Support your local lifeguard

By Lethbridge Herald on August 1, 2025.

Twenty-two-year-old lifeguard Tyler Davis and 17-year-old Jayda Tymko rotate stations during their shift at Henderson Outdoor Pool Wednesday. Henderson Pool is arguably the city's busiest pool during the Summer months.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lifeguards are a mandatory presence at all public pools, especially during the busy summer months, to ensure the safety of swimmers. They prevent accidents, respond to emergencies, and maintain order in and around the pool area. Most of them are young, under 24 years of age, and If public pools were passenger planes, lifeguards would be the flight crew.

National Lifeguard Appreciation Day, celebrated annually on July 31st, is a day to recognize and thank lifeguards for their crucial role in ensuring water safety and public safety at aquatic facilities and beaches; and to acknowledge their dedication, vigilance, and hard work in keeping swimmers safe.

“One of the biggest challenges newly certified lifeguards face is building the confidence to enforce and explain rules to patrons. The pool environment is often loud and fast-paced which can make it difficult to stay focused and assertive,” says 21-year-old Isabelle, who’s been a lifeguard at the Lethbridge YMCA for six years. 

“In addition to monitoring for safety risks, lifeguards must also manage different rules for specific areas, such as the FlowRider, Training Pool, and Wave Pool. Balancing all these responsibilities while remaining calm and in control takes time and practice,” she says.

Lifeguards at public pools face various hazards including slips and falls, dangerous waters, unsanitary situations (bodily fluids), chemical exposure, harassment, and psychosocial stress. They also contend with physical demands like lifting and moving people when necessary

“I enjoy making connections with the community and (going) from being a little kid swimming to being the person watching is a really surreal thing,” says 16-year-old Brody Kreft, who is working his first summer at the Coaldale Pool, after recently getting certified. “The long hot summer days can be tough though, as you are in the heat most of the day.”

The average age is around 17-23 years old. Lifeguards can start working at 15, and many are students working during the summer. While some older individuals may be lifeguards, the majority are within this younger age range, especially in pool and water park settings.

Becoming a certified lifeguard in Lethbridge typically takes a minimum of a few months, but could take longer depending on individual swimming ability and course availability.

Prospective lifeguards need to be at least 15 years of age, and complete a series of certifications, starting with Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross, followed by Standard First Aid with CPR-C, and finally, the National Lifeguard certification. 

These courses are offered by the YMCA of Lethbridge and the University of Lethbridge. The YMCA offers Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, and National Lifeguard Pool & Waterpark certifications, as well as Standard First Aid and CPR-C.