Lifeguarding During a Pandemic

Staff+guards+pool%2C+Swimmers+blurred+for+privacy+reasons+using+my+expert+photoshop+skills

Staff guards pool, Swimmers blurred for privacy reasons using my expert photoshop skills

Eve Livingood, Staff Writer

 

If you’re in need of a job, I would seriously consider lifeguarding. Pools in Charlottesville are finding ways to stay open and safe even during the pandemic. I interviewed Mindy Dodge, the aquatics director at the Brooks Family YMCA where I work as a lifeguard to get more information about lifeguard certification classes, adjustments the Y is making to increase social distancing on the pool deck, and just lifeguarding in general.

 

Getting certified is the first step in becoming a lifeguard. The certification training is not too strenuous. “If you are athletic or have prior experience with swim conditioning it is not hard,” said Dodge. “However we will work with any applicants to get their ability to where it needs to be.” Successfully completing the training will open up job opportunities and certify the participants in American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification including First Aid, CPR, and AED. The fee for the class is $165 but it is waived for staff committed to work at the YMCA who have passed their interview prior to registration. When interviewing, Dodge said she is “looking for guards who are outgoing and not

shot of the pool

afraid to talk to members, and team players who would help out another coworker; those are my top two things”.

 

To increase social distancing and safety during the pandemic, everyone on the pool deck is required to wear a mask. “We’ve gone to a reservation-only system, two people per lane starting on opposite sides and we’ve limited the number of people that can be in the pool area.” The reservation system keeps patrons from having contact with one another, and guarantees people who have reserved a lane time to swim. The reservations are made ahead of time on the website

Getting homework done off-stand

linked below.

 

One of the greatest benefits of lifeguarding has been time to do homework and study when you’re off stand (I wrote the majority of this article while I was on breaks at work). “It’s not a super stressful job, you get to talk a lot off-stand and engage with the community,” said Evan Burns, one of the head guards at the YMCA. “It’s just important to have the mental capacity to sit and focus while guarding the pool, but it pays off when you’re thinking about keeping the people around you safe.” 

 

Piedmont YMCA Aquatics: https://piedmontymca.org/brooks-aquatics

 

YMCA Lifeguard Certification: https://piedmontymca.org/brooks-aquatics

 

Apply Online: https://piedmontymca.org/job-openings-brooks-ymca