Women tend to have more fat, plus lower bone density. It makes them better able to float.
“Women tend to have more fat, plus lower bone density. It makes them better able to float.”
I suppose the question of why we don’t have more female life guards(only about 10% according to this aricle: http://peninsulademocrat.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/san-diego-lifeguards-michael-russell-raises-questions-concerning-gender-diversity-and-salaries/ ) is maybe the uper-body strength issue with carrying the dead weight of unconscious victims, or otherwise pulling them to shore.
Beyond that women are better long distant swimmers because they spend less energy staying afloat. But that doesn’t really help them if they have to keep someone else afloat as well, nor does it disadvantage men with the assistance of life jackets.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/325770-lifeguard-training-exercises/