Where are the lifeguards?

[Sunny]

This is not of earthshaking importance, but I just saw an item about the lack of lifeguards at swimming pools, beaches, etc. The reason is that many of our lifeguards come from Russia or Ukraine, and those countries shut down their lifeguard certification and training due to Covid.

Apparently not too many Americans are interested in the job. It requires a lot of body strength, many hours of difficult training, and the job itself is alternately boring and obviously carries a huge load of responsibility. Maybe the communities should offer huge cash incentives? But it might be too late for this summer anyway.

 

[hollydolly]

Well we have so many Russians and Ukrainians here , I'm sure we can spare you a few..

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Russia & Ukraine are somehow meccas of lifeguard technology? Or is it that they'll work cheap? Hey, if they want to come and work in the US for those wages? Great. If they have to up the wages to get "pure bred Americans," whose kin came here 30 years ago? Great.

 

[hollydolly]

Russia & Ukraine are somehow meccas of lifeguard technology? Or is it that they'll work cheap? Hey, if they want to come and work in the US for those wages? Great. If they have to up the wages to get "pure bred Americans," whose kin came here 30 years ago? Great.

here in the UK they get paid as much as the natives ... except the natives think they're too good for those wages.. and yes we have minimum wage here £9.50 ph... or more

 

[Jace]

"In this day&age"... There should be an alternative...

As so many other jobs have been mechanized...
or eliminated...
Or as the Brits say...become redundant!

 

[Aunt Bea]

I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind taking such a responsible temporary position in today’s litigious world.

In this area the public pools are closed due to a shortage of chlorine.

 

[Sunny]

Well we have so many Russians and Ukrainians here , I'm sure we can spare you a few..

Our community has two swimming pools, an indoor and an outdoor one. The lifeguards have always been Russian in all the years I've been here. They have all been very nice, probably college students. The reason we can't get them now, according to the article, is that their training programs have been shut down.

Personally, I can't think of a more boring job than being a lifeguard at a community for seniors. They certainly aren't going to meet any cute young girls here!

 

[Nosy Bee-54]

This is not of earthshaking importance, but I just saw an item about the lack of lifeguards at swimming pools, beaches, etc. The reason is that many of our lifeguards come from Russia or Ukraine, and those countries shut down their lifeguard certification and training due to Covid.

Apparently not too many Americans are interested in the job. It requires a lot of body strength, many hours of difficult training, and the job itself is alternately boring and obviously carries a huge load of responsibility. Maybe the communities should offer huge cash incentives? But it might be too late for this summer anyway.

I don't get this? If the lifeguards for public pools and beaches come from those two countries and mainly for the summer; how do they survive on $12 an hour? They certainly won't have parents here to save on housing and meals.

ETA: Saw this article on the issue but it doesn't indicate where the lifeguards come from.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62014101

 

[Fyrefox]

The problem is real, and in many areas. A public pool in a state park in my area is closed this year due to lack of lifeguards. In some cases, going to that pool was the only aquatic summer vacation experience area children had...