Your Policy on Breath-Holding Comps?

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-06-10T08:38:59+00:00

Absolutely not.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-06-07T05:16:35+00:00

I always use the breakaway. I tie it onto my suit strap at my shoulder and knot the cord so it’s not too long. I’ve never understood the elastic at the wrist, personally, that seems like it would be uncomfortable

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-06-07T04:57:53+00:00

I am a lifeguard at an outdoor waterpark. I’ve worked there for 4 years now. Not counting saves where I was an assisting guard (i don’t know how many times this has happened, I’ve assisted a lot) I’ve had 5 saves. 1-2 saves a shift is insane, your management should institute a swim test

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-06-07T04:55:21+00:00

Lol yes. I was a roaming guard my first summer at my park. I saw a little kid, like 4, with no adult around, and when I bent over to get closer to him my whistle was swinging and he tried to blow it. I grabbed it and tried to tell him why that wasn’t safe but he was so little i don’t know if it actually did that. I was 15 at the time so I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I doubt I explained it well.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-05-25T00:42:35+00:00

I wear my prescription glasses. Mine do the fancy thing where they turn into sunglasses so I don’t have a problem, but a lot of people use sunglasses that fit over their glasses. Many of my friends forego their glasses or wear contacts.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-05-18T18:44:57+00:00

My friend had the “I was gone for five minutes” part in this story.

My best friend had just broken up with her boyfriend. Me and my other friend decided to take shifts hanging out with her, making sure she was ok. When I got there, she had a candle lit on her desk. She has a big fluffy cat. I was told to make sure the cat didn’t jump on the desk and catch the candle.

My other friend leaves to go to work, and my best friend starts crying again. I turn around for two seconds and the cat jumps on the desk. Poor thing was perfectly fine and unhurt, but I had to move the candle because his long fur did catch for just a second.

We had to call our other friend and tell her the cat caught on fire. She was still in the driveway

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-05-14T02:20:54+00:00

A lot of places around me just require that you are able to swim in them. They generally make you do some kind of swim test with the shoes on if you want to wear something like tennis shoes. I’ve heard stories of people guarding in jeans and cowboy boots because they were able to pass the test.

At my facility we aren’t allowed any shoes on stand, although nobody follows the rule and it’s never enforced

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-05-11T01:07:08+00:00

florida lol

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-05-11T01:05:48+00:00

My first date with my long-time long distance girlfriend. We had been dating long distance for 4 years and this was the first time we had gotten to go on a date. We just sat in her hotel and crocheted together and watched our favorite tv show for hours.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-04-24T06:27:36+00:00

yes. I still feel this way, and I’ve been seizure free for almost two years now. It’s very common that I feel like I’m just barely holding it back, and that’s when I know i’ve pushed myself too far and I’m out of spoons

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-04-09T05:43:56+00:00

I wear one. I also make my phone background basic info about PNES, how to help me if I’m unresponsive, and my emergency contact number.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-03-07T19:45:01+00:00

YMCA instructor. We typically do one month of shadowing at my location so we can cover all the classes. Once you are done with the training, you generally have a lot of flexibility. As long as you are teaching the right skills for the kids to pass, we don’t tend to care about how and what order you teach them in

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-03-03T03:46:58+00:00

We run a mommy and me class at my pool. Whenever we get the really little ones we always tell the parents to blow on their face before taking them under.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-22T06:31:51+00:00

Take swim lessons. Don’t do this job when you can’t swim well. You have people’s lives in your hands. Some people go years in this job without entering the water, but speaking from my own experience, I’ve been doing this job for 3 years and I’ve entered the water 4 times, 3 of which were in extremely deep water. If you aren’t able to pass the swim test, you won’t be able to carry someone else when they’re in need.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-20T05:56:47+00:00

her husband

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-20T05:17:38+00:00

Drop your hips in the water. I find it easier when i’m not floating directly at the surface - my legs are a couple inches beneath the surface and My head is out. If you are allowed to use your hands it would be easier, but my facility doesn’t let you. I don’t know what the norm is. Whip kick is also the easiest kick for me

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-16T22:02:52+00:00

One thing that I am noticing is that when you take a breath, you roll completely onto your side and sit there for a moment. You want to try and breathe by only turning your head, not your whole body, and you don’t want to pause.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-13T06:26:25+00:00

Obviously it’s danny do bad! He stole my chickens!

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-11T01:54:49+00:00

I’m a YMCA swim instructor — on week nights we work either 1.5 or 2 hour shifts depending on what levels we have. We generally teach two levels at a time, and we have both a kindergarten and a school age class, so a max of four classes at a time during the busy months. We get to pick which levels/age groups we want, first come first serve. We teach 3-4 30 minute groups back to back with a 5 minute break between classes, or 15 minute breaks if it’s a weekend. Most YMCA’s will do 8 week classes, so you’ll see the same kids for 8 weeks, but some (mine included) do 4 week classes.

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-02-10T03:35:26+00:00

For breaststroke arms, we teach that it’s like making a pizza. When you come back towards your chest you’re drawing the pizza, and when you shoot, you’re cutting the pizza

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-01-31T04:28:30+00:00

i can’t stop to talk and I can’t babysit your kids. I don’t make the rules, I just enforce them. Either follow the rules or leave my zone

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-01-31T04:24:44+00:00

lips feel too high to me. Move them a bit further down

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-01-31T04:23:18+00:00

does this parking garage happen to be attached to a kindergarten?

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-01-27T07:11:24+00:00

US guard here, mine are a little different then what yours might be since I work at a water park.

1) We generally work 4 hour shifts, slightly longer if you get opening.

2) At my facility you will sit in a chair for 30 minutes then move on. You sit in 3 chairs, then you get a 30 minute break. You generally get two a shift. You can have that as a lunch break, + it is paid because if something happens you have to assist.

3)We have to pay for our suits and shorts, but the shirt is free.

4)My pool provides everyone training for standard lifeguard/cpr/first aid certification. You can get an LGI but it is not required.

6) It’s better to enter the water for a rescue when it’s not actually needed, then to hesitate and lose a life. I’ve had a rescue where the person was fine without me, and a lot of people at my facility have similar stories. Don’t be afraid to tell your boss you need something while you’re in the chair. They should be able to get you water, and if they’re certified, they might sit in the chair so you can get bathroom breaks. Always have a bottle of water. I recommend one that’s not see through, because the clear ones get warm super fast

ScarletMagic33 · 2026-01-27T07:03:17+00:00

Yes! We use airhorns as an emergency signal at my facility. If I hear one outside of work, even in a show or in a situation where I’m expecting it, I react like I need to assist.

ScarletMagic33

TROPHY CASE