International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance

03/11/2026

Self-Harm Awareness Month (March) is a time to listen, learn, and show up for one another.

Start by listening without judgment, learning more, and showing up with compassion. If you or someone you know needs support, text SHARE to 741741 to connect with someone who cares, or visit the Get Help Hub at the link in our bio for additional resources.

Credit to Crisis Text Line for graphics.

03/03/2026

Leadership in high-stress environments requires more than operational skill— it demands emotional awareness, resilience, and the ability to support your team through challenges that aren’t always visible.

This article from The Economic Times on rethinking leadership in the age of emotional wellbeing highlights why emotional wellbeing needs to be at the center of how we lead, not an afterthought. In critical incident response and lifeguarding work, where people face intense moments, that focus isn’t optional— it’s essential.

Read the article here:
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/employee-wellbeing/rethinking-leadership-in-the-age-of-emotional-wellbeing/128909070

At ILCIRA, we think deeply about how leaders show up for their people, especially when stress and trauma are part of the job. This piece aligns with our commitment to building cultures where people feel supported, capable, and seen.

The Future Of Leadership: Explores how modern leaders must balance results with emotional wellbeing, emphasizing empathy, psychological safety, and flexible policies to reduce burnout and boost engagement and performance.

03/02/2026

Aquatic professionals do an exceptional job preparing staff for emergencies in the water. Rescue skills are practiced. Emergency action plans are rehearsed. Certifications are tracked and renewed.

But most of the stress aquatic staff experience doesn’t come from major rescues.

It comes from the daily realities of the job.

High attendance days. Medical assists. Guest conflict. Staffing shortages. Noise and constant vigilance. Long shifts spent managing risk while staying calm and professional. Over time, that steady pressure adds up. Teams become fatigued. Morale drops. Retention becomes harder. Even strong staff begin to feel worn down before peak season is over.

Resilience First Aid (RFA) Peer Support Training was designed specifically to address that gap. Learn more and join an upcoming cohort:

ILCIRA Offered training courses Home / Training/ Resilience First Aid Resilience First Aid helps you build a culture that protects your team through advanced prevention training with measurable impact Managing an aquatics team goes beyond enforcing safety protocols—it includes building psychologic...

02/28/2026

Recent news reports can be scary for children and adults alike. When parents and caregivers tackle difficult conversations, they let their kids know that they are available and supportive.

Learn more about how to speak with children about hard topics: https://at.apa.org/4cy

02/26/2026

February’s is a good reminder that the strongest lifeguards aren’t just watching the water. They’re checking in with themselves and each other, too.

Long rotations, repeated emergency exposure, intense patron interactions, and the pressure to stay constantly alert can quietly add up over a season. Stress doesn’t always show up as a big moment. Sometimes it looks like fatigue, shorter patience, trouble sleeping, or feeling disconnected after a difficult shift. Paying attention early helps protect both safety and wellbeing.

Strong aquatic teams treat self-checks and peer support as part of professional readiness, not a sign that something is wrong.

🔹 Lifeguards and aquatic leaders can strengthen resilience by:
• Recognizing signs of cumulative stress after rescues, major incidents, or difficult patron interactions
• Checking in with teammates after challenging shifts or high-stress rotations
• Creating space for conversations that normalize asking for support
• Protecting long-term mental health so staff can stay confident and effective on stand

Whether you’re leading an in-service, mentoring new guards, or simply supporting a teammate during a busy season, small check-ins make a real difference before, during, and after critical incidents.

This month, and every month, make the self-check part of the job.

02/25/2026

When a critical incident happens, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Activate the AqCIRT by contacting the Emergency Assistance Hotline listed at ILCIRA.org.

Our team is ready to support aquatic professionals and organizations with guidance, resources, and response support when it matters most.

Save the number. Share it with your leadership team. Be ready before you need it.

02/25/2026

Big thank you to Competitor and AOAP for the work you do to recognize and support aquatic professionals across our industry. Your spotlight helps elevate the leaders, teams, and everyday professionals who are making a real impact where it matters most.

And congratulations to all Competitor Aquatic Professional of the Month Award recipients over the last year—your commitment, professionalism, and service are moving aquatics forward.

While Tyler Anderson, President of ILCIRA, was honored to be recognized, we want to use this moment to recognize the people who make our mission possible: the volunteers of ILCIRA. Our education, training, and consultation efforts—along with the work of the Aquatic Critical Incident Response Team—depend on dedicated volunteers, as well as the sponsors and donors who stand behind them.

If you’d like to help strengthen psychological preparedness and recovery support for aquatic professionals, you can learn more about sponsoring our work here: https://ilcira.org/sponsorships/

02/21/2026

What a weekend! Tyler Anderson, Kate Connell and Shawn DeRosa had a fantastic time serving as Faculty at the AOAP Directors’ School.

For anyone looking to level up as an aquatics leader: Directors’ School is a three-year, graduated continuing education program led by some of the most respected professionals in the field. After Year 3, participants can apply for the Designated Aquatic Professional (AqP) Certification—an incredible milestone.

📍 Join us in Reno, NV
AOAP Conference & Exhibition + Directors’ School
Grand Sierra Resort & Convention Center
🗓️ February 8–11, 2027

02/20/2026

Kate and Tyler had a great time leading 15 dynamic aquatic professionals through our four hour De-escalation Training for Aquatic Professionals as a post-conference offering at the Association of Aquatic Professionals conference 🦒

02/19/2026

Thanks for the shoutout DeRosa Aquatic Consulting.

Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities here: https://ilcira.org/sponsorships/

The Association of Aquatic Professionals (AOAP) and the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance (ILCIRA) have formed a strategic alliance to address an issue that often eludes aquatics managers: How to help staff process the psychological impact of rescues and other traumatic or....

02/19/2026

Huge thanks to Aquatics International Magazine and Kenilworth Media for recognizing leaders advancing the aquatics profession this week at the Aquatics International Awards Ceremony as part of the 2026 Aquatics Power Pro issue.

We’re especially grateful to see the following recognized:
• Tyler Anderson — President, International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance (ILCIRA)
• Kate Connell — Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications, ILCIRA
• Kirsten Barnes — Assistant Director, Association of Aquatic Professionals

This recognition helps shine a brighter light on the importance of psychological preparedness, peer support, and recovery resources for aquatics professionals and emergency responders.

Congratulations to all of the honorees celebrated at the ceremony—and thank you for supporting the people who support others when it matters most. 💙

02/18/2026

Swing by our booth at the Association of Aquatic Professionals and National Drowning Prevention Alliance conference today and come learn how Resilience First Aid (RFA) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) can strengthen psychological readiness, peer support, and recovery skills for aquatic first responders and leadership teams.

What you can check out at the booth:
• Resilience First Aid (RFA): practical, everyday resilience tools for aquatics teams—ideal for supervisors, trainers, and frontline staff building sustainable performance under stress.
• CISM for Aquatic First Responders: a structured, internationally recognized approach to supporting responders after critical incidents, with clear role boundaries and referral pathways.

Conference special:
If you enroll in any of our courses during the conference, you’ll be automatically entered to win a Bose wireless portable speaker. 🎁🔊

Stop by, say hi, ask questions, and let’s find the right fit for your facility, agency, or team. Can’t make it to the conference?…Learn more:

https://ilcira.org/resilience-first-aid/