Local

Pools face pandemic staffing challenges as swimming season begins

BEAVERCREEK — Some area pools are dealing with a shortage of lifeguards. A Beavercreek pool is understaffed compared to past years.

The Cardinal Hill Recreation Club typically has somewhere between 14-16 lifeguards on its staff. But, on opening day they only had eight.

>> Man suffers serious injuries after oxygen cylinder explodes in Dayton

Cardinal Hill Recreation Center Board Vice President Pete Williams said he knows some area pools are dealing with lifeguard shortages but that they’re fortunate to be able to be bringing back some from last year.

The biggest challenge they faced earlier this year was getting lifeguards trained, and it all stems from the pandemic during last summer.

“There were some pools that just weren’t able to open,” Williams said. “So the total number of available spots for a lifeguard in our region diminished greatly when you think about some of the larger municipal pools that didn’t open.”

He said that “artificially shrunk” the pool of lifeguards and that the issue for many is simply getting them trained.

“Some of the places that maybe you would have gone to become certified to become a lifeguard did not have a very large demand last year so they weren’t offering the classes this year,” Williams said.

He did say that if the pool stayed at 8 lifeguards for the whole summer that it could potentially lead to issues if something were to come up or several needed to be off at the same time and that it could cause them to cut back hours, something other pools may be facing if they continue to have a shortage.

At Cardinal Hill the one thing Williams said they won’t do is cut back on the number of lifeguards on duty at the same time.

“The state standard is one guard for every 50 swimmers,” Williams said. “Here at Cardinal Hill we want to have one guard for every 25 swimmers.”

“We’re very well staffed to keep that health and safety of our guests the top concern.”

Williams said in a week or two they should be up to 12 lifeguards on staff once the class finishes up training.

Even at 12 lifeguards he welcomes more to apply to join and that they’re always looking for workers to do things like run the concession stand and that the pool open to new people if they’re looking for a pool they can use during the summer.

James Rider

James Rider

I was born in Virginia and have moved several times in my life as a member of an Air Force family. I've lived in Virginia, California, Germany, England, and Ohio. I graduated from Centerville High School and then went on to attend Ball State University where I graduated with a bachelor's degree.

0
Comments on this article