05/04/2026 09:27
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Agree kid should inquire about certification but also about best practices at the pool.
Well run pools have frequent breaks for lifeguards, rotating stations, drills and continuing education, etc. And rules about non swimmers, young children, etc.
Another PP talked about layers of safety, your kid wants to make sure they are only one layer of safety not the only layer.
Well run pools have frequent breaks for lifeguards, rotating stations, drills and continuing education, etc. And rules about non swimmers, young children, etc.
Another PP talked about layers of safety, your kid wants to make sure they are only one layer of safety not the only layer.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 09:20
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think you should not rely on teenagers for your info and instead reach out to the pool management to find out what is needed.
Having gone through a hiring process involving teenagers and young adults recently: there is nothing less attractive for a candidate than having mom and dad inquire about specifics of the job.
+1. Have your kid reach out to the management company to inquire about the requirements for the job. And if your kid wants this job anyway ... recommend they get the full certification even if the pool doesn't require it.
-PP whose kid just got certified for his first lifeguard job this summer. I've had zero direct contact with anyone, and my only involvement has been driving him to the certification course and interview (where I dropped him off at the corner) because he's only 15 and can't drive yet.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 09:13
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous wrote:I think you should not rely on teenagers for your info and instead reach out to the pool management to find out what is needed.
Having gone through a hiring process involving teenagers and young adults recently: there is nothing less attractive for a candidate than having mom and dad inquire about specifics of the job.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 08:51
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Is there even an online only lifeguard certification?
Are you sure her friend got it right? I would talk to the hiring manager at the pool vs taking the word of some random teen.
Are you sure her friend got it right? I would talk to the hiring manager at the pool vs taking the word of some random teen.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 07:26
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous wrote:I cannot imagine there is such a thing as “online only” lifeguard certification. Perhaps these teens are being certified in something else, but not lifeguarding.
Part of the pre class is online but then there is in person teaching and pool.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 07:17
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
I cannot imagine there is such a thing as “online only” lifeguard certification. Perhaps these teens are being certified in something else, but not lifeguarding.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 07:14
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
I think you should not rely on teenagers for your info and instead reach out to the pool management to find out what is needed.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 07:06
Subject: Re:Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous wrote:I never seen it mentioned in these teen lifeguard posts about your teen in charge of saving other people. , I think about my own kid and how wrecked with guilt he would be if something happened on their watch
I am part of a pool board and lifeguards at a pool are to be a layer of safety but not the sole safety net. Our pool used to have a terrible culture of parents with young kids assuming that they could put them in the water and it was the lifeguard's job to protect their kid from drowning. Our pool has strict rules for non swimmers, where they can be and a parent must be within arms reach. Which quickly made parents realize that the pool was not very fun when you had to be in the water babysitting your non-swimmer. So heavy push on swim lessons, etc. Kids have to pass a swim test to enter the restricted areas of the pool. The only saves the guards made in recent years, were not really saves so much as diving board accidents. That was where the injuries happened.
Anonymous
05/03/2026 23:29
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous wrote:My teen just got certified for a job this summer at our neighborhood pool (NVSL pool). He was required to do the full Red Cross or equivalent course. His had an online portion plus two full days of in-person training.
The renewal, I think, can be online only? This was his first year getting certified so I'm not entirely sure.
And yes, I absolutely think about how it'll affect him if anything happens in his watch. I want him to be as well trained as he can possibly be, partly to prevent anything disastrous from happening (I mean, that is the point of having lifeguards....) but also so that if anything beyond his control happens, he'll know that he did everything he could and didn't just miss something due to inadequate training.
So if that really is the case at your pool (and not just unfounded rumor from teenagers), it would be a huge red flag.
OP here. I feel the same way about what if something happened. I don't think it's a rumor that they take the online certification based on what I've heard from longtime neighbors about the guy who manages the pool I think DD would be better off finding another type of job for the summer.
Anonymous
05/03/2026 22:41
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
My teen just got certified for a job this summer at our neighborhood pool (NVSL pool). He was required to do the full Red Cross or equivalent course. His had an online portion plus two full days of in-person training.
The renewal, I think, can be online only? This was his first year getting certified so I'm not entirely sure.
And yes, I absolutely think about how it'll affect him if anything happens in his watch. I want him to be as well trained as he can possibly be, partly to prevent anything disastrous from happening (I mean, that is the point of having lifeguards....) but also so that if anything beyond his control happens, he'll know that he did everything he could and didn't just miss something due to inadequate training.
So if that really is the case at your pool (and not just unfounded rumor from teenagers), it would be a huge red flag.
The renewal, I think, can be online only? This was his first year getting certified so I'm not entirely sure.
And yes, I absolutely think about how it'll affect him if anything happens in his watch. I want him to be as well trained as he can possibly be, partly to prevent anything disastrous from happening (I mean, that is the point of having lifeguards....) but also so that if anything beyond his control happens, he'll know that he did everything he could and didn't just miss something due to inadequate training.
So if that really is the case at your pool (and not just unfounded rumor from teenagers), it would be a huge red flag.
Anonymous
05/03/2026 21:52
Subject: Re:Teen lifeguard jobs
I never seen it mentioned in these teen lifeguard posts about your teen in charge of saving other people. , I think about my own kid and how wrecked with guilt he would be if something happened on their watch
Anonymous
05/03/2026 21:19
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Anonymous
05/03/2026 20:48
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
No, have her do the lessons and test. As long as she’s a decent swimmer it’s ok.
Anonymous
05/03/2026 20:42
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
Yes, that's a red flag. Normally it's online classes (~10 hours) then at LEAST eight hours in person.
Anonymous
05/03/2026 20:20
Subject: Teen lifeguard jobs
I will preface this by saying we no longer live in the DMV.
DD16 wants to work this summer as a lifeguard at our neighborhood pool. She is a strong athlete but not a swim team kid. Her friends who worked there last summer told her that all she needs is a certification that she can get online.
This is a red flag about working there, right? Isn't the Red Cross certification the standard at most pools? We were members of this pool years ago and always kept a close eye on our kids because the lifeguards seemed lax compared to those at YMCA or public pools and now I know why. It seems like a huge liability to have lifeguards who aren't properly certified.
DD16 wants to work this summer as a lifeguard at our neighborhood pool. She is a strong athlete but not a swim team kid. Her friends who worked there last summer told her that all she needs is a certification that she can get online.
This is a red flag about working there, right? Isn't the Red Cross certification the standard at most pools? We were members of this pool years ago and always kept a close eye on our kids because the lifeguards seemed lax compared to those at YMCA or public pools and now I know why. It seems like a huge liability to have lifeguards who aren't properly certified.