Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

What the job really is

Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.

At a glance

• Sector: Protective Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-9092
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
• Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
• Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
• Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
• Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
• Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.
• Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
• Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
• Inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, or chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.
• Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.
• Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars, to detect hazards, disturbances, or safety infractions.
• Operate underwater recovery units.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Air splints, Automated external defibrillators AED, Avalanche beacons, Chair lifts, Chlorine testers, Collapsible snow shovels, Emergency first aid kits, Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Firefighters
• Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Recreation Workers
• Security Guards
• Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
• Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.