Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
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Job Definition
View MovieMonitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Job Zone

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

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

Interests
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.
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.
Knowledge
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Skills
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Tasks
Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars in order 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.
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, utilizing 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.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $26,380.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $17,430.00 and $39,570.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 11,100 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 13,300 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 220 openings due to growth and about 820 replacement openings for approximately 1,040 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
There are currently no programs listed for this occupation.
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