I wonder how you feel if you happened to be the only one or two swimming in a pool while there are four highly dutiful lifeguards watching...nothing but you, of course... for the whole time you were swimming? (assuming you were not that great a swimmer to be proud of giving a "performance").
That's what happened to me today. Needless to say I felt damn safe, especially appreciated it very much when at one point one of them poked his head to see if I was OK when I was at the end of the pool, literally under their feet :wave: (I usually thought the guards didn't pay enough attention).
On the one hand I was flattered by the heavy attention and safeguarding (today seemed to be an unusual day); on the other hand, it felt funny "performing" solo or duet to an audience of 4 :D. They did appear to be all watching the whole time, not doing other things.
What's in the guards' mind when they are watching just 1-2 swimmers in the pool? Do they judge their skills? laugh at the guy splashing water everywhere, or the other that swims like a limping shrimp? :rolleyes:
:D
It's the same as when you get up to go to the lavatory on an airplane and everyone watches you as you walk the gauntlet of seat 8B to row 32...but I don't think anyone is really thinking about what you are going to do except to maybe make a mental note to rush to take their turn when you walk back, and calculate the distance and time of the in-flight beverage service cart position..... Everyone's so bored out of their minds that watching anyone walk by is 3 seconds of something to stare at. Well, you think they are staring but I bet no one would pass 3 questions about you in a treasury enforcement exam on observation questions.....
Former Member
Very interesting to read all the replies, especially from some lifeguards themselves :) Just to remind you that in this case it was 4 guards, sitting shoulder to shoulder in a row together watching--whenever I'm out of water at the other end, I saw 8 eyes looking straight my way across the pool, now how does that feel? :rolleyes: :D (of course if they weren't watching I would say they were not doing a good job ;))
Former Member
"they probably have other things on their mind" Very much so...and usually it's that no one is on the bottom....with only one swimmer extreme boredom can set in and it can even be hard to stay awake...but there is a serious job to be done......anyone can have a medical emergency while swimming, no matter how good a swimmer. It's much safer not to swim alone. Enjoy! :angel:
Georgio
Former Member
You've all heard about the concerns about texting and driving; what about texting and life-guarding? Is there any data out there:afraid:
This seem to go on more and more at my pool. One guard in particular thinks he's being sly and we can't see the phone in his lap, but the fact that his head is always down and his hand keep moving back on forth is a dead give away.
Needless to say, I don't have to worry about them laughing at my stroke.
Former Member
I too have been in this situation,I use to ignore them,after all I am at least out there swimming. But I too now talk to the lifeguards,they all wave when I come in. They ask me questions(esp after taking a lession from their boss), and we give each other pointers. It makes my swim workout much more fun!!!!
Former Member
It turns out that lifeguards often know a fair lot about swimming, and seem to find their inner coaches once you engage with them a bit!
Most of the lifeguards at my pool are (or have been) on swim teams (either high school or the pool's own USA swimming club). And I've sometimes overhead them commenting on swimmers. I'm not sure if it's finding their inner coaches, trying to learn from watching, or "that guy looks he might get into trouble" -- probably all three.
Former Member
You've all heard about the concerns about texting and driving; what about texting and life-guarding? Is there any data out there:afraid:
This seem to go on more and more at my pool. One guard in particular thinks he's being sly and we can't see the phone in his lap, but the fact that his head is always down and his hand keep moving back on forth is a dead give away.
Needless to say, I don't have to worry about them laughing at my stroke.
A lifeguard at a New York beach was fired this summer for doing that -- and it was reported in the press (the city refused to release his name). Not a great way for a 17 year old kid to start a career.
I guard at the private club I swim master's at. Outside of limited family swim hours on the weekend, we have a not guard on duty policy for most of the weekdays, etc.
I tend to watch people swimming if it isn't busy - I will even watch their times if it is someone who does not swim team but is still fast (recruitment strategy for the swim team, lol).
Well that is odd. I will have to ask my daughter(who is a lifeguard) why 4 would be sitting side by side. My guess is 4 were assigned to the shift, and when you were the only person, they decided to keep each other company, because you were the only person they could watch. However, at the pool my daughter guards at, they are required to do a certain amount of cleaning before they can go, so in slow times like this, they would be cleaning so they could go home sooner.
