back to beach safety home page Lifeguard qualifications

Volusia County hires seasonal lifeguards.

Lifeguards
Senior Lifeguard
Lifeguard Supervisor

Lifeguards

Codes/pay range
Class Code: 3005 EEO Code: D FLSA: NE Pay Range 111:

Major function
Unclassified Service.
Skilled beach safety work in preventing injuries or deaths in a County swimming area. Lifeguard is a seasonal, temporary appointment.

Illustrative duties
(NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

• Maintains order and discipline among swimmers and other persons at an assigned County swimming area.
• Rescues swimmers in distress.
• Applies resuscitation and administers medical aid when necessary.
• Assists in maintaining general appearance and cleanliness in area when able to do so without distraction from lifesaving.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, abilities and skills

• Knowledge of approved water rescue methods and specific medical aid techniques.
• Ability to rapidly learn rules and regulations relating to park and beach activities.
• Ability to exercise tact, firmness, and good judgment in enforcing such rules and regulations.
• Ability to prevent dangerous situations from arising, to recognize emergencies and to take effective action.
• Skill in surf swimming, lifesaving and medical aid.

Minimum qualifications

• Successful completion of recruit class held by County Beach Safety. Certified as a First Responder. Must meet all physical and performance requirements established by the County.
• Must annually or at the request of the Beach Services Director meet the physical ability requirement of a 500-meter swim of a measured course in ten (10) minutes.

ADA Requirements:

• Physical Demands: Hearing, seeing (close up & distance), standing, sitting, shouting, waving arms, running in sand & water, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching and feeling. Ability to swim.
• Mental Demands: Concentration on surf. Decisions on proper rescue and treatment.
• Environmental Demands: Ability to work in direct sunshine, wind, salt air & saltwater. Ability to tolerate inclement weather including rain, heat, humidity and cold. Exposure to adverse ocean conditions including water temperatures as low as fifty degrees.

Revised 3/03
Revised 12/97
Replaces 10/96

Senior lifeguard

Codes/pay range
Class Code: 3021 EEO Code: D FLSA: NE Pay Range: 121

Major function
Responsible beach safety/law enforcement work preventing swimming injuries or deaths; protecting life and property on the beach; and protecting natural resources and wild life.

Illustrative duties
(NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment.)

• Patrols beach areas to monitor activities of swimmers and beach visitors, and to detect and respond to hazardous conditions, swimmers in distress, disturbances, safety infractions, etc.
• Rescues distressed persons from ocean using rescue techniques and equipment. Examines injured individuals, administers first aid; administers artificial respiration utilizing cardiopulmonary or mouth-to-mouth methods.
• Compiles emergency and medical treatment reports and maintains daily information on weather and beach conditions.
• Cautions people against use of unsafe beach areas or illegal conduct such as drinking or fighting.
• Answers a wide variety of calls and complaints involving disorderly conduct, automobile accidents, theft and similar activities.
• Conducts preliminary investigations, obtains witnesses and evidence. May make arrests and testify in court. May issue beach code and traffic violation citations.
• Monitors compliance to minimum standards for environmental and natural resource protection.
• May be required to perform minor maintenance on beach walkways, signs and in the restrooms.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, abilities and skills

• Knowledge of approved water rescue methods and specific first aid techniques.
• Knowledge of the Unified Beach Code.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws applicable to law enforcement functions.
• Ability to extend an hospitable attitude toward visitors and customers on the beach assuring they will have a safe and enjoyable stay and want to return for future visits.
• Ability to exercise tact, firmness and good judgment in enforcing rules and regulations.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to minimize dangerous situations.
• Ability to recognize emergencies and to take effective action.
• Ability to affect an arrest. Ability to apply laws, ordinances, and standards to real life situations.

Minimum qualifications

• Graduation from high school or G.E.D. and certification as a Florida Law Enforcement Officer; and successful completion of the Ocean Rescue certification course.
• Must possess a valid Florida EMT certification.
• Must semi-annually meet the physical ability requirement of a 500-meter swim of a measured course in ten (10) minutes.

ADA Requirements:

• Physical Demands: Heavy to Very Heavy Work. Hearing, seeing (close up & distance), standing, sitting, shouting, waving arms, running in sand & water, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching and feeling. Ability to make an arrest. Ability to talk. Ability to effectuate an arrest with or without resistance.
• Mental Demands: Concentration on surf. Decisions on proper rescue and treatment. Ability to read, comprehend and apply information contained in legal documents, statutes, ordinances, instructions and manuals. Ability to speak clearly and concisely. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to write documents relaying information, data.
• Environmental Demands: Outside work. Ability to work in direct sunshine, wind, salt air & saltwater. Ability to tolerate inclement weather including rain, heat, humidity and cold. Exposure to adverse ocean conditions including water temperatures as low as fifty degrees.

Revised 3/03
Revised 10/97
Replaces 10/96-Replaces BRO

Lifeguard supervisor

Codes/pay range
Class Code: 3024 EEO Code: D FLSA: NE Pay Range: 125

Major function
Highly responsible beach safety/law enforcement supervisory work overseeing the prevention of swimming injuries or deaths; the protection of life and property on the beach; and the preservation of natural resources and wild life.

Illustrative duties
(NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

• Supervises personnel who patrol the beach area monitoring activities of swimmers and beach visitors, and to detect and respond to hazardous conditions, swimmers in distress, disturbances or safety infractions.
• Develops training programs for employees.
• Plans and assigns work of subordinate personnel. Makes daily inspections of the beach and equipment.
• Reports maintenance needs on beach walkways, signs and in the restrooms.
• May perform minor maintenance tasks.
• Fosters and promotes positive beach experience for beach patrons.
• May develop and deliver educational programs.
• Reviews emergency and medical treatment reports and maintains daily information on weather and beach conditions.
• Prepares reports on daily activities for management review.
• Oversees the enforcement of rules and regulations and the beach ordinance.
• Trains subordinate personnel on how to properly and tactfully resolve problems involving beach patrons including adverse situations such as fighting, alcohol, infringement of environmental zones.
• Resolves difficult situations between subordinates and beach patrons.
• Monitors how subordinates answer the wide variety of calls and complaints involving disorderly conduct, automobile accidents, theft and similar activities.
• Recommends changes in methods and procedures to insure effectiveness and efficiency, as well as maintaining a casual recreation atmosphere.
• Oversees compliance to minimum standards for environmental and natural resource protection.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, abilities and skills

• Knowledge of approved water rescue methods and specific first aid techniques.
• Knowledge of the Unified Beach Code.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws applicable to law enforcement functions.
• Knowledge of effective supervisory practices and procedures.
• Ability to extend an hospitable attitude toward visitors and customers on the beach assuring they will have a safe and enjoyable stay and want to return for future visits.
• Ability to exercise tact, firmness and good judgment in enforcing rules and regulations.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to minimize and contain dangerous situations.
• Ability to recognize emergencies and to take effective action.
• Ability to supervise subordinate personnel engaged in aquatic rescue and law enforcement functions.

Minimum qualifications

• Graduation from high school or G.E.D., and three (3) years experience working in the areas of aquatic safety or law enforcement, and six (6) months of which is at a supervisory level.
• A class in supervisory practices may be substituted for the supervisory experience.
• Must successfully complete Ocean Rescue certification course and attain certification as a Florida Law Enforcement Officer and Emergency Management Technician within 12 months of appointment. (Certification period may be extended at the discretion of the Personnel Services Director due to course and training availability.)
• Must semi-annually meet the physical ability requirement of a 500-meter swim of a measured course in ten (10) minutes.

ADA Requirements:

• Mental Demands: Ability to read, comprehend and apply information contained in legal documents, statutes, ordinances, instructions and manuals. Ability to speak clearly and concisely. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to write documents relaying information, data.
• Physical Demands: Heavy to Very Heavy Work. Ability to hear, see, talk, run, walk, stand, kneel, crawl, pull, push, grasp, feel. Ability to effectuate an arrest with or without resistance.
• Environmental Demands: Outside work. Exposure to inclement weather including humidity, heat, cold, rain, wind, sand and salt air.

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