Lifeguards and aquatic management teams have long faced stressful work environments. In addition to cumulative daily stress, lifeguards and allied support staff may be regularly exposed to traumatic events and life-threatening situations that can take a toll on mental health. This presentation introduces concepts to help aquatics organizations better prepare lifeguard teams for the darker realities of the profession. Come review common methods first responders use to help build resistance to the effects of job stress. Learn steps you can take to help mitigate this stress with your team and when to engage appropriate outside resources when a critical incident does occur. This presentation will help aquatics professionals, health & regulatory officials, and those that supervise aquatic facilities understand mental health resources that should be available to lifeguards in the aftermath of a critical incident.
Craig Sears has been in aquatics for over 30 years. He founded Sears Pool Management Consultants, Inc. in 1997, which provides pool management services to community and commercial pools in the metro Atlanta area. He also founded Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance in 2012, which provides free water safety education and subsidized swim lessons and aquatic training to Atlanta area residents. He has served continuously on the Georgia Chapter of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) since 2007, currently serves on PHTA's CPO Advisory Council, and has earned various industry designations including ARC LGIT, CPOI, PHTA CSP, and CBP. He has also received multiple industry awards and recognitions, including being named a PHTA Fellow in 2018, PHTA CSP of the Year in 2020, and AI Power 2023.