Panic is the one action a lifeguard should never take during a rescue.

Why staying calm isn’t a cliché—it's a lifesaver

Picture a pool deck on a sunny afternoon. Laughter spills from kids in the shallow end, a whistle cuts through the chatter, and a lifeguard scans the water with steady, unhurried focus. You might assume that in a rescue, speed is everything. In truth, it’s a close second to staying calm. Calm helps you think clearly, move decisively, and keep the people around you from spiraling into chaos.

Here’s the thing: during a rescue, there are several actions that are essential, and one that is absolutely inappropriate. If you’re ever asked to pick the odd one out from a list, the answer would be simple: engage in panic behavior. It’s the wrong move—dangerous for the victim, and risky for you as well. Let me explain why, and what you should do instead.

What makes the right moves right in a rescue

Think of a lifeguard’s job as a careful choreography. It’s not just about getting someone out of the water; it’s about guiding the whole scene so bystanders stay safe, equipment stays ready, and the victim can recover quickly.

Three core actions tend to show up in effective rescues:

• Maintain a calm demeanor. A steady voice and level posture transmit safety. When you’re calm, your judgment stays sharp. The victim often mirrors your calm, which can stop panic from taking root in their chest and head.

• Provide reassurance to the victim. Simple, steady words can mean a lot. Let them know you’re there, you’ve got this, and you’ll get them out of danger. Reassurance buys time and reduces the fear that can hamper breathing, coordination, and cooperation.

• Direct others to call for help if needed. Part of your role is to marshal the wider safety net: signal to teammates, radio for help, alert EMS if the situation calls for it. Quick, clear communication helps professionals on standby arrive with the right gear at the right moment.

The one move that undermines the whole mission

So what’s the one action that’s inappropriate? Engage in panic behavior. It’s not just a bad tone; it’s a dangerous shift in the whole energy of the scene. Panic can spread like a ripple, exhausting the victim, clouding judgment, and slowing decision-making. Think of it as throwing a gust of wind at a lit match—the flame of fear grows, and suddenly you’re fighting a two-front battle: the water and the panic.

Why panic is so dangerous in the water

• Physical limits: when someone in the water panics, they can exhaust themselves faster. Time is precious in a rescue, and panic eats into it.

• Cognitive fog: fear narrows focus. If the lifeguard starts to panic, crucial cues—the victim’s breathing pattern, the best reach or throw path, the position of bystanders—can slip through the cracks.

• Crowd dynamics: on a busy deck, panic is contagious. A single panicked reaction can trigger a chain reaction, making it harder for others to follow directions and for the team to coordinate.

• Safety chain: lifeguards aren’t solo heroes; they’re part of a team with partners, backboards, throw bags, and radios. Panic can disrupt the chain of command and slow help for everyone who needs it.

Grounding techniques that keep you in control

Staying calm isn’t magic. It’s training—practiced, drilled, and trusted until it becomes instinct. Here are practical ways many lifeguards keep their cool when the stakes are high:

• Breathe with intention. A slow, controlled inhale through the nose, a brief pause, and a steady exhale through the mouth can reset your body in seconds. It’s not flashy, but it works.

• Ground your plan in a simple framework. A common approach is: assess, decide, act, review. Start with a quick water and scene assessment, choose the best course (reach, throw, row, or go), execute, and then monitor the outcome.

• Speak with purpose. Short, calm phrases reduce confusion. “I’ve got you,” “Help is on the way,” “I’ll position you here”—these cues create a predictable rhythm that bystanders can follow.

• Use your equipment deliberately. A rescue tube, a contact rescue with a swimmer, a backboard for suspected spinal injuries—knowing the purpose and timing of each tool keeps the operation smooth.

• Delegate and coordinate. If you’re not alone, assign roles swiftly: one person speaks to the victim, another handles the throw line or tube, a third watches the deck for additional help, and someone else calls for EMS. Clear roles prevent chaos.

• Keep eye contact but not fixated. You want to establish trust with the victim, but you also need to scan for hazards, wind shifts, crowd reactions, or a buddy lifeguard who might need a cue.

A quick, memorable rescue rhythm you can carry with you

If you’ve spent any time around Jeff Ellis Management-inspired trainings or lifeguard drills, you’ll recognize a simple rhythm that sticks:

• Reach if the person is close to shore or near you and you can extend safely.

• Throw to someone who’s not in the water if possible, so you don’t risk entering.

• Row or paddle to reach someone who is farther out.

• Go in with a swim if no other option exists, but only if you’re trained and equipped to perform a water entry safely.

That mnemonic isn’t just a gimmick. It’s a practical sequence that keeps your brain from freezing in a crisis and helps you act with purpose rather than flailing.

A digression worth a moment of reflection

You know how athletes talk about “finding your pace” in a marathon or a basketball game? Rescue work has a similar rhythm, a tempo you learn to recognize. When you’re new to it, every splash, every shout, every ripple of water seems loud and chaotic. With time, you notice patterns—the way the water behaves near a current, the way a victim’s movements slow as fear subsides, the moment when your plan shifts from rescue to support and handover to medical teams.

That sense of flow isn’t just cool; it’s life-saving. It’s the difference between a rescue that ends with a safe exit and one that leaves aftermath you don’t want to imagine. So when you train, don’t just memorize steps; absorb the tempo of a scene. Let your body recall it under pressure, like muscle memory.

A few friendly reminders for everyday readiness

Even outside the loud, action-packed moments, the mindset matters. Here are some everyday takeaways that quietly reinforce the right approach:

• Stay prepared. A well-stocked station with a quick-access bag, a spare whistle, a sturdy backup branch for reaching, and a radio within reach—all those little details pay off when seconds matter.

• Observe the deck, not just the water. Gaze across the whole area to spot restless crowds, slippery surfaces, or kids who might wander toward danger. Prevention is a big part of successful rescues.

• Practice communication. The most effective messages are simple and direct. If you’re giving directions to bystanders, you’ll want to keep it concise and kind.

• Build teamwork in drills. Real rescues feel chaotic; drills shouldn’t. Rehearse roles with your fellow lifeguards until the plan is second nature. Confidence grows from repetition, not bravado.

• Balance confidence with humility. You’ll mess up sometimes. The important thing is to acknowledge mistakes, adjust, and keep the victim’s safety front and center.

Bringing the lesson home

So, next time you’re by the water, consider this: the best move during a rescue isn’t the flashiest; it’s the calm, coordinated one. The right actions—maintaining calm, reassuring the victim, and guiding others to call for help—form a powerful trio. They help you stay in control, protect the person in danger, and keep bystanders from getting pulled into the crisis.

As you reflect on this, you might feel a tug of recognition. You’ve probably seen videos or heard stories of rescues where calm leadership made all the difference. It’s not about heroics; it’s about steady presence and clear communication. And it’s something you can cultivate, one drill at a time.

If you’re curious about how these principles show up in real-world training, you’ll notice they’re echoed across reputable lifeguard programs. The tools—rescue tube, throw ropes, backboards, radios—become extensions of a trained mind. The deck becomes a stage where quick thinking and human care work hand in hand.

Your takeaway, in a nutshell

• The inappropriate move in a rescue is panic behavior. It undermines safety and slows every other action.

• The three core actions to focus on are: stay calm, reassure the victim, and direct others to call for help if needed.

• Panic is a thief of time and safety; purposeful, calm action preserves both.

• Practice the rescue rhythm (reach, throw, row, go) and embed it into drills with your team.

• Bring a mindful, human touch to the scene: speak softly, move decisively, and look out for everyone around you.

If you’re drawn to this work, you already know that lifeguarding isn’t just about watching water. It’s about watching people—and the space around them—so you can guide them safely to shore. That’s the essence of leadership on a lifeguard duty and a principle that makes every rescue a little safer for everyone involved.

So the next time you step onto the pool deck, think not only about the reach of your arms or the swing of your tube, but about the beat of your voice and the calm you bring to a tense moment. That calm might just be what keeps someone afloat and breathing until help arrives. And in the end, that’s what truly makes the water a safer place for all of us.