BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – During Tuesday’s Beckley Common Council meeting, Leslie Baker, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that the city is able to lower its minimum age to lifeguard from 18 to 16 in the hope of recruiting more lifeguards to run the New River Park Pool.
The City of Beckley announced in May that the New River Park Pool, which had been operating on a limited schedule for quite some time and had been seeing a decline in lifeguards since 2013, would not be opening for the 2021 summer season.
At the time, Baker attributed the closure to a lack of lifeguards.
Being an Olympic-sized pool with deep water and the capacity to house 500 swimmers, the pool at New River Park needs 10 to 12 lifeguards to operate. This year, the city only had three lifeguards, which was just barely enough to open the much smaller pool at the Historic Black Knight Municipal Park.
Baker said the city’s lack of lifeguards was not the result of a lack of trying. The city, in partnership with the local YMCA, held lifeguard training sessions earlier in the year but did not get the response they were hoping for.
“Every year, we cross our fingers and hold our breath, but it’s been a problem for several years,” Baker said in May.
“Lifeguarding just isn’t a favorite summer job that it used to be with young people.”
This lifeguard shortage isn’t just plaguing Beckley. Media reports from across the country have shown similar issues at pools, lakes and beaches.
After talking with other, smaller cities to see how they can continue to operate their pools, Baker saw that many received additional interest after lowering the age of eligibility. She also stated that most of the pools that had an adequate number of lifeguards were in areas where that was one of the only options for a summer job.
Baker reached out to the insurance company that ensures the city’s pools to see if this was a possibility for Beckley. After some research, the agent was able to lower the age to 16, opening up a whole new pool of applicants.
Additionally, lifeguard wages will be raised from $10 an hour to $12, which Baker says is far more than other pools in the area are offering.
In an effort to help recruit lifeguards and get the New River Park Pool up and running, Beckley’s YMCA has agreed to reserve lanes at their pool and will be holding a pre-requisite course on Saturday, June 26, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Typically, this type of certification requires a charge; however, Baker stated the fee will be waived for all those interested in taking the course.
Anyone over the age of 16 can apply for the course at the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia- located at 509 Ewart Ave in Beckley. Applications can be filled out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
According to Baker, they received 65 to 85 clicks of interest on the job posting but have only had a handful of people actually come in to fill out an application.
The first 12 individuals to register will attend Saturday’s course. Baker says anyone who applies after the first 12 will be placed on a waiting list and contacted in case anyone in the first group cannot successfully complete their certification.
Baker warned that the certification will not be easy, explaining that applicants will have to swim 300 meters continuously while demonstrating breath control; tread water for two minutes while only using their legs; and undergo a timed test where they must swim for 20 yards, then surface and dive 10 feet before picking up a 10-pound weight and exiting the pool without the use of the ladder or steps.
Upon successful completion of the pre-requisite course, candidates will automatically be enrolled in an online lifeguarding course and will spend the next few days learning about safety measures such as CPR and other forms of resuscitation.
Then, they will make their way to the pool, where they will spend several hours focusing on in-person drills, which will include pulling people from the pool.
Potential lifeguards will be tested on July 3.
All prospective lifeguards, who will be employees of the city, must undergo a drug test and background check prior to being hired.
While Baker is working to recruit lifeguards, she said Jerry Stump, Director of Public Works, will be working to see how quickly the city can get the pool cleaned and running.
“Our target date to be open is July 9,” Baker stated, adding that she also needs two individuals to help run concessions and two to act as ticket takers.
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