International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance

09/16/2025

Staying calm isn’t about hiding your feelings—it’s about knowing what to do with them. Most people don’t blow up because they’re weak. They explode because they never learned what’s happening under the surface.

Here’s how to handle it before it handles you:
🧭 Watch your stress signals
⚡ Notice what triggers your emotions
📝 Pay attention to your usual responses
💆‍♂️ Try one calming trick that works
🎯 Create a go-to response plan

You don’t need to be less emotional—you just need tools to respond instead of react. You can’t control every moment, but you can control how you meet it.

09/15/2025

🌿 Coping Strategies for Trauma Recovery 🌿

Recovering from trauma can be challenging, but there are effective coping strategies that can help ease the process. Here are some techniques that can support your healing journey:

🧘 Mindfulness: Practice being present in the moment to reduce anxiety and help regain control over your emotions. Simple breathing exercises or mindful observation can ground you.

🧠 Therapy (like EMDR): Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful therapy for processing traumatic memories and reducing their emotional charge.

🌍 Grounding Practices: Use sensory techniques, like holding an object or feeling the ground beneath your feet, to help stay present when memories or flashbacks arise.

💆‍♂️ Relaxation Methods: Try deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided meditation to calm your mind and body during moments of stress.

Remember, healing is a journey, and you don’t have to do it alone. 💙 Seek out the support that works best for you.

09/14/2025

💙 You’re Not Alone After a Critical Incident 💙

When lifeguards and aquatic responders experience a critical incident, the emotional impact can be just as serious as the event itself. That’s why ILCIRA partners with HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response to provide compassionate, immediate support through their certified canine-handler teams.

These specially trained teams bring comfort, calm, and connection to responders when it’s needed most. Their presence can help reduce stress, foster emotional resilience, and remind our community that recovery is possible.

📞 Need support or want to activate HOPE teams?
Call the HOPE hotline: 1-877-467-3597
🌐 Learn more: www.HOPEAACR.org

Together, we’re creating a safety net for those who protect others every day.

Home health agency

09/12/2025

Tough love time: Most morale problems feel worse when you’re running on empty. Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s survival.

When you’re rested:
✔ Scanning is sharper
✔ Patience lasts longer
✔ Stress feels lighter

🏊 Lifeguards need sharp eyes and steady minds. Make sleep a priority, and watch everything else improve.

What’s your best pre-shift sleep tip? Drop it in the comments.

09/11/2025

We're looking for volunteers to help our mission in 2025!

If you have a skill below, a passion for aquatics and/or critical incident response (you don't need both!), and want to contribute your talents to our mission please fill out a Volunteer Interest Application on our website at: https://ilcira.org/opportunities/

Note: During this recruitment cycle, we do require a minimum of 20 hours a month time commitment for management & leadership volunteers. We look forward to connecting with you as opportunities become available!

09/10/2025

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for morale is… laugh. Seriously.
Laughter reduces stress and helps your body reset.

Watch something funny on break.
Call a friend who cracks you up.
Share a meme with your team.

💡 Stress is real in lifeguarding. But joy? That’s powerful too. Let’s lean into it.

Tag your funniest lifeguard friend below. 👇

09/09/2025

Today is Emergency Services Day — a time to honor and appreciate the incredible people who respond when we need them most. From first responders on land to lifeboat crews at sea, we recognize the dedication, courage, and resilience it takes to serve and protect communities every day. "999 day" refers to Emergency Services Day in the UK, a national day celebrated on September 9th to honor and support the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and emergency services.

At ILCIRA, we stand with all emergency services professionals, including the lifeguards, dispatchers, and aquatic responders who keep people safe in and around the water. Your work saves lives, supports families, and strengthens communities — and for that, we say thank you.

Whether on the shore, in the pool, or out at sea, every responder plays a vital role in water safety and rescue. Today, let’s take a moment to reflect on their service and commit to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of those who serve on the front lines.

09/09/2025

🌟 Trigger Trauma Memories: Sights, Smells, Sounds, and Situations 🌟

Trauma can leave lasting impressions, and certain sights, smells, sounds, or situations may unexpectedly bring back powerful memories. These triggers are part of the brain's way of processing past experiences. Here are a few examples of common triggers:

👀 Sights: Flashing lights, uniforms, or certain colors can bring memories of a critical incident.
👃 Smells: The scent of chlorine, antiseptic, or even certain foods might take you back to intense moments.
🔊 Sounds: The sound of a whistle, sirens, or even voices in specific tones can evoke past trauma.
🚶‍♂️ Situations: Being near a pool, in an emergency response setting, or crowded spaces can trigger emotional reactions.

It’s important to recognize and acknowledge these responses. Understanding and managing triggers can help with healing. 💙

If you or someone you know needs support, reach out. We're here for you. 💪

09/08/2025

Join us on September 18 at 11 am ET alongside Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code for a virtual webinar: Emergency Management – Taking Care of Your Team Before and After an Incident.

Tyler Anderson will lead conversation on the mental health challenges lifeguards face and share first responder strategies to build resistance to job stress. Learn how to better support your team before, during, and after a critical incident. Leave with real-world tools to strengthen your team’s resilience, recognize when someone’s struggling, and respond with proven strategies that work in high-stress, first responder environments.

Thanks to the sponsors at Solenis, registration is free for all, and CEUs are included at no cost for CMAHC members. (Non-members seeking CEUs will be invoiced $15.) For non-members seeking CEUs please email CMAHC@cmahc.org.

The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and safety of people, families, and workers at public swimming facilities.

09/08/2025

Checked the pool chemistry? Completed a rotation without zoning out? Did a proactive scan that caught something early? That’s a win.

When morale is low, small wins matter big.
Write down what needs to get done today.
Start with one small thing.
Check it off. Feel the momentum.

🔥 Pro tip: Action beats sitting in “blah” mode every time.

👀 Share your last small win in the comments—we want to cheer you on!

09/07/2025

⏳ Recovery Takes Time ⏳

For lifeguards, healing after a critical incident is a personal journey. It's crucial to have the right support and resources to recover at your own pace. 💙

09/06/2025

Fact: Recovery after a critical incident can take time, and everyone processes trauma differently. Lifeguards may experience a range of emotions, and it's crucial that they have access to peer support or mental health resources to help them heal at their own pace.