This summer, I joined Pima County’s Jr. Lifeguard program. The program lasts four weeks. We’re in week three, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot.

The first week of training we talked about how to assist with swimming lessons. We went over the different swim lesson levels: White, Blue, Red, Green and Yellow. We talked about the different swim skills for the different lesson levels, and how teachers teach them. We got to show swim skills. My friend and I did side glides, and some of the other groups did easy swim skills such as getting your head underwater, diving and streamline. On the last day of week one, we got to help out with swim lessons, My friend and I helped out and played games with the little kids.

The second week of training we did entry into the pool as a lifeguard with your tube. We learned the different ways to enter and when you need to. Compact, Walk-in and Slide-in all have different purposes, and without the correct entry could hurt the patron. One of the days it was raining and we talked about first aid and the lifeguards shared their experiences.

This week, we learned how to execute a rescue in the water. We teamed up with someone and one of us “died” while the other entered the pool and used the tube to get them safely to shore. Yesterday we did distress (conscious victim that can talk) rescues, and today  we did passive (unconscious) rescues. It seemed easy but it was a little bit of a challenge doing the distress victim.

Some other things we do are: practicing our “lifeguard voice,” remembering the Lifeguard Code of Conduct, practicing our whistles, and holding a diving brick while treading in water. Next week we have our lifeguard test which includes: 300m swim, diving and holding the brick while swimming 50 feet, and a test to show how much we learned.

If you are 11–15, are a good swimmer, and like to help people, the Jr. Lifeguarding program is for you! Visit webcms.pima.gov  for more information.