What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?

The primary responsibility of a lifeguard is to ensure the safety of patrons in and around the water. This encompasses a wide range of duties, including vigilance to prevent accidents, responding to emergencies, administering first aid when necessary, and enforcing safety rules to minimize risks. Ensuring safety involves not only monitoring swimmers but also being prepared to react quickly and effectively in various situations, such as rescues or medical emergencies, which is central to the lifeguard's role.

While supervising guests at poolside and maintaining cleanliness of the pool area are also important tasks, they are secondary to the primary goal of protecting the health and safety of those using the facilities. Teaching swimming lessons can be part of a lifeguard's role, but it is not their main responsibility, which is fundamentally about safeguarding lives in the aquatic environment.