International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance

10/15/2025

🎤 We’re excited to share that Tyler Anderson will be speaking at the 2025 World Waterpark Association Symposium & Trade Show!

Join Tyler for his session, “Taking Care of Your Team, Before and After a Critical Incident,” on Tuesday, October 21 from 10–11:15 AM in Coronado ABC.

This important discussion dives into how leaders can best support aquatic professionals through every stage of a critical incident — preparing teams beforehand and helping them recover afterward.

We’re proud to see Tyler representing ILCIRA (International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance) and continuing to advance the conversation around responder wellness in aquatics. 💙

10/14/2025

We are incredibly excited to announce that right after the conference, we’ll be working with the core leadership teams of to deliver our brand-new CISM for the Aquatic First Responder training! 🌊

This training is designed to equip aquatic leaders and first responders with critical skills in Critical Incident Stress Management, helping teams process challenging situations, support their staff, and strengthen overall resilience. By bringing this training directly to leadership teams, we aim to create safer, more prepared aquatic environments and promote a culture of care and support for every team member.

Our mission at ILCIRA is to provide practical, research-backed tools for aquatic professionals so they can respond effectively during high-stress situations while protecting their own well-being. Whether it’s through specialized trainings, resources, or ongoing support, we are committed to helping aquatic teams thrive in any environment.

If you want to stay informed about upcoming trainings, workshops, and resources like this one, make sure to join our email list! Be the first to hear about opportunities to advance your skills and keep your teams safe and resilient.

https://tinyurl.com/mrwam53s

10/10/2025

🌍💙 Today is World Mental Health Day—a reminder that caring for our minds is just as important as caring for our bodies.

In aquatics, lifeguards and management teams face unique challenges: high-stakes environments, long days in the sun, and sometimes exposure to critical incidents. Stress and trauma don’t just “wash off” at the end of a shift.

At ILCIRA, we believe mental health is water safety. Supporting those who protect others means:
1. Creating space for open conversations
2. Building resilience through training and resources
3. Knowing when to connect teams with professional support

Every lifeguard, every staff member, every leader deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe—inside and outside the water. 🌊

💡 On this World Mental Health Day, let’s commit to breaking the stigma, checking in with one another, and making mental health a priority in aquatics.

10/09/2025

🌊 Headed to Orlando for the World Waterpark Association Conference? Don’t miss this important session with Tyler Anderson!

🛟 Session: Taking Care Of Your Team, Before And After A Critical Incident
Lifeguards and aquatic staff face unique stressors—from the grind of daily responsibilities to the traumatic impact of critical incidents. This presentation will introduce proven methods that first responders use to build resistance to job stress and highlight steps aquatic organizations can take to:

✅ Better prepare lifeguards for the realities of the profession
✅ Mitigate stress before it takes a toll
✅ Recognize when outside support and resources are needed after a critical incident

Supporting our teams goes beyond physical safety—it’s about protecting mental health too. 💙

📍 Join Tyler in Orlando and take home strategies you can put into practice with your team right away.

10/07/2025

💬 “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” – Brené Brown

In aquatics, we ask our teams to show up in tough, high-pressure moments—sometimes without all the answers, and often with a lot on the line.

True leadership isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being brave enough to admit what you don’t know, ask for help, and lean on your team.

That’s how trust is built. That’s how culture grows stronger. That’s how we protect one another. 🌊

10/06/2025

Thank you to our partners at Association of Aquatic Professionals for sharing this groundbreaking survey!

Don't miss your opportunity to participate in groundbreaking industry research with our partners at the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance (ILCIRA). in partnership with researchers at Kennesaw State University, is launching the first large-scale survey on Critical Incident Prevalence and Impact in Aquatic Personnel. Scan the QR code below or go directly to https://bit.ly/4o9Rtch to complete the survey today!

This survey aims to gather essential data to inform the development of mental health programs designed specifically for aquatic professionals, including Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) strategies already used in other first responder fields. By participating, you’re helping reshape the future of mental health in aquatics ensuring that those who protect others are also protected themselves.

10/04/2025

⏱️ Did you know an emotion only lasts about 90 seconds in your body?
That’s science, not a pep talk.

So why do we stay mad for hours or stressed for days?
👉 Because we keep replaying the thoughts that fuel it.

Here’s how to interrupt the loop when emotions show up on stand or at work:

💢 Angry? → Needs release.
Blast a song after shift and sing it LOUD.

😰 Anxious? → Needs grounding.
Try 2 rounds of 4-7-8 breathing before rotation.

😤 Stressed? → Needs movement.
Walk a lap around the pool deck or stretch it out.

😔 Sad? → Needs perspective.
Think of 3 specific things that went right today.

🤯 Overthinking? → Needs clarity.
Write it down. Pick ONE thing to focus on.

Emotions are signals, not sentences.
They’re just passing through—unless you feed them.

Next time stress barges in, ask yourself:
👉 “What do I need right now?”

One small action = big reset.

📍 Save this as your 90-second reset guide.

10/01/2025

🌊 Stress is part of leadership in aquatics—especially when lives and safety are on the line. The difference between burning out and leading well isn’t less stress—it’s how you handle it.

Here are 12 simple strategies you can use right away to stay steady under pressure:

1️⃣ Shrink Horizon – Focus only on the next step
2️⃣ Pause First – Take a beat before reacting
3️⃣ Ask Better – Use good questions to calm chaos
4️⃣ Crash Test – Write down the worst-case + next step
5️⃣ Stack Wins – Start with a 5-min task
6️⃣ Use Notes – Brain-dump to clear mental loops
7️⃣ Borrow Brains – Call in outside perspective
8️⃣ Protect Boundaries – Decline 1 non-essential meeting
9️⃣ Block White Space – Add buffer time to your day
🔟 Move Body – Walk, stretch, release tension
1️⃣1️⃣ Breathe Deep – Try the 4-7-8 reset
1️⃣2️⃣ Detach Briefly – Step outside, no phone

💡 Great leaders don’t feel less stress—they manage it differently, in ways that keep them clear, present, and useful when it matters most.

👉 Which one will you try today?

10/01/2025

Choose Your Hard In Aquatics

Running a safe, thriving aquatic facility is hard. Staying stuck in old habits is also hard.

Training new staff, updating protocols, having hard conversations—it all takes effort. But so does ignoring the work and dealing with turnover, poor morale, or safety gaps later.

There’s no easy path. There are two hard ones. Choose the one that moves you forward.

09/29/2025

🛌 Struggling to switch off at night? Try this unconventional trick: "Unfocus Your Brain"

Chronic insomnia affects millions—if you’ve tried sleep hygiene but still can’t quiet your mind, “cognitive shuffling” might help. It’s a simple technique that involves imagining a series of neutral, unrelated images (or words), one after the other, to gently steer your thoughts away from stress and toward restfulness. It’s unorthodox—but early reports say it can work.

Curious? Learn more → https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/balanced/202508/an-unorthodox-sleeping-method-unfocus-your-brain

09/26/2025

Take action today to strengthen support for responders across our industry!

Certified Pool Operators and instructors play a vital role in aquatic safety. By sharing your perspective in the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance Lifeguard Critical Incident Study, you’ll help create resources that strengthen support for first responders across our industry.

✅ Take the anonymous survey here: https://ilcira.org/

09/26/2025

To make a lasting impact as a crisis responder, you have to look beyond the immediate moment. It’s more than managing an incident—it’s guiding people from chaos toward healing and resilience.

Being prepared for the critical moments, providing resilience first aid, and supporting recovery are essential. But true effectiveness means going further: helping individuals move from surviving to thriving—while also caring for your own well-being to sustain your ability to serve.

Every response is an opportunity to create a legacy of strength, recovery, and hope. Together, we can transform critical incidents into catalysts for lasting change.