Photo courtesy USAF Services / United States Marine Corps

It's a hot, sunny day and all the local pools, water parks and beaches are packed with people. Who can blame them? It's hard to resist a refreshing dip when the temperature rises. In fact, you can bet most folks just want to make a day of it -- bringing along food, games and more for a day of fun in the sun. They're all thinking about soaking up some rays and enjoying the summer weather. But, one thing that's probably not on their mind (or, at least, not a priority) is safety. Lucky for them, there are lifeguards around to take care of that. These professionals are constantly thinking about water safety - it's their job.

Alarmed by the soaring number of drowning in the U.S., Wilbert Longfellow began the National American Red Cross Lifesaving Corps in 1914. Longfellow's goal was to reduce the number of drowning by training lifeguards around the country in water rescue and safety techniques. For dozens of years, the focus of lifeguard training was on keen athletic ability. Lifeguards relied on strength and speed to respond to emergency situations.

Water Safety Tips Learn to swim Swim near a lifeguard Never swim alone Don't fight the current Leash your board Don't float where you can't swim Life jackets = Boating safety Don't dive headfirst, protect your neck At home, you're the lifeguard Source: USLA

Over the years, the methods and techniques of lifeguarding have evolved. Probably one of the most important additions is observation techniques. Today, besides being in peak physical condition, lifeguards rely on keen mental abilities, too. Lifeguards must be able to quickly and repetitively scan their area and clearly identify the signs of a distressed swimmer. They must also think about how they would respond to different emergencies. It's like they have a constant video of "What if?" situations running through their minds. This type of proactive approach can mean the difference between life and death.

If you're thinking that it could be difficult to keep an eye on dozens of people and maybe even a little boring, you have a good point. That's why lifeguards have a bunch of different scanning patterns to use, to help keep them focused and aware of what's going on around them. One of the more interesting scanning patterns involves the alphabet. This pattern requires the lifeguard to scan his or her area in patterns matching each letter from "A" to "Z." For example, for the letter, "O" - you would scan a large circle around the entire area.

Want to join the ranks of the brave and bronzed? To start, you have to be at least 16 years old and have up-to-date lifeguard certification from a professional organization like the American Red Cross. Your certification and training has to include first aid and CPR for the professional rescuer (with defibrillator certification). When interviewing for a job, you should also be prepared to pass a few tests like: sprinting 100 yards in 14 seconds or less, running a 6.5-minute to 7-minute mile, swimming 500 meters in less than 10 minutes and retrieving a 10-pound weight from the deep end of a pool, swimming 15 to 20 yards with it while keeping your head above the water.

WonderDogs Did you know that dogs can be lifeguards, too? For example, Newfoundlands help human lifeguards patrol beaches throughout different parts of Europe. And, the Newfoundland Club of America holds water tests throughout the country. This helps encourage Newfoundland owners to promote water rescue skills among the breed. Newfoundlands have webbed feet, water-resistant coats and strong tails to aid them in their water rescue efforts. In a water emergency, a rescue dog can carry a life jacket to the person in need of help and pull him/her to shore, and the dog can even tow a life raft carrying several people to shore.