A nationwide lifeguard scarcity might be standing in the way in which of your summer time plans.
Public swimming pools and seashores are prone to being dangerously understaffed after folks left the lifeguarding occupation as a consequence of a scarcity of labor throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In consequence, the pandemic “wiped the slate of licensed lifeguards fully clear,” the director of well being and security on the lifeguard affiliation, Bernard J. Fisher II, informed Axios.
Though pandemic restrictions have waned, educated lifeguards have not returned to their posts, which can pressure public wading areas to be shut down over security issues. The U.S. Client Product Security Fee reported an upward development in nonfatal drowning accidents since 2020.
“We’re experiencing a vital nationwide lifeguard scarcity, with over 309,000 parks and swimming pools (whole within the nation) over half of them will see closures or discount in hours,” spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Affiliation Wyatt Werneth informed Fox Enterprise.
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For scale, Werneth, who was chief lifeguard in Brevard County, Fla. over a decade in the past, mentioned that over 100 folks utilized for 2 out there seaside lifeguard positions again then however this 12 months solely two folks confirmed up for coaching with 50 positions needing to be crammed, he informed NPR in an interview.
Based on the outlet, the shift in dynamic is probably going as a result of rigorous coaching and accountability it takes to be a lifeguard and low pay. The typical lifeguard wage in the USA is between $9.72 and $22.18 an hour, Certainly reported.
Nonetheless, pay is probably not the primary offender. New York Metropolis raised its lifeguard wage by 9% and added a sign-on bonus, however the metropolis is barely staffed with a 3rd of the lifeguards it wants for public seashores and swimming pools, per CBS Information.
Different main cities together with Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Philadephia have additionally taken the initiative to extend pay and coaching.
However whereas cities are determined for lifeguards, Werneth warns that the job comes with nice accountability.
“It’s greater than only a summer time job,” Werneth informed CBS. “Lifeguards have a novel benefit of letting folks know there is a hazard and to remain out of that hazard.”
