Making a Splash Against National Lifeguard Shortage

(Published Aug 27, 2015) Where have all the lifeguards gone? It used to be a sweet gig as a teenager to land a summer job as a lifeguard. Now, there is a shortage of lifeguards nationwide. Reports from NPR, Boston Globe and our own Indy Star tell of the problem, but no one has a solution. Yet.

We are fortunate to have a number of our professional staff become certified to aid in opening the outdoor pool for lap swim to serve our many morning swimmers. And, we continue to certify more and more staff like Jon (pictured saving Todd), to make a big splash against this problem in our own community. To ensure the safest environment at our aquatic center, we require that each of our lifeguards hold one of the most rigorous certifications in the industry.  Although we would love to keep our outdoor pool open later into the season, we would never compromise the safety of our members and guests to do so. In order to best serve our diverse population we retain indoor pool hours in both of our indoor spaces for members who cannot swim outside due to sun sensitivity and such. It has always been difficult to find lifeguards once schools start up again, and this year, especially in light of the nationwide lifeguard shortage, it has been more difficult than ever. Both the Jordan YMCA and Riviera club have opted to close or shorten their indoor hours to accommodate staffing their outdoor pools. Thank you for another great summer packed full of fun at the Eskenazi Water Park.