RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care,
highly trained, strong and fit. They must be able to swim 200m
in under 3½ minutes, and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds.
However, a good lifeguard rarely gets wet – 95% of a lifeguard's
work is preventative. The lifeguards monitor sea conditions and
set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and
offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through
our education programmes. Most RNLI lifeguards are paid by the
relevant local authority to maintain patrols on our busiest
beaches. But we also have volunteer lifeguards. Some are young
or newly qualified lifeguards gaining experience, while others
just enjoy helping out in their spare time. We also have
Lifeguard Support Volunteers, who help the lifeguards with land-
based duties, such as lookout, radio communications and casualty
care.