Fun Activities to Boost Teamwork in Lifeguard Training
Creating a cohesive and motivated lifeguard team starts long before the first shift of the season.
Ice breakers are a fantastic way to kick off lifeguard training sessions, build camaraderie, and set a positive tone for your team. These engaging activities not only help break down barriers but also foster trust and open communication among lifeguards, which is crucial for effective teamwork and safety on the job. In this blog post, we’ll explore some dynamic ice breaker ideas tailored specifically for lifeguard staff, ensuring your team starts the season feeling connected, energized, and ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
Lifeguard Emoji Challenge
Objective: Encourage creative thinking and communication.
Description: Each participant sends a series of emojis representing a lifeguard-related scenario or activity. The rest of the group guesses the scenario based on the emojis, sparking conversation and laughter.
Underwater Icebreaker Questions
Objective: Add a playful twist to getting to know each other.
Description: While in the pool, ask fun icebreaker questions (such as "What’s your favorite beach activity?"). Lifeguards answer while floating or swimming, combining relaxation with conversation.
CPR Beat Battle
Objective: Have each group pick a song to practice CPR to that falls within the recommended 100-120 beat per minute range.
Description: Break groups up and have them find a song. When they are ready have each group ‘perform’ CPR and have the other groups grade their efficiency, communication, speed, and technique (and bonus points for unique song choice!).
Find our favorite suggestions for songs HERE
Safety Scavenger Hunt
Objective: Reinforce safety protocols in a fun way.
Description: Organize a scavenger hunt where teams must find and identify various safety equipment and procedures around the pool area. Include clues related to lifeguard duties and safety protocols to engage participants.
Lifeguard Time Capsule
Objective: Reflect on shared experiences and future goals.
Description: Each lifeguard writes a note or draws a picture about their experiences and hopes for the team. These items are placed in a "time capsule" to be opened at a future team event, creating anticipation and reflection.
Safety Superlatives
Objective: Recognize strengths and unique skills.
Description: Create superlatives related to lifeguard skills (e.g., "Best at spotting trouble," "Most creative rescuer"). Lifeguards vote anonymously on these superlatives, and the results are shared, celebrating individual talents.
Swim and Tell
Objective: Foster personal connections and sharing.
Description: While swimming or floating, each lifeguard takes a turn sharing a fun fact or a memorable experience related to lifeguarding or the pool environment. This creates a relaxed atmosphere for storytelling.
Human Bingo
Objective: Encourage engagement and interaction.
Equipment Needed: Bingo cards with work-related or personal traits, pens.
Description: Create Bingo cards with various work-related or personal traits (e.g., "Has worked here over a year," "Likes coffee"). Team members mingle and mark off traits as they find colleagues who match them.
Common Ground
Objective: Discover shared interests and experiences among team members
Description: Have the team sit in a circle. Pose a series of questions related to interests or experiences (e.g., “Who has traveled outside the country?” or “Who enjoys a particular type of music?”). Team members raise their hands or briefly share if the question applies to them.
Lifeguard Chair Lego Challenge
Objective: Encourages teamwork, problem solving, and communicating under pressure.
Description: Divide staff into teams and give each team a set amount of LEGO bricks. Challenge them to build the tallest free-standing lifeguard chair/stand within a set time limit. Add a twist by making the guard stand support a small object, like a LEGO figure.
Life Jacket Relay
Objective: Physical warm-up that reviews how to safely put up on a lifejacket.
Description: Set up a relay race where lifeguards have to put on and take off life jackets in a specific order or perform a task while wearing them. It’s a great way to practice safety gear handling while having fun.
Moulage Mix-up
Objective: Practice terminology and first aid conditions.
Description: Create a list of first aid conditions (abrasions, lacerations, bruises, etc) and randomly assign groups a term to create that injury in moulage. Have each group guess which injury is what condition and talk about how to provide appropriate care.
Poolside Panels
Objective: Foster critical thinking and communication.
Description: Organize a debate on a lifeguard-related topic like "Should lifeguards use technology during rescues?". Assign teams to argue for or against the topic and present their case. This activity encourages thoughtful discussion and improves communication skills.
Two Truths & A Lie
Objective: Promotes interaction, trust, and conversation as participants share facts about themselves.
Description: Each person will take turns sharing three statements about themselves: two that are true and one that is a lie. The goal is for others to guess which statement is the lie.
Pool Pods
Objective: Help team members get to know each other.
Description: Have your team all assemble and have them self-select into different sub-groups or pods based on the prompt. Some examples could be: Favorite Rescue, Favorite Type of Vacation, Favorite Concession Snack, Favorite Secondary Duty, Favorite Book Genre. Give the group a set amount of time to self-assemble and then let them explain their pods selection and why.
Incorporating these engaging ice breakers into your lifeguard training helps foster unity and enthusiasm among your team. By starting with these fun and interactive activities, you’ll build strong connections, boost morale, and set the stage for effective teamwork.
Looking for more ways we can help engage and manage your lifeguard staff? Have you considered Lifeguard Manager by HydroApps?
