Great Expectations: Perceptual Challenges of Visual Surveillance in Lifeguarding

Summary The presence of lifeguards on beaches and at pools has the potential to prevent many drowning incidents. This article examines the visual components of the lifeguard's job, discussing some of the major challenges they face during surveillance. These include optical challenges (turbidity and turbulence of the water, light refraction, and glare), scene challenges (elevated set size affecting clutter and perceptual ‘blindnesses’), stimulus challenges (searching for multiple targets that are complex, dynamic, ill‐defined, and rare), and attentional challenges, including but not limited to vigilance issues. The differences between basic laboratory research and the lifeguarding task are explored, with recommendations for future study.