What Winter Means For Lifeguard Staffing?
This past weekend, Pensacola Beach lifeguards made the switch to ‘winter staffing.’ As we dip further into the fall and winter seasons, this will become more and more common at beaches across the country. Read on to learn what this means for lifeguards and beach-goers.
What is winter staffing?
Because lifeguarding is weather-dependent, winter staffing refers to the time period that a beach or pool facility decides to remove or minimize lifeguard support for the cold season. This is more common in northern territories of the U.S. where winters are much more harsh — but as we see with Pensacola Beach, it can happen anywhere.
Do lifeguards lose their jobs during the winter?
This depends heavily on the beach or facility that you work for. Most of the time, lifeguards go into a job 
knowing whether it is seasonal or not. In that case, you have some time ahead of the winter season to find a winter job — if you need one! That said, lifeguards are still needed at some facilities year-round. Indoor pools, school pools, and fitness centers usually have a year-round need — so don’t get discouraged.
Do some beaches still have winter lifeguards?
Absolutely! Just because some beaches are packing up for the winter doesn’t mean they all are. Check with your local beach department to see if lifeguards will still be present during the fall/winter months.
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