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A typical shift

Open the pool: water tests, chlorine and pH, safety equipment check. Then the deck, rotating positions every 15 to 30 minutes so nobody stares at the same water for hours. Public swim is watching, whistling, talking to parents and moving swimmers out of the deep end. A lesson block means teaching. Emergencies are rare and fast: a child face-down, a slip on the deck, a seizure. Close: cleaning, logs, locking up. Beach guards add sun, wind, boats and cold water.