UPDATE 9/22/2025: Bookalifeguard.com has since shut down however there are others lurking out there.
We would not be fulfilling our responsibility as water safety experts if we did not warn parents and anyone else considering hiring a pool party lifeguard through a website called BookALifeguard. Time and again, we have cautioned consumers about questionable lifeguard companies and booking platforms that pose real safety risks. Unfortunately, this site is no exception—it has earned its place on our growing list of dangerous and unreliable options.
The Illusion of Safety
Websites like BookALifeguard prey on the assumption that “a lifeguard is a lifeguard.” Parents often believe that by simply booking through a flashy website, they are hiring a trained, certified professional who will ensure pool safety. Sadly, that is not the reality. In most cases, these platforms do little to nothing to verify certifications, vet experience, or test water rescue skills of the lifeguards they send out.
In other words, you may not be getting a qualified professional—you may just be getting a warm body with a whistle.
No Oversight, No Accountability
Reputable companies stand behind their staff. They conduct background checks, require current and verifiable certifications (not just “someone who once took a class”), and provide oversight to ensure professional conduct at events.
Platforms like BookALifeguard provide none of this accountability. If something goes wrong—whether it’s a drowning, a medical emergency, or even misconduct—you’ll quickly discover that there is no chain of responsibility. The liability falls on you, not on them.
The Profit-Over-Safety Model
BookALifeguard and similar booking sites operate on a profit-first basis. Their goal is to take as many bookings as possible, often farming out jobs to whoever is willing to show up. They don’t care if the individual is properly trained in lifesaving techniques, CPR, AED usage, or first aid. They care about taking a cut of your payment.
This business model is dangerous because it encourages quantity over quality. It’s not about safety—it’s about making money off your trust.
What’s at Stake
Let’s be clear: hiring the wrong lifeguard isn’t just an inconvenience, it can be the difference between life and death. Every summer, children and adults drown in pools that should have been supervised by qualified professionals. A poorly trained or inattentive guard may not recognize the signs of distress, may freeze under pressure, or may not even know how to properly perform CPR.
If you think this is exaggeration, you’re dead wrong. We’ve seen it happen.
How to Protect Your Family
If you’re considering hiring a pool party lifeguard, here’s what you need to demand before you hand over a dime:
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Proof of Current Certification: Lifeguards must hold valid Red Cross (or equivalent) lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid cards. Ask to see them.
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Verification Through a Real Company: Work with established, professional lifeguard providers who vet, train, and supervise their staff.
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References and Reputation: Look for companies with a proven track record, not fly-by-night websites that exist only to funnel bookings.
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Accountability: If something goes wrong, you need to know the company has protocols in place and will stand behind their staff.
The Bottom Line
We’ll be blunt: BookALifeguard is not a safe or reliable option for pool safety. The risk you take by hiring through them is simply too high. Don’t let slick marketing fool you—when it comes to water safety, you cannot cut corners.
Your child’s life, your family’s safety, and your peace of mind are worth far more than the convenience of clicking a button on a questionable website.
Choose a company that values professionalism, training, and accountability. Don’t gamble with safety—because there are no second chances in drowning prevention.
BookALifeguard is just the latest example of an unsafe booking platform that parents and event hosts need to avoid. Unfortunately, we expect more of these types of companies to appear in the coming months and years, and when they do, we will continue to call them out. Our mission is—and always will be—to protect families from preventable tragedies by exposing unsafe practices in the lifeguard industry.
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If you are planning a pool party or a poolside event, please call Golden State Lifeguards for more information. We have 20 years experience and have served hundreds upon hundreds of clients!