Question answered, thanks for your help.

momincali

You're doing your job and sounds like a pretty good one. I don't think that it's so much your age as it is that you get some pretty stupid people who respect no ones rules. The guy who only responded to the big life guard did so because he knew this life guard could physically throw him out if he had to and mop the floor with him. Had you been an adult guy but skinny or short, he still may have taken the same attitude towards you, because he could. Don't sweat it, keep doing your job, stay polite and when someone is not listening, inform them that if the rules are not followed or you are ignored, they risk being escorted out and not allowed in the area. Stick with it and don't take it personally.

unonimus

Thank you for your speedy reply. I will do as you suggested and stay polite. I think maybe my problem is that I’m trying to be TOO nice about it. If I’m too nice, then maybe people don’t take me seriously, so I have to keep asking them, and even though I’m being nice about it they get frustrated being asked so many times. Maybe I need to use the threat “If you don’t listen you will be removed” after 2 or 3 warnings, instead of waiting for 5 or 6 when the patron is already frustrated.

Now I just need to actually keep that in mind.

wzartv

Hello,
I'm very impressed, as you sound very mature for your age. It sounds like you are doing a fine job as momincali said, it is just the ignorance of certain people which is posing a problem. My advice would be, keep doing your job as well as you are now, but if they choose not to listen to you after several warnings, become stern and less polite... or find someone you work with who will really put a "scare" into them.

You sound like you are extremely responsible and I'm sure you will have no problem in your future careers, but there will always be ignorant idiots to stand in your way, and you just have to figure out how to deal with them.

s_cianci

As a lifeguard you have the legal authority and responsibility to enforce all regulations, regardless of your age or gender. Are you able to contact your supervisor without leaving your post, such as via walkie-talkie cell phone or a land line where you can immediately get hold of him/her? If a customer becomes insubordinate with you, then you should immediately summon your supervisor to deal with the uncooperative patron. If (s)he is unavailable, then call the police. If you work at a city facility, then any patron who refuses to obey a lifeguard is subject to criminal prosecution. A brush with the law often gives such people a dose of reality which they sorely need.

fredg

Hi,
You are the person in charge, given that responsibility by whoever hired you.
Give the adult(s) a warning; such as "I'm sorry, but that is not permitted here".
If they will not abide by what you have said, then call the lifeguard, or anyone else you can, as you did, to enfoce the rule(s).
At 15 yrs old, you are fast learning about people. For example; even State Troopers sometimes have a hard time getting some to stick with the law; that's why there are courts!
Don't worry about some idiots not doing what you tell them, it's a fact of life.
Some won't even do what Police tell them to! Don't worry about it, and just do the best you can. That's all anyone expects of you. You will find that in later life, the same situations are going to come up, depending on what responsibilites you have later on.
If the adult abusing the rule is bigger than the lifeguard, even he/she might have trouble enforcing the rules at some point!

unonimus

That you all for your replies.

s_cianci - All lifeguards and slide attendant are equipped with radios, which are used for many purposes, and not just emergencies. (Sometimes on really slow days it's used to maintain our sanity.) I'm not sure if calling the police is really within my boundaries. We have sort of an order of people to deal with problems. First it's me, and if I can't handle it I call a lifeguard, then the lifeguard makes the decision to contact the SA, who makes the decision to contact Security and then later the police. Most problems can be dealt with using only a lifeguard. However, I want to become a little more independent - it seems that I need to use the lifeguards at least once a week, and I’d like to avoid that and deal with it myself.

I’ll keep all of your suggestions in mind. I’m working again tomorrow and Saturday, and I’ll let you all know how it goes. Once again, thank you very much.