Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Celebrates National Lifeguard Day

Date: July 31, 2026

On National Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we’re recognizing the dedicated lifeguards who work behind the scenes to help create a safe environment for every guest who visits our pools and water attractions across The Sweetest Place On Earth. Our certified lifeguards believe that every splash, laugh and swim is not possible without one important thing: safety.

Safety and Fun Go Hand-in-Hand in Hershey

We strive to ensure our guests have fun and stay safe at all of our water attractions. If you are planning a visit this summer, keep these five water safety tips in mind:

1. Learn to swim.

   The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes both adults and children.

2. Parents are the first line of defense.

   If your child is in the water, you should be too! Make sure an adult is constantly watching young children swimming, playing or bathing in water. Do not participate in any distracting activities while supervising children around the water.

3. Wear a life jacket.

   Non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers should also always wear a life jacket when in and around the water. Inflatable toys can be fun but are not a substitute for U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. At Hersheypark, guests of the Miniatures, Kisses and Reese's height categories must wear a life vest on certain water attractions. Guests may bring their own life jacket, as long as it is Coast Guard approved. Life jackets are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Outside wave boards, inner tubes, inflatable toys, or other inflatables, including water wings or swimmies are not permitted in The Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park.

4. Look for lifeguards.

   Be sure the area is well supervised by lifeguards before you or others in your group enter the water.

5. Never swim alone or in unsupervised places.

   Teach your children to always swim with a buddy.

Hersheypark also encourages guests to wear proper foot protection in queues and on all walking surfaces as they may become hot in the sun. Aqua shoes are not permitted on the body slides. There are complimentary shoe drops available to guests. Furthermore, only appropriate swimwear is allowed on the attractions. Revealing bathing suits, shorts with rivets, snaps, zippers, metal ornamentation, cutoffs and jeans are not permitted.

Award-Winning Certified and Trained Lifeguard Staff

The lifeguard staff is well-trained to keep all guests safe as they take a break from coaster riding and beat the heat in the water park. Currently, there are 19 Certified Lifeguard Instructors who are certified to train lifeguards and one Lifeguard Instructor Trainer who is qualified to train the Lifeguard Instructors on the Hersheypark Team. All Hersheypark lifeguards are trained and certified through Jeff Ellis & Associates, a leader in water park safety.

Every Hersheypark lifeguard completes a 24-hour class, followed by a minimum of four hours of continued in-service education per month to maintain test-ready skills. Lifeguard certifications are valid for one year only, which ensures that seasonal team members receive updated training every year.

In 2025, Hersheypark was awarded the prestigious "Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award.” Earning this award demonstrates that The Boardwalk consistently exceeds industry standards in risk management and epitomizes aquatic safety excellence. International Aquatic Safety Awards are conferred to deserving aquatic facilities by Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc. - International Aquatic Safety and Risk Management Consultants. Hersheypark has received a total of ten Platinum Awards, four Gold Awards and one Silver Award.

International Aquatic Safety Awards are presented annually to participants in E&A's Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program (CARMP) and are based on the results of multiple random Unannounced Aquatic Facility Operational Safety Audits throughout the year. These audits include undercover video surveillance of individual lifeguards while they protect their Zone of Protection areas in order to accurately evaluate their professional diligence. Additionally, individual and team basic life support and rescue skills are evaluated, along with simulated emergencies that measure the effectiveness of established Emergency Action Plans. The audit concludes with administrative, supervisory and facility evaluations.

International Safety Awards are presented only to E&A's most elite clients. Presented in three levels - Silver, Gold, and Platinum - only the top 10% of E&A clients in the world receive a Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award each year.