Popular swimming spots are coming up with creative solutions to combat a regional shortage of lifeguards.
รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs a good little beach to go to,” Ronald McClendon, who went to Lake Ontario beach to spend time with his kids, said. “The people are good, theyรขโฌโขve got playgrounds around her, picnic areas, and houses, itรขโฌโขs nice.รขโฌย
Thatรขโฌโขs why he and others we talked to were concerned to hear about the shortage.
รขโฌลI think its important that there are people trained for those situations, in case there’s an emergency,” Beachgoer Brittany Distefano said. “I would hate to see a child drown, or hear about it in the news, just because thereรขโฌโขs a shortage of life guards.รขโฌย
Itรขโฌโขs a trend Monroe Countyรขโฌโขs Director of Parks Larry Staub says they started noticing last year.
รขโฌลIn this competitive job market, youรขโฌโขre looking at students in college who tend to do more internships than things thatรขโฌโขd be considered to be summer employment.รขโฌย Staub said.
So Staub says they got creative, and got two of his employees certified to train lifeguards in house.
รขโฌลWe now can do the testing ourselves, and the training, so it makes it easier for us to do.รขโฌย Staub said.
And theyรขโฌโขre not alone. The Y.M.C.A is also having trouble recruiting.
รขโฌลWe have so many pools and water facilities throughout the Y, that we need to make sure every patron here is safe.รขโฌย Y.M.C.A Aquatics Director Phil Baretela said.
Thatรขโฌโขs why theyรขโฌโขre now offering free lifeguard certification classes that can normally be as expensive as $200.
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