Ocean Rescue Lifeguard

County of Volusia; DeLand (FL); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Volusia is looking for an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard/Trainee to ensure beach safety and emergency medical response. The position requires expertise in water rescue techniques, EMT certification, and a commitment to public safety. Lifeguards will perform daily inspections, rescue operations, and interact with beach visitors to promote safety awareness.

Qualifications

• Must have high school graduation or GED and EMT certification.
• Must possess an AHA BLS or ARC CPR BLS card.
• Ability to perform a 500-meter swim within ten minutes is required.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for open water rescue and pre-hospital emergency medical care.
• Conducts daily site inspections and responds to beach emergencies.
• Educates visitors on safety practices and monitors hazardous conditions.

Skills

Water Rescue Skills

Communication

Customer Service

Multitasking

Education

High School Diploma or G.E.D.

Florida Emergency Medical Technician Certification

Ocean Rescue and Emergency Medical Responder Certifications

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Telestaff

Kronos

Job description

Major Functions

The County of Volusia is seeking an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard/Trainee for our Beach Safety Division. This position is responsiblefor open water ocean rescue preventing swimming injuries; providing pre-hospital emergency medical care; performing daily operation of beach services protecting life, natural resources, endangered/protected species and wildlife, and all property on the beach.

Illustrative Duties

(NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.)

All assignments

• Performs other tasks as deemed necessary by the Beach Sergeants, Beach Captains, Deputy Chief or Chief.
• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based on operational needs.
• Must adhere to Federal, State, County and Local ordinances.
• Responds or reports to during county declared emergency.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
  
  

Depending on assignment.

Ocean Rescue

• Rescues distressed persons from the ocean using rescue techniques and equipment such as rescue buoys, rescue board, personal watercraft, and marine rescue vessel.
• Completes reports as necessary, ranging from internal/external emails, emergency medical services (EMS) reports, incident reports, and inventory logs.
• Responsible for accurate inventory management of equipment at assigned station.
• Regularly inspects Ocean Rescue and EMS equipment to ensure compliance with the division's standard operating and county general medical protocols and provides any needed updates to supervisor.
• Participates in and helps coordinate morning mass drill activities for all district personnel, to include full and part-time.
• Communicates and works directly with part-time lifeguards.
• May provide instruction during field operations, or on various emergency calls.
• May be required to coordinate or participate in the CPR and First Aid Training of parttime lifeguards.
• Conducts and/or participates in various ongoing, continuing educational, in-service trainings.
  
  

Daily Operations of Beach Services

• Patrols beach areas or man control and/or lifeguard towers to monitor activities of swimmers, beach visitors, vehicle entry/exit; detects and responds to hazardous conditions, swimmers in distress, disturbances, safety infractions, etc.
• Performs daily morning site inspections of the beach in accordance with the uniform beach code and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).
• Responds to medical emergencies and provides on-the-scene emergency medical care, first aid, and artificial respirations utilizing cardiopulmonary or mouth-to-mask methods with the application of current local and state emergency medical service basic life support (BLS) treatment protocols.
• Serves as a beach ambassador to visitors by educating them on safest practices and beach codes, as well as maintaining preservation of the environment and answering a variety of calls for service.
• Monitors weather for hazardous conditions, utilizing various early warning weather systems and marine reports to plan for daily increased risk to bathers and beach visitors.
• Responsible for clearing the ocean and/or beach of patrons when dangerous marine life or weather conditions are present.
• Responsible for the opening and closing of the beach for daily vehicular traffic at the direction of a sergeant or captain, and as defined in the unified beach code of ordinances and alerts supervisors to the need for additional openings/closures throughout the day.
• Arranges traffic cones, speed limit and traffic zone signs according to the tide and condition of the beach.
• Responsible for parking management on the beach as assigned to ensure compliance with the Beach Code and HCP.
• Makes announcements from public address system and advises in person any witnessed violation of the beach code to educate the public.
• Conducts daily, weekly, and monthly routine checks of vehicles and equipment utilizing the appropriate software. Coordinates any findings and issues with supervisor.
• Logs daily tasks directly related to total beach management and documents through the Watchtower reporting system.
• May be required to report to supervisor and/or perform minor maintenance on beach signs, ocean rescue equipment, patrol vehicles, station facilities, lifeguard towers, and other coastal and beach assets.
• May be assigned intermittent construction duties of portable lifeguard towers, beach traffic signs, and other coastal and beach assets as assigned.
• Coordinates with several beach contractors under the Coastal Division to provide an efficient beach management service.
• Monitors and updates information to be posted on the Volusia Beaches mobile app in real time in coordination with partnering Volusia County Divisions and contractors.
• Ensures numerous annual beach events are successful and in accordance with all established rules and guidelines set forth in approved permitting documents.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Requirements ($19.47)

Graduation from high school or G.E.D. and certification as a Florida Emergency Medical Technician and successful completion of the Ocean Rescue and Emergency Medical Responder certifications.

Must possess and maintain an American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) provider card or American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Basic Life Support (ARC CPR BLS) card.

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license at time of hire.

Must possess a valid Florida driver's license within 30 days of hire and maintain thereafter.

Must semi-annually meet the physical ability requirement of a 500-meter swim of a measured course in less than ten (10) minutes.

Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Trainee Requirements: (10% or 5% below $19.47-depending on certifications)

Trainees -Graduation from high school or G.E.D. and must successfully complete and attain a Florida Emergency Medical Technician certification, Ocean Rescue certification, and Certified Emergency Medical Responder certification within 12 months of appointment.

Trainees may be required to attain further beach management training as it pertains to ordinance, civil citation, and code violation.

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license at time of hire.

Must possess a valid Florida driver's license within 30 days of hire and maintain thereafter.

Must meet all physical and performance requirements established by the County for the Ocean Rescue Lifeguard classification.

NOTE

• This position is mission essential and must be available for on call duty during emergency situations/activations.
• Must not be excluded from participating as a health care provider in insurance programs including, but not limited to, Medicare and Medicaid prior to and during employment at the County of Volusia.
• It is this organization's policy that individuals hired in special risk positions may not use any form of tobacco at any time, whether on or off duty, as a condition of employment. Candidates must be nicotine-free by the time of pre-employment physical/drug exam, including nicotine-containing products used in tobacco replacement therapies.
• Employees assigned to this position are subject to random alcohol, drug, and tobacco screening.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the Unified Beach Code and accompanying rules and regulations regarding beach vehicle access, parking, and traffic.
• Knowledge of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and accompanying Incidental Take Permit (ITP).
• Knowledge of approved water rescue methods, specific first aid techniques, and understanding of basic beach management practices.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Telestaff, and Kronos systems.
• Skilled in multitasking, establishing work priorities independently, and working with shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to perform water rescues in a dangerous/ dynamic ocean environment.
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service and resolve customer inquiries and complaints.
• Ability to participate in daily workout drills.
• Ability to extend a friendly, hospitable attitude toward visitors and customers on the beach, assuring they will have a safe and enjoyable stay and want to return for future visits.
• Ability to educate visitors and customers on the various safety and environmental considerations that are present on Volusia Beaches.
• Ability to exercise tact, firmness, and good judgment in educating about the various rules and regulations governing Volusia Beaches.
• Ability to minimize dangerous situations.
• Ability to recognize and respond to emergencies and take effective action.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, supervisors, county officials, and the public.
• Ability to make critical and difficult decisions with some direction that conform to the policies and procedures of the County and the Division.
  
  

Ada Requirements

Physical Demands:Heavy to Very Heavy Work. Ability to drag, lift, carry a minimum of 150 pounds. Hearing, seeing (close up & distance), standing, swimming, sitting, shouting, waving arms, running in sand & water, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, squatting, and feeling. Ability to talk. Visual acuity (peripheral vision, depth perception) necessary to operate motorized vehicles and other equipment.

Environmental Demands: Outside work. Ability to work in direct sunshine, wind, salt air and saltwater. Ability to tolerate inclement weather including rain, heat, humidity and cold. Exposure to adverse ocean conditions including water temperatures as low as fifty degrees. Exposure to blood borne and/or waterborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized protective equipment.

Mental Demands: Ability to make decisions on proper rescue and treatment. Ability to read, comprehend and apply information contained in legal documents, statutes, ordinances, instructions, and manuals. Ability to speak clearly and concisely. Ability to use cognitive functions in performing the duties and responsibilities of the job. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to write documents relaying information, data.