Lifeguards are more than tanned teens; what to know about their training

Being a real-life lifeguard involves more than anything seen on "Baywatch" or "Rescue."

But how does one become a lifeguard, and are there differences between being a lifeguard at a neighborhood recreation center's pool and being a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore?

Here's the training involved for each group of lifesavers.

Are there different types of lifeguards?

Swim Outlet notes there are two distinct lifeguarding types: beachfront lifeguarding and lake/pool lifeguarding.

"Perhaps the biggest difference between beachfront and pool/lake lifeguarding is the difficulties in performing a rescue. While rescues are never simple, in a pool or a lake, you do not have to deal with crashing waves, changing currents, and riptides," read Swim Outlet's lifeguard breakdown. "Also, a pool is much smaller than a beachfront, so it is easier to manage the people swimming in it and keep an eye on everyone.

Beach lifeguards typically work in pairs or groups, while pool guards commonly work alone, Swim Outlet noted.

Do poolside lifeguards have special training?

According to Lifeguard and Safety Training group, poolside lifeguards have a good amount of first-aid training and are experts at administering CPR.

Poolside lifeguards also need to be able to swim 300 yards using three different swim strokes.

Certification also requires completing the “brick test” — being able to swim 20 yards and then dive down and retrieve a 10-pound weight, explained Lifeguard Safety and Training's website on lifeguard training.

What training does a beach lifeguard need?

Becoming a beach lifeguard has all the requirements of a poolside/lake lifeguard, but they must also be able to swim 500 meters in 10 minutes in open water, according to the Lifeguard Safety and training website.

Beachfront lifeguards are also trained to deal with severe injuries that are more prone to occur in open water than what occurs in a neighborhood pool or community lake.

If you want to become a lifeguard, you will need to complete five elements to obtain a lifeguard certification from the American Red Cross: aquatic attraction lifeguarding (water less than or equal to 3 feet); lifeguarding, including deep water training over seven feet; shallow water lifeguarding; waterfront skills; and waterpark skills.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.