Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

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

Industry: Protective Service

Other Job Titles for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
• Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
• Patrol or monitor recreational areas such as trails, slopes, and swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
• Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
• Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
• Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
• Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
• Inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, and chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.
• Provide assistance with staff selection, training, and supervision.
• Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.
• Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars, to detect hazards, disturbances, or safety infractions.
• Provide assistance in the safe use of equipment, such as ski lifts.
• Operate underwater recovery units.
• Participate in recreational demonstrations to entertain resort guests.
• Observe fires and crews from air to determine firefighting force requirements and to note changing conditions that will affect firefighting efforts.
• Inspect all stations, uniforms, equipment, and recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
• Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
• Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, and educating the public in proper burning practices.
• Direct investigations of suspected arsons in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.
• Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
• Lead work crews in the maintenance of structures and access roads in forest areas.
• Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites.
• Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities, such as exhibits and presentations, and by distributing promotional materials.
• Investigate special fire issues, such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, and slash disposal problems.
• Appraise damage caused by fires and prepare damage reports.
• Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment such as a computer.

Emerging Tasks

• Maintain quality of pool water, such as by testing chemical levels.
• Educate the public about fire safety and prevention.
• Maintain court docket.
• Provide security by patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse and escorting judges and other court employees.
• Screen persons entering courthouse using magnetometers, x-ray machines, and other devices to collect and retain unauthorized firearms and other contraband.
• Screen, control, and handle evidence and exhibits during court proceedings.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• communicate details in protective services settings
• conduct training for personnel
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• evaluate premises for cleanliness
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• instruct participants in recreational activities
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• provide customer service
• recognize public safety hazards
• use emergency medical procedures
• use emergency medical treatment procedures
• use first aid procedures
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use rescue procedures
• make presentations
• manage detailed records or files in law enforcement setting
• measure, weigh, or count products or materials
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• pilot aircraft
• prepare reports
• review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved
• ride horses during law enforcement work
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• verify investigative information
• search for overdue aircraft
• serve arrest, search or seizure warrants
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
• use firearms
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of geographic coordinates
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques

Overall Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a cashier even if he/she has never worked before.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, cashiers, and waiters/waitresses.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$8.64
• Average annual wage (2007) - $17,980.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 18.70%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 21,350
• Employment (2006): 114,189

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