International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance

02/08/2026

New research shows that exercise can be just as effective as medication and talk therapy in treating depression, offering a low-cost, accessible tool that also boosts mood, brain health, and overall wellbeing.

Light to moderate activity, even a daily walk, may help improve neurotransmitter function and support neuroplasticity, making physical activity an important pillar in mental health care. Read more on .

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/12/nx-s1-5667599/exercise-is-as-effective-as-medication-in-treating-depression-study-finds

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

02/08/2026

We’re proud to recognize three outstanding leaders who are making a meaningful impact across the aquatics industry:

👏 Tyler Anderson, President of the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance (ILCIRA)
👏 Kate Connell, ILCIRA Director of Marketing & Strategic Communication
👏 Kirsten Barnes, Assistant Director with our strategic alliance partner, the Association of Aquatic Professionals

Tyler, Kate, and Kirsten have been selected for Aquatics International Magazine’s Power Issue, which recognizes individuals who are influencing progress, leadership, and innovation across the aquatics field.

We also want to extend our respect and congratulations to all of this year’s Power Issue honorees, whose collective work continues to strengthen, advance, and elevate the aquatics profession worldwide.

We’re grateful for the leadership, collaboration, and service reflected in this recognition—and proud to see both ILCIRA volunteers and valued partners acknowledged on an international stage.

Please join us in congratulating Tyler, Kate, Kirsten, and all of the 2026 Power Issue recipients on this well-deserved honor.

Read more about all the recipients: https://www.aquaticsintl.com/publications/de/202602/index.html

02/07/2026

Manager Tip #3: Address early warning signs early and privately
Burnout rarely shows up all at once.

Early signs in aquatic staff often look like irritability, withdrawal, decreased focus, changes in punctuality, or avoiding certain duties after difficult incidents.

When you notice patterns, address them early and privately. Focus on support, not discipline. Ask what they need. Offer options like peer support, schedule adjustments, or time to decompress.

Early support is simpler, less disruptive, and far more effective than waiting until someone is in crisis.

This is exactly the gap Resilience First Aid is designed to help aquatic leaders close: https://aquaticpros.org/resilience-first-aid/

02/04/2026

Manager Tip #2: Build resilience before something goes wrong

Resilience should not start after a rescue, fatality, or near-miss.

High-performing aquatic teams build resilience skills into normal operations. That means brief conversations during in-services about stress awareness, recovery habits, sleep, nutrition, and what helps staff reset after hard days.

Ask guards to identify one thing that helps them recover on high-stress shifts and encourage them to use it intentionally.

Resilience is not toughness. It’s capacity. And capacity is built before it’s needed, not in the middle of a crisis.

Resilience First Aid gives leaders a framework for doing this in a realistic, aquatics-specific way.

Learn more about this course and others we're hosting: https://aquaticpros.org/resilience-first-aid/

02/03/2026

We're honored to have a story about our strategic alliance with Association of Aquatic Professionals featured in this months Aquatics International magazine. Take a read!

02/01/2026

Manager Tip #1: Change one sentence after hard days
One of the simplest ways to support mental health on your team is to change how you talk after stressful shifts.

Instead of saying things like “That’s just part of the job” or moving straight back into operations, try this instead: “Today was a lot. How are you doing right now?”

That single sentence does three things. It normalizes stress, signals psychological safety, and opens the door for early support before things pile up.

Aquatic staff don’t need leaders to fix their feelings. They need leaders who acknowledge reality and make it okay to talk about it.

This approach is a core principle taught by the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance and reinforced in Resilience First Aid training.

Learn more here: https://aquaticpros.org/resilience-first-aid/

01/30/2026

Critical incidents don’t end when the scene is cleared.

For lifeguards, aquatic staff, and first responders, the emotional impact often shows up later. Sleeplessness. Hypervigilance. Guilt. Withdrawal. And too often, people are left to figure it out on their own.

Resilience First Aid is designed to change that.

This training gives aquatic professionals, supervisors, and peers the tools to recognize early signs of stress and trauma, respond in supportive ways, and connect people to appropriate next steps before burnout or injury takes hold.

It’s not therapy.
It’s not crisis response.
It’s practical, human, early intervention.

If you work in aquatics, lead staff, or care about sustaining the people who keep others safe, this training matters.

Learn more and sign up here: https://ilcira.org/resilience-first-aid/

Offered by the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance, this program centers the reality of aquatic work and the people doing it.

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...

01/28/2026

Learn how to build mental fitness through a practical strength-based approach and critical skills to proactively support mental health in others. Join us for a virtual Resilience First Aid (RFA) class this spring!

AOAP is excited to share ongoing opportunities to receive Resilience First Certification through ILCIRA. Learn more about Resilience First Aid and the courses

01/28/2026

If you’re attending the Association of Aquatic Professionals Conference, make sure to stop by the exhibit hall and visit us at the AOAP booth.

The International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance (ILCIRA) team will be there to connect, answer questions, and talk about real-world support for lifeguards and aquatic professionals before, during, and after critical incidents.

Whether you’re curious about our research, resources, or how ILCIRA can support your organization, we’d love to meet you in person and continue the conversation.

01/27/2026

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from industry experts about how to build a Safety Plan that is aligned with the Model Aquatic Health Code. iLCIRA will be presenting on how to build a Critical Incident Stress Management Plan as apart of your comprehensive Safety Plan.

Come join us! Don’t miss the opportunity to enroll in this pre-conference workshop!

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01/26/2026

Behind every rescue, every hard call, and every guard who shows up the next day after a critical incident, there has to be support.

ILCIRA exists to make sure lifeguards and aquatic professionals are not navigating critical incidents alone. Becoming an Individual Supporter helps fund training, advocacy, research, and programs that focus on both prevention and post-incident care.

A $50+ donation directly supports the work of the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance and helps strengthen the systems that care for the people who care for everyone else.

If this work matters to you, consider becoming an Individual Supporter and standing behind the aquatic professionals doing the hardest work.

Donate at ILCIRA.org.

01/14/2026

Alongside The Association of Aquatic Professionals, we are proud to announce a new strategic alliance focused on strengthening mental health and critical incident support for lifeguards and allied aquatic professionals while addressing an often-overlooked aspect of aquatic safety: the psychological impact of potentially traumatic events.

Please read on to hear about the important alliance in our industry.

AOAP and ILCIRA are proud to announce a new strategic alliance focused on strengthening mental health and critical incident support for lifeguards and allied...