As summer season winds down and temperatures warmth up this week, lots of people will probably be packing swimming pools.
For years, we’ve reported on lifeguard shortages. In some instances, this has led to diminished hours and restricted entry to metropolis swimming pools.
So, we checked again in to see if this season has been higher for staffing.
“I really like my job,” stated Andrew Mueller. “It’s superior!”
This summer season is Mueller’s second yr as a lifeguard; an important summer season job for a youngster who’s been on the swim crew since age 5.
“It is simply been a part of my life ever since I used to be little and giving again to the neighborhood that gave me such a good time once I was youthful,” stated Mueller.
His summer season days are packed. He has membership swim apply earlier than dawn, adopted by teaching youthful swimmers, after which his lifeguarding shift.
“Yeah, it’s fairly busy,” he stated.
“On a 90-degree day in Northeast Ohio, you wish to be in a pool,” stated Brandon Burns, proprietor of Burns Pool Administration.
His firm staffs lifeguards and operates swimming pools.
Information 5 talked with Burns again in the summertime of 2022 when many swimming pools have been experiencing lifeguard shortages as a result of pandemic.
He stated that it has improved, however pointed to a brand new problem.
“It isn’t even that now we have much less employees, their availability is only a lot tighter,” he stated.
Burns stated they’ve about 227 lifeguards proper now. He stated that is good, however they will all the time take extra.
He stated most are excessive schoolers, like Mueller, who more and more are balancing sports activities and actions that run year-round.
“So now, as a substitute of getting one lifeguard fill 40 hours now we have three to 4 lifeguards making up these 40 hours,” he stated. “As a result of they’re simply that busy.”
Burns stated aquatic amenities are additionally changing into extra concerned, which requires extra lifeguards on responsibility in comparison with a standard and primary rectangular pool.
He reminds younger folks that lifeguarding will not be solely enjoyable but additionally supplies life-saving and transferable expertise to construct resumes.
“It could possibly set you up with nice careers sooner or later,” he stated.
“I feel it’s positively educating me actually good management qualities,” stated Mueller.
When he’s not within the chair or the water, Mueller can also be balancing time with household and buddies and dealing on school functions.
“I would love to review engineering,” he stated. “Particularly, with biology practices. I actually love biology.”
He desires you to have a protected and pleasurable time on the pool.
“My recommendation for households heading to the pool is to be observant,” he stated. “Whether or not that’s youngsters being observant of their siblings or observant of themselves and the place they’re at within the pool and what others are doing round them, and oldsters watching their youngsters.”
When you’re fascinated about changing into a lifeguard, contact the Red Cross for coaching and certification.
Burns stated there are year-round lifeguarding alternatives.
