Lifeguards must alert teammates and assess the scene before acting in emergencies.

When trouble hits the water, every second counts. But the first seconds aren’t about hero moves or flashy rescues. They’re about smart coordination, clear communication, and a quick read of what’s happening. In the lifeguard world, the initial step sets the tone for everything that follows. So, what should you do the moment you spot an emergency? The right answer is simple, practiced, and crucial: alert other lifeguards and assess the situation.

Let me explain why that tiny moment matters so much.

First things first: you’re not alone out there

Pool decks and beaches are dynamic ecosystems. The crowd changes by the minute, and so do the conditions in the water. A single lifeguard spotting trouble needs allies—fast. Not every emergency calls for a full-blown body-brace-and-charge rescue right away. Sometimes, a well-timed shout to teammates, followed by a quick scene check, buys the team crucial seconds. When you alert others, you’re not just calling for help; you’re signaling a plan in motion. It reduces confusion, lowers the risk of competing actions, and makes sure the right people with the right equipment respond.

What does “alert” actually look like in the field?

• It starts with a clear signal. A whistle blast can wake up nearby teammates; a quick radio call helps synchronize voices and movements.

• It’s followed by a quick, calm report. You describe what you see: number of victims, their location, apparent condition, and any obvious hazards.

• It ends with a plan, or at least a projected plan. Even a rough, shared understanding—“I’ll watch the victim from the shallow end while you check for additional victims”—gives everyone a direction to move in.

Assessing the situation: reading the water and the risk

Assessing isn’t a fancy term for ruminating in the shade. It’s a fast, practical appraisal of three core things: the patient, the environment, and the resources you’ve got. Here’s how that plays out in real time.

1. The patient

• What’s happening with the person in trouble? Is there conscious breathing? Is there panic, or are they unconscious?

• How many victims are visible? Sometimes trouble isn’t a single swimmer, and that changes the game entirely.

• Is the person in a position that allows for easy manipulation, or are you dealing with rough water, debris, or a crowded area?

2. The environment

• Look for hazards. A slick pool deck, a strong current in open water, or a crowded lane can complicate a rescue.

• Are there static obstacles, like railings, that could snag equipment or make entry tricky?

• What’s the water depth and the pool’s geometry? A long reach might work in one setup, while a slower, more deliberate approach is needed in another.

3. The resources

• What equipment is at hand? Rescue tubes, reaching poles, backboards, AEDs—these aren’t just toys. They’re part of a coordinated plan.

• How many lifeguards are available, and where are they positioned? If one person is handling a rescue, others may be free to manage crowd control or treat the patient.

• Do you need help from EMS, or is the scene safe enough for on-site first aid alone?

The impulse to leap in is strong

No one wants to stand by while someone struggles. But rushing in cold can turn a bad situation into a life-threatening one—for you and for the person you’re trying to help. Immediate rescue with no assessment can blind you to hazards, misjudge the person’s needs, or pull you into rough water or submerged obstacles without a plan. That’s why the protocol emphasizes alerting teammates and sizing up the scene before action.

How to communicate like a pro (without sounding robotic)

Clear communication is the stain on a chaotic canvas—without it, color bleeds and forms blur. In a real incident, your words should be simple, specific, and time-bound. Think “location,” “condition,” and “need.” For example:

• “Attention all units, pool A—two swimmers down near the south buoy. I need one on a backboard and one with a rescue tube.”

• “Shallow end, victim conscious but scared. I’ll monitor breathing and call EMS if needed.”

• “All clear? Let’s rotate roles—one reaches, one supervises, one administers care.”

This is where the team’s training pays off. Radios crackle with concise phrases instead of lengthy explanations. Whistles punctuate instructions. It might feel a bit clinical, but that precision saves lives when heat, noise, and adrenaline are cranking.

From alert to action: turning information into a plan

After you’ve sounded the alarm and taken stock of the scene, the group moves into a shared plan. Here are common threads you’ll see in well-run responses:

• Assign roles quickly. One person keeps the patient in view, another secures the area to prevent bystanders from getting hurt, a third prepares equipment, and a fourth communicates with EMS if needed.

• Decide who enters the water and who stays out. In shallow water, a rescue can sometimes be achieved with a tube or a reach technique. In deeper water, a backboard or flotation aid may become necessary, and you’ll need spotters on the pool deck.

• Check for additional victims. Sometimes the first sign of trouble means there’s more beneath the surface. A quick sweep around the area can uncover others who need help.

• Maintain a rhythm. It’s not a sprint and it’s not a slow walk either. It’s a steady, practiced tempo—like a well-rehearsed chorus where each voice knows when to come in.

The danger of improvisation without a plan

It’s human to want to act decisively. But improvising a rescue without coordinating with your team raises the odds of missteps. The environment can change in an instant. A diverted current, a dropped tube, or a disoriented bystander can create new hazards. That’s why, even in urgent moments, the most reliable move is to connect with teammates, confirm roles, and execute the plan with composure.

Real-world flavor: stories that illustrate the approach

Let’s imagine a busy outdoor pool on a hot afternoon. The water looks calm, but a ripple betrays a swimmer in distress. A lifeguard signals teammates, their radios buzzing, eyes locking on the scene. One lifeguard starts a quick, shouted assessment: number of people involved, whether anyone is submerged, whether breathing is present. Another friend helps clear the deck of bystanders and grabs a rescue tube. A third lifeguard moves to the shallow end to watch for a potential second victim and to assist with crowd management. And at the same time, someone calls EMS with precise details: location, the number of people affected, and any medical needs observed.

In a different scenario, a rip current at a lake-style beach might trap a swimmer who can’t reach the shore. Here, alerting teammates becomes even more critical because the hazard isn’t just the swimmer—it’s the currents themselves. The team communicates, assigns a staggered approach, and uses flotation devices to prevent additional rescues from slipping away in the same moment. The goal isn’t to be a solitary hero; it’s to be a dependable link in a chain that keeps people safe.

Missteps to avoid—and how to dodge them

• Going it alone at full speed: You’re faster with teammates and a plan.

• Waiting to act until you’ve spoken every possible word: In emergencies, you need a quick, concise briefing, not a long, drawn-out conversation.

• Ignoring hazards you’ve spotted while rushing to a person in distress: The safest rescue still requires awareness of what could hurt you or the patient.

• Skipping debrief afterward: After-action reviews help teams refine how they communicate and who handles which tasks next time.

A simple, practical checklist you can carry in your head (or on a quick card)

• Spot the emergency and alert the nearest lifeguards.

• Assess the scene: How many people? What hazards? What condition is the victim in?

• Call for the right equipment and assign roles.

• Enter the action with a coordinated plan, not a solo sprint.

• Keep the area safe for bystanders and yourself.

• When the patient is stabilized, transition care to EMS or the on-site medical staff.

• Debrief briefly after the incident to tidy up lessons learned.

The long view: staying ready when calm isn’t easy

Training isn’t about pretending trouble never appears. It’s about building a mental map of what to do when it does. That map grows brighter with experience, teamwork, and honest feedback. A good lifeguard team rehearses splits of duties, practices communication drills, and reviews near-misses without sinking into blame. It’s not glamorous, but it’s incredibly effective. And let’s be honest: confidence comes from knowing you can lean on a solid plan when the water’s choppy and the crowd’s loud.

A note on tone in the heat of the moment

During a real emergency, you’ll hear a mix of commands, questions, and reassurances. The tone should be steady, not panicked. You’ll use crisp phrases, a few well-chosen words, and a posture that communicates control. That calm, even when your heart is racing, is contagious. It helps others focus, follow directions, and stay safe.

In closing, here’s the core takeaway

When a lifeguard spots trouble, the first step is to alert other lifeguards and assess the situation. That simple sequence—signal, size up, plan, act together—often determines whether a rescue ends well. It anchors the response in teamwork, clear communication, and patient care. And that, in turn, is what keeps people safe around water: a shared effort, a practiced routine, and a culture that says, “We’re ready to help, together.”

If you’re thinking about the moment you might need to respond, remember this: water doesn’t pause to give you a cue. You do. You pause, you listen, you coordinate, and you move as one. That’s the essence of effective lifeguard duty—not loud heroics, but smart, collaborative action that protects lives when it matters most.