1. Keeping a 10/20. You have 10 seconds to scan your zone of protection. If you see someone in trouble, or you see the dummy in the pool, you then have 20 seconds to get it/them. Hello, increased heart rate. Nice to feel you again.

2. That awful feeling you get when you KNOW you see the rescue dummy at the bottom of the pool.

and then, that awesome feeling you get when you retrieve Timmy, or Carlos and the entire Wave Pool claps for you. Victory. You passed.

3. Trying to see under floats

or through the crowds.

4.When you know a thunderstorm is coming. YAS.

5. Trying to talk after a day of working ride dispatch, where you have to show and tell every guest, every time, proper riding position.

6. Every day crowds, vs Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Memorial Day Crowds. Please help us.

7. Being suspicious of literally every person with a video camera, and the inner conversation that goes something like: "Am I being audited? Is there a doll in my pool? Where is my supervisor? I'm not being audited. Okay. Calm down. Everything is fine. OH CRAP he got closer. INCREASE SCANNING INCREASE SCANNING

8. When you haven't had a break and a guest needs saving. Oops.

9. When your rotation is crazy late.

10. You can not understand the small pool lifeguards that twirl their whistles. Your whistle must be in your mouth at all times.

Despite the long days, awful sunburns, sore feet, and irritating guests, you love life guarding and wouldn't trade it for the world. And yes, some of us do watch Baywatch.