Watch Toughest Summer Jobs on WTXL ABC 27 Wednesday at 11 and vote for who you think has the Toughest Summer Job. Watch July 29th to see who takes home the trophy for Toughest Summer Job.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - It is summertime and it is hot. What better way to cool off, than jumping in to your local pool? Well, as you bask in the cool, crisp water, think about the lifeguards nearby who have their eyes on you.
The job of a lifeguard in the Summer can be tough, especially with the increased heat and traffic in pools.
Joshua Reid, a 2nd year lifeguard knows the expectations placed on him, “You’re responsible for everybody at the pool. If they get hurt, if something bad happens, you’re responsible for everything that happens here."
That responsibility is tested often. Leslie Adams, the Aquatics Supervisor with the City of Tallahassee says, “We do continuous training throughout the summer to make sure that their skills are on point.”
And to make sure they are, the lifeguards practiced exercises from adult and infant CPR, to deep water rescue. Not to mention when they are training, it's long before sunrise.
But that early morning training doesn't make hot and humid days any better, "They can get overheated, they can get fatigue in the stand," says Adams.
Lifeguards must keep sunscreen and water handy to protect themselves, so they can protect others. Reid explains, “You can’t be caught off guard at all, you have to know what you’re doing at all times.”
And because of their focus on physical strength and stresses of the job, that Joshua and the rest of the lifeguards with the city are in the running for the title of “Toughest Summer Job.”
