“They just stand at the edge of the pool and whistle people out of the water…”. This is one of the prejudices that Lara often hears about her profession. But it’s not like that! In her #afterschoolstory, she tells you why she is so passionate about her very diverse profession and that it is so much more than the prejudice.
Apprenticeship as a qualified pool attendant – Lara’s #afterschoolstory
“My job is very diverse and therefore never the same or boring. Every day you experience something different – technical problems, new customers and much more. That, and my love of swimming, is what makes my job my passion,” Lara tells us.
Lara (18 years old, from Niederbreitbach) is doing an apprenticeship as a pool attendant. To do what? you ask yourself now? That’s exactly where the problem lies, Lara thinks. Because very few people know what it actually is and what this great profession is all about. Or have a false image of it under the colloquial term ‘lifeguard’. “This also means that there are not enough qualified staff and the swimming pools have to close,” explains Lara.
No day is like the other – that’s how diverse the apprenticeship and the profession are
In order to work as a pool attendant, you first have to complete a three-year apprenticeship course. “Roughly speaking, my apprenticeship includes everything to do with swimming pools. Mainly, of course, water supervision, customer service and water treatment. But also water gymnastics, maintenance and cleaning of the facilities (technical equipment, outdoor facilities) and working at the cash desk. In addition, I have to swim in the water almost every day during my apprenticeship – my exams don’t swim themselves,” Lara tells us with a wink.
No more etepete – here we get down to business
“You should be aware that you don’t just sit by the pool and watch people. But that especially during the apprenticeship, swimming is a big focus and you also have to help out sometimes. You shouldn’t be afraid of breaking a nail or getting dirty, that you have to take the mop and really clean up.
Our equipment is accordingly quite different. For pool supervision, we usually wear a T-shirt from the pool, shorts and slippers. For cleaning, we wear rubber boots and gloves. In the technical department we wear work trousers, safety shoes and gloves. Our tools for pool service are the sample vials, tablets for measuring and the photometer (measuring device for the chlorine and pH values). But also sometimes a watering can, a plaster or the stopwatch – it’s different every day. For cleaning, it’s the strong cleaners, the high-pressure cleaner and the scrubbing brush. In technology, it depends on what you’re doing, but for the most part it’s the head that has to think clearly – but also often quite a lot of tools.
intombi for girls – how you can be a part of it!
👉 We are also interested in your story! In our #girlsforgirls online passion magazine, we introduce you every week to exciting and super strong young women, projects and important tips, all about a passion. We call this week – PassionWeek! 🤩 For a successful start into the future – according to our motto #girlsforgirls !👭💕🌍 Contact us and become the author of your life story – info@intombi.de
Lara’s path to the apprenticeship – a stroke of luck, so to speak
It’s quite a funny story how I got my apprenticeship. I was repeating the 9th year of school and in the last week before the summer holidays, the school called me. They asked me to come back to school. The local authority had called and asked if they had a pupil who liked swimming and could leave school this year. Tada – I was the lucky one! Within 6 weeks of the summer holidays, I did my bronze, silver and gold swimming badges and then another week of practical training in the swimming pool. I wrote an application and signed an apprenticeship contract. And on 1 August 2018, I started my apprenticeship as a pool attendant.
Gender does not play a role in my job
Gender does not matter in this profession. Everyone is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you are female or male – everyone can save people! I myself notice, especially in the technical department, that I often don’t have the strength in my arms for many things like my male colleagues. But my colleagues have really accepted me into the team and support me. And when you have the right colleagues in the team, you can have a lot of fun with water fights and lots of nonsense 😉
Lara’s #girlsforgirls tip
Do what you feel like doing and let other people say what they want. Decide for yourself what you want to achieve and do in your life.
Whether on the beaches of the North Sea and Baltic Sea or on inland bathing lakes – (almost) everyone knows the DLRG lifeguards.
The DLRG e.V. is the world’s largest water rescue organization. Their most important tasks are:
– Swimming and lifeguard training
– Education about water dangers
– Water rescue service
But the largest voluntary water rescue organization has much more to offer: Swim and lifeguard training, current rescue, operational diving, ambulance service or rescue sports are just a few ways to volunteer. They also campaigned against the closure of swimming pools.
So, what are you waiting for? Join in and become part of the team!
(Source: DLRG e.V.)
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3 ways to save people’s lives
Self-love and self-confidence through sport
Fan of YOU – We empower women in sport
Holiday feeling – A day at the beach in Cologne
Wanderlust – Going abroad after school?
*these article contains unpaid advertisement
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