What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?

The primary responsibility of a lifeguard is to ensure the safety of all pool users and prevent accidents. This encompasses a broad range of duties aimed at protecting swimmers and promoting a safe aquatic environment. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards and respond quickly to emergencies, which includes monitoring the water for signs of distress among swimmers, effectively communicating rules and guidelines, and providing rescue assistance when necessary.

By focusing on the safety of all pool users, lifeguards fulfill their critical role in preventing drowning incidents and other accidents that can occur in or around the water. While enforcing pool rules, supervising swimming lessons, and managing pool maintenance are important tasks that contribute to the overall safe operation of a facility, they are secondary to the fundamental obligation of safeguarding individuals who are using the pool.