I have not been a lifeguard for very long, but I have already picked up on the many aspects of the daily life. Theoretically, being a lifeguard could be an extremely terrifying job. Thankfully I have not had any real experience with the terrifying part of it...yet. Lifeguards are basically precautionary figures. We are trained for if anything were to happen, but we are mostly just an extra set of eyes watching out.

Lifeguards at any pool have a daily routine, whether they admit it or not. I have worked at an indoor YMCA pool, and I am currently working at an outdoor community pool. Next time you are at any pool with lifeguards present watch them for awhile. Most likely you will be able to pick up on some of the routine.

The lifeguard life is not as easy as it may seem. Okay, sometimes it is, but there are decisions to be made on the job. These decisions tend to affect how the day plays out.

1. Choosing a starting spot.

The starting spot is of crucial importance, especially if you might get stuck there for hours on end. You do not want a boring position, but you also do not want somewhere where you will have to be too active. You want a good view of everything but less work with the view. I personally enjoy the spots with a seat but the option to stand or walk.

2. Deciding which tasks to take on.

Just like any other job there are tasks that need completed everyday. Obviously some are more desirable than others. No one wants to do trash, bathrooms or scrub every individual flipper, but that does not stop a boss from getting upset if these things do not get done. Arriving early or taking on a bigger (but possibly easier) task may help to escape from the undesirable project.

3. Does that person need saved or not?

With younger children or very elderly people, it can become difficult to tell if they are rough swimmers or if they need saved. I never want to be the one to watch and wait for too long and have something bad happen. I also do not want to be the one to jump in to save someone who does not need saved. This may be the most troubling decision.

4. Will that child stop disobeying rules, or will I have to correct them?

This is another question lifeguards ponder daily. Kids, especially regulars at the given pool, will try to see how far they can go without being corrected. Confession: more times than not lifeguards will think something along the lines of "I will go yell at them, but only if they do it again." So if you are going to do something against the rules, only do it once.

5. Do I want to put on sunscreen?

Obviously, working at an indoor pool, this decision does not need made, but everyday at an outdoor pool, this is a reoccurring question. Being a lifeguard, I hope to get nice and tan. The problem with that is after sitting, standing or walking outside for many hours several days in a row the sun does not seem as friendly. A nice tan quickly turns into a solid burn. The answer to this question should always be yes, but unfortunately it does not always happen.

6. Should I take that person's shift?

The dreaded text, call or email asking "Can you work for me?" or "Could we switch shifts?" If I can, I want to say yes. I could get more hours while helping someone out, but I do always find myself questioning whether whomever I am helping would ever help me out in return.

7. To eat food or not to eat food?

On the job, I can not really sit down to eat a full meal, but if I work a full shift, that is a long time to go without food. I have discovered that snacks become a lifeguard's best friend. Snacks and finger foods are best because I can walk around the pool while I eat them. I do not have to wait until a shift change or a break. I can just eat at my leisure. The answer to this is usually yes, if I brought something to eat, that is.

8. Was that actually thunder?

Nine times out of ten, it probably was not thunder. Nine times out of ten, the lifeguards are hoping it was. Sitting next to an empty pool is a much easier job than sitting next to a filled pool. Lifeguards are not afraid to make all the guests stay out for that half hour.

9. What age do I want for swim lessons?

A lot of lifeguards do not only lifeguard. They also teach swim lessons. Swim lessons can either be joyful or dreadful, all depending on who you get in your class. It seems that I can typically give an opinion on what level class I want to teach. Personally, I do not want the youngest or the oldest. I like right in the middle.

10. Should I blow my whistle or just yell?

I am one to choose yelling over whistle-blowing for the reason that nearly everyone at the pool will stare the second you blow your whistle. Well, except the person you will end up yelling at, anyways.

11. Should I attempt to walk away before this person comes to talk to me?

This applies more to the regulars at the given pool than anyone else. As a lifeguard, those are the people you get to know and sometimes discover how to avoid. Some people are great to pass the time talking to, also.

All in all, being a lifeguard is a chill job. I get to know a lot of people and hear their stories. I get trained in a lot of life-helpful tasks. I get to spend hours and hours at a pool while getting paid for it. I may have shared what decisions go on through a lifeguard's head, but I could not even begin to share the comments muttered under a lifeguard's breath.