Lifeguards
The RNLI has lifeguards on more than 70 beaches in the UK. There are more than 300 seasonal paid lifeguards and supervisors. Volunteer lifeguards provide additional cover on busy weekends and during holidays.
The number of lifeguards varies depending on the local need and is determined by a risk assessment of the beach and the predicted visitor numbers during three distinct seasons: full, main and peak.
Area lifeguard manager
The area lifeguard manager is responsible for an area, generally covered by local authority boundaries. He/she is full time and oversees the seasonal service provided on the beaches.
Lifeguard supervisor
Lifeguard supervisors assist the area lifeguard manager in the management and provision of the seasonal beach lifeguard team and service. They maintain appropriate stock levels of operational equipment and set up and close down the lifeguard facilities and equipment on a daily basis. They have a responsibility for the induction and in-service operational training of the lifeguards, and also ensure that beach safety training is provided and that beach safety and education messages/campaigns are actively promoted.
Senior lifeguard
Senior lifeguards supervise the running of a Beach Lifeguard Unit (BLU) ensuring that the lifeguard service is provided effectively. They are responsible for giving help and advice to beach and water users and providing and/or coordinating rescue activities when required. Dealing with paperwork is also important, maintaining daily logs, providing written reports and keeping a log of all incidents. Daily and weekly maintenance of equipment is also carried out.
Beach lifeguard
The main role of the lifeguard is to monitor all people bathing or surfing in the sea and carry out the rescue of any people in difficulty. At the start of the day beach lifeguards place zone flags / warning signs in appropriate positions on the beach so that the risk of the public getting into difficulties in the sea is minimised. They position rescue equipment next to their patrol zones and advise members of the public about the correct zone for their particular activity. Other duties include giving beach safety education and advice, carrying out first aid, looking for lost children, and reporting hazards.
