Lifeguard
Mckinney, Texas, United States
During my time in high school, I worked part time as a lifeguard for just over 2 years. As a lifeguard, I was responsible chiefly for ensuring the safety and fun of patrons visiting the facilities, the maintenance and upkeep of facility equipment, as well as learning/maintaining proficiency in CPR/First responder skills. However, I also learned that more important than any of these duties was effective communication. When disaster strikes, it is common for one to be caught up in the moment and forget to talk to others, which can cause either confusion between either the victim or first responders. Effective communication between all parties is important not only to ensure proper procedures are put in play, but also to prevent parties involved as well as curious onlookers from creating panic. Even outside of emergencies, when dealing with patrons or responding to issues that may arise unexpectedly, communication is key to ensuring problems are resolved smoothly and effectively.