What are the responsibilities and job description for the WATERFRONT LIFEGUARD position at Town of Fairfield?
Job Summary: This class is accountable for performing protective service work guarding the safety of patrons at assigned public beaches and provides information pertaining to beach and conditions of the water. This class is responsible for ensuring the safety of the patrons by preventing and responding to emergencies. The lifeguard is also responsible for educating the public about the beach and water safety and other public safety matters,
performing rescues, and administering first aid/CPR in emergencies while ensuring compliance with state and local laws including beach ordinances.
Supervision Received: Receives administrative direction from the Recreation/Aquatic Coordinator, Assistant Waterfront Directors, and his/her respective Beach Captains.
Supervision Exercised: May supervise or lead lower-level staff as assigned.
Examples of Essential Duties:
- Responsible for the swimming and beach areas during operation hours.
- Scans the swimming and beach areas to make sure that patrons are safe and reports any hazards to the supervisor.
- Prevents accidents through the enforcement of policies, rules, and regulations related to beach use.
- Acts in emergencies to rescue and render appropriate first aid procedures in the event of injury, rescues swimmers in distress or danger of drowning, and administers CPR and/or artificial respiration, if necessary.
- Assists in performing administrative duties, including daily records of patrons assisted, patrons rescued, first aid provided, weather conditions, and water conditions.
- Assists in maintain the general appearance and cleanliness of the beach areas.
- Responsible for courteously answering questions from beach patrons, when possible, without being
distracted from lifeguard duties.
- Evaluates conditions for safety and initiates aquatics emergency action plan as required.
- Ensures emergency and first aid equipment is fully stocked, functional, and accessible.
- Performs routine maintenance, care and removal of lifeguard chairs, rescue equipment, buoys, ropes, and other safety gear.
- Assists with maintenance and cleaning of lifeguard stations, first aid stations, and surrounding facilities.
- Attends regularly scheduled staff meetings, training programs and in-service training as required.
- Completes accurate patient care reports, records and other reports as required.
- Performs all related tasks as required or as directed.
This classification specification has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform the job. The Town of Fairfield reserves the right to assign or otherwise modify the duties assigned to this classification.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Skilled in swimming.
- Ability to work well with the public.
- Ability to identify and prevent dangerous situations or emergencies and take effective and appropriate action.
- Knowledge of lifesaving methods and procedures, including first aid and CPR.
- Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum 16 years of age at time of employment.
- Must maintain certifications and lifeguard skills through the summer.
- Possession of a PWC operator license is desirable but not required.
- Must hold the following American Red Cross Certifications:
- Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid
- Waterfront Skills Module preferred
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the work the employee performs is primarily in outside environmental conditions in extreme heat, constant sun, wind, blowing sand conditions, and rain. Employee is subject to noise which requires shouting in order to be heard above the sound of surf and crowd conditions. The employee is exposed to wet and /or humid conditions. The work is performed in a beach environment and involves prolonged exposure to salt sir, wind, extreme sun, and inclement weather. Work also involves exposure to potentially stressful situations.
THE TOWN OF FAIRFIELD IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Town of Fairfield to ensure equal employment opportunity for all employees and to prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, creed, age, marital status, national origin, gender; gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or physical and mental disability.