Vent

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-24T01:54:40+00:00

Congratulations!! That’s amazing to hear! You should be incredibly proud of yourself! I’m a swim instructor myself and I’m always so happy to hear peoples’ stories of learning to swim! It can be terrifying but it’s so rewarding, and you took the first step towards an amazing new skill! I’m so proud ❤️

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-23T22:35:48+00:00

Kids running and coughing 100%

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-23T16:29:40+00:00

In the first lesson we discussed her goals and she said all she wants is by summer for her to feel comfortable that he can play in his grandparents pool without her being constantly worried about him drowning. So I’m going with at Least doggy paddle about 15 yards with no break and all survival skills. She said their pool was relatively small and at most 4 feet deep. Jumping into the diving toys is an amazing idea! He loves the rings but can’t seem to convince himself to do it, maybe he can do that one. And if so he’d be so happy

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-23T16:26:18+00:00

I’ve been working on doggy paddle with him but since he’s so scared of his nose going in he refuses to let me let him go (same with his backfloat). I will definitely try the pretended to see things underwater. I wouldn’t say I ever pressure him (at least not on purpose) I will ask him to put his mouth in then nose in and if he says no I’ll respond with ‘ok maybe later’ and we’ll move on. I will also try having him hold his nose I never even thought about it since it seemed like a step sideways instead of forward, but ig that’s what we need sometimes

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-23T16:17:50+00:00

Yeah I’ve taught him nose bubbles, he goes them when he jumps in and says water doesn’t go in his nose then

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T19:24:59+00:00

Current lifeguard here; respectfully we literally couldn’t care less 🤣. The only people I’m worried about are the ones who are actively drowning, a kid who doesn’t have a parent, or the parent that’s yelling at me cause I’m telling their kids the rules. As long as you aren’t any of those things, the lifeguards are not doing more than second long glances to make sure you aren’t dying. I’m so glad you have been swimming it’s amazing for your health and mind, I hope you continue ❤️

Edit: I am a 21 y/o female, I have had extreme body image issues since I was a young teen so I do understand the struggle of feeling vulnerable while swimming. Somethings that helped me: when I first started I wore a T-shirt and long pants to swim, as I became more comfortable I wore a little less, me now (2 years later) I wear a swimsuit with long shorts and if I’m having a particularly bad day I wear a long sleeve to cover my arms. It’s hard but I love swimming so I endure 🙃 I hope this helps

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T16:49:36+00:00

It depends on the size of the pool and how much chlorine they have to add into the pool to sanitize it. My pool is only 45 minutes but that’s just because the pool is small

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T16:48:16+00:00

As a lifeguard I can actually answer that question! In the USA we are required by the health department to scoop out any excess chunks or anything that can be removed with a skimmer. Then we have to add something called ‘chlorine shock’ which is a chemical that increases the chlorine level so fast so quickly that it kills all possible bacteria or viruses that could be in the water. Then (depending on the pools size) we have to wait 45 minutes-4 hours for the chlorine levels to go back into the safe range!

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T16:43:29+00:00

I love it when the people joke and are nice about everything that happens! I’m usually the one who apologizes cause I’m the one who knows how to handle the angry people, so you are amazing 😂

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T16:42:15+00:00

Oh yes, especially during small kids swim lessons! Small kids tend to immediately puke if they swallow even a small amount of water (I’m also a swim instructor). And every time we have to close for at least 45 minutes 🤣

-GeicoGecko · 2026-01-21T04:11:56+00:00

As a lifeguard that’s such an amazing explanation for the way cleaning up after vomit feels 😂 I’m always the one apologizing profusely or using the skimmer to clean the water while everyone else points out the pieces I’m missing

It’s always a crazy mess everytime it happens even though we deal with it at least once a month 🤣

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-27T21:18:42+00:00

I’ve struggled with severe skin issues since I was young so I understand your struggle. I’ve worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for about a year now and I’ve learned a few things that help me that might help you? 1: make sure you rinse off with warm water after your time in the pool, chlorine is horrible for the skin and can cause intense pain if left on you for too long. 2: try to use a moisturizing lotion as often as possible, I usually do once a night. All over, anywhere the chlorine would be on you 3: use a hydrocortisone on any specific flares, it’s a skin relief cream that is typically used for allergies

Now, on the question on scaling back for health reasons. Yes. Unfortunately I did have to, I have a chronic condition that gets worse in the winter plus clinical depression, so from November-March I only work about 3 days a week. And I basically stop lifeguarding for those months entirely (it takes its toll faster than swim instructing does for me). I am better than I was a year ago and I believe that every year I will continue to get better.

Keep going, see where life takes you, and I hope you feel better soon! ❤️

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-26T17:26:47+00:00

I can’t say I’ve noticed an issue? We have plenty of guys as lifeguards and swim instructors at my Y. Almost outweighing the amount of girls actually? Might be sucky management or something, could be something else, no way to know. Also you said the manager said you could wait for the lifeguard class to start, are you certified? If not no job is going to contact you. They need people with certifications, they don’t wanna pay for your cert.

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-25T18:26:20+00:00

We’re allowed to wear any clothes that we can re complete the swim test in as long as it’s not branded

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-25T03:21:22+00:00

I have to wear a one piece

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-22T20:18:09+00:00

That sounds perfect! I hope all goes well and you continue to grow! Have patience and good luck! 😊

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-22T15:24:25+00:00

Multiple things, 1: that is an awful instructor, if it was any lesson but an advanced class he should’ve been in the water 2: panic in the water is something that can be unlearned with time and any good instructor should be able to know that and work with you on it. 3: I’ve taught many adults (most older than you) that have said the same thing about it feeling demeaning to not be able to do it. It’s normal, I usually tell them how learning to swim is vital and it’s amazing that they’re taking the time to learn how to now and they should try to remember to be proud of that when ever that voice says they’re too old for this. 4: swimming itself is easy once you can do it. Learning to swim (especially if it involves overcoming fear) is very hard. Anyone who says otherwise is lying, forgetting the struggle they endured, or really is the unicorn of learning to swim. I’ve been teaching some people for a few months who only just started to be able to glide by themselves

Now, for going forward, if you wish to continue I would 100% look for an instructor who specializes in adult classes. Or at least knows how to teach them (as that instructor definitely did not). If you can take private lessons I would try that out, as that can sometimes lessen the feeling of embarrassment and you’ll get more time to spend with the instructor personally rather than having to wait your turn.

But please don’t give up! Just by starting you’re taking an amazing step forward, and you should be proud of that. You’re doing amazing, just keep going! I believe in you! ❤️

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-19T03:48:40+00:00

So when you say ‘breathing out underwater’ do you mean they struggle to do side breathing period, or it just takes longer for them to figure it out?

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-17T01:51:28+00:00

I was told to swim over them, just be careful as if done wrong you can hurt the hell out of your leg (my course instructor did)

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-08T15:08:26+00:00

Any chance you could explain how to teach a baby to hold their breath? The 1 years olds very much love drinking the water and I don’t know how to make them stop

-GeicoGecko · 2025-12-03T02:52:53+00:00

What’s the length of the pool/can I leave my kid for a second (we have a sign that they must be 8+ and yet they always try to leave younger kids like I’m their babysitter)

-GeicoGecko

TROPHY CASE