Milwaukee County trains final class of lifeguards amid serious summer shortage

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Parks is coaching its last class of lifeguard hopefuls this week.

Nonetheless, the county will stay removed from the overall it must employees all its seashores and swimming pools this summer season.

The four-day class ends on Thursday. On Saturday morning, candidates should move a take a look at.

“I heard there was a lifeguard scarcity really on the information, so I assumed, why not exit and assist,” mentioned Santana Buchanan.

It is a summer season job that is paying greater than ever earlier than at $16.14 an hour.

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“I feel that is fairly good for a lifeguard and so they’re providing you with the coaching, so, I feel that is fairly good,” Buchanan mentioned.

Buchanan swam all 4 years of highschool and regarded robust within the 100 meter on Monday at Pulaski Pool. That trial alone weeded out a number of of the ultimate courses 13 candidates.

An teacher mentioned she was optimistic about the remaining who stayed within the water. If all of them move, that may convey complete lifeguards to about 70 for the summer season.

The county had hoped to rent 200 lifeguards.

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This summer season, Bradford Seashore will go with out lifeguards for the third straight yr. Solely 4 public out of doors swimming pools — not together with wading swimming pools or splash pads — will open this summer season.

And McKinley Seashore — identified for its harmful rip currents — will stay closed whereas these currents are studied.

On Monday, the fireplace division pulled a teen from the water close to that park and rushed her to a hospital. TMJ4 Information has confirmed by means of the medical expert that she died.

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“You will be sitting in a spot by McKinley Marina, and get sort of swept in a riptide that reveals up,” mentioned Joel Rechlitz, chief of Milwaukee Fireplace Division Battalion 10. “When you’re caught, it is extraordinarily harmful to get out.”

The parks division has struggled for years to employees lifeguard positions, and the pandemic has solely made hiring tougher.

“I feel it can undoubtedly be difficult, however I am up for it. My brother was a lifeguard earlier than, and he mentioned he needed to save an individual one time,” mentioned Audrey Watzka, an area highschool pupil.

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Watzka, like Buchanan, additionally believes that for a summer season job, the pay is not dangerous.

“I feel it is fairly good in comparison with among the different ones I’ve seen,” mentioned Watzka.

You’ll find out easy methods to change into a lifeguard on the Milwaukee County Park’s web site.

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