Summer always brings the image of the sun and sandy beaches to our minds when we think of having an outing with friends or family. There are a lot of places to visit for recreational purposes across the nation during the summer. We are going to talk about some of the notable places that you should visit this summer.
In this article, we will look at some of the best water recreational spots to check out this summer and the importance of lifeguard training for ensuring safety in these crowded summer attractions.
Lakes: Serene Getaways with Hidden Risks
A lake is not without danger just because it lacks the dynamism of the sea. Lakes provide possible hazards, including underwater objects, abrupt temperature drops, and abrupt depth changes. Furthermore, many public lakes only mark swim areas instead of assigning the whole lake. Trained lifeguards typically watch swimming zones, although this depends on the popularity of the lake. Because of the natural hazards of lakes, the American Lifeguard Association argues for the hiring of more lifeguards.
Should you be drawn toward becoming a lifeguard, enrolling in lifeguard training gives you the chance to not only conduct water rescues but also perform CPR, first aid, and emergency response, all of which abilities become extremely useful when assistance is not instantly present, as is often the case at lakes.
Rivers and Waterfalls: Adventure with Caution
Rivers and waterfalls provide some of the most breathtaking summer thrills. From tubing the Guadalupe River (Texas) to hiking near Multnomah Falls (Oregon) to kayaking the Colorado River (Arizona), there is an adventure to explore around every turn.
That said, rivers have fast water, hidden rocks, and changing circumstances. Unlike beaches or swimming pools, there is often no lifeguard on duty at many river locations. The ALA encourages more people to take lifeguard classes to help address this gap, especially at remote or busy natural water locations.
For those who spend time around rivers, learning basic water safety and rescue classes, or goal-setting for complete lifeguard training, can significantly help in emergencies.
Public Pools: Family Fun in an Inspected Environment
Public and community pools continue to be a summertime fixture for families to play swimming and water games in a controlled environment. Cities such as Chicago, New York, and Phoenix have extensive programming and public pool systems, and many pools will have lifeguards on duty at all times.
Unfortunately, due the lifeguard shortage affecting the entire nation, some pools in some cities are closing or reducing hours to keep their pools open and usable by families. The American Lifeguard Association has been an advocate for lifeguard training restoration in order to open pools and keep families safe.
If you are seeking a purposeful summer seasonal job, you can make some money and keep your community safe by attending lifeguard classes and becoming a pool lifeguard.
Water Parks: Riding the Waves of Safety
One of the biggest attractions in summer is to head to a water park and enjoy the water and have a good time with family and friends. There are quite a few notable water parks in the country. Water parks like Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon (Florida), Schlitterbahn Texas, and Noah’s Ark Wisconsin, present exhilarating rides on slides, through wave pools and lazy rivers. These facilities assume that well-qualified lifeguards and staff are trained and monitored by management to oversee the attractions and address emergencies.
The ALA’s purpose is to funnel additional training for water park lifeguards to ensure all employees are fully equipped to address incidents; the vast majority come down to inquiries about slide injuries to full rescues in deep water. The ALA wants to retain an audience for these energetic facilities.
Final Thoughts: Make a Splash – But Make It Safe
The summer is calling, and you cannot beat that initial thrill of heading to clear waters to dive, float down a lazy river, or to zoom by everyone on a water slide. That perfect Instagram moment is only possible to capture if we first think about safety.
If you’ve ever considered stepping up your love of being in the water, lifeguard training might be just the summer move for you to build your career. The American Lifeguard Association has programs that will not only prepare you to save lives – they will make you that extra degree of awareness that separates a close call from disaster. You will also be helping to alleviate the critical shortage of lifeguards that is leaving beaches and pool areas unattended.
So, slather on your sunscreen, keep your eyes open (for both pleasure and hazards) and jump into summer the right way. Water is great – let’s keep it so for everyone!
Now, who’s ready to make some waves?
