Personal rant against lifeguards.
I've never seen them approach anyone with a constructive attitude. I've been in trouble at sea twice, on watched beaches they never moved. On the other hand I twice save someone in front of them, or instead of them, and the last time the asshole was actually mad at me for riding out in the swim zone to save someone. I called him out and the bastard just called the cops (who of course had seen everything and were watching the guy with a cramp splashing 200m out but decided he didn't need help, which is consistent with local street cop behavior).
Worst part is when they have a jet ski or outboard inflatable, they just run around stinking the place up an scaring kids in the water getting high on noise and fumes, feeling they own the place.
To be faire there was one time I found them useful. A "wavy" - 1m shore break, guy goes out, accelerates at the worst possible moment and flipped the boat right back. That perfectly demonstrated their ability to do anything at sea. Only time I saw lifeguards trying to help someone too.