Dive Into Success with the 2026 ARC Lifeguard Challenge – Make Waves and Save Lives!

Advanced life support goes beyond starting CPR to include additional medical interventions that support breathing and circulation. After CPR begins, the professionals who typically provide these advanced interventions are EMS professionals—paramedics and advanced EMTs—because they have training and authority to manage airways, establish IV or IO access, administer medications, interpret heart rhythms with monitors, and coordinate rapid transport. They continue the patient’s care on scene and in transit to the hospital, addressing life-threatening issues as they arise and stabilizing the patient for definitive care.

Lifeguards focus on high-quality CPR and AED use, which are essential but fall under basic life support. Bystanders can start CPR and use an AED, but they don’t perform the advanced interventions. Police may assist with safety or provide help if trained, but providing advanced life support is not their standard role.