Austin, TX
Pool opening delays expected due to lifeguard shortage, City says
The Metropolis of Austin has already needed to alter operations at a few of its 5 year-round swimming pools, and it plans to open 29 extra services initially of June.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Metropolis of Austin normally opens extra swimming pools for the summer time season the primary week of June, but it surely says to count on delays this yr resulting from a lifeguard scarcity.
An aquatics supervisor with the Metropolis tells KVUE hiring this yr has been an unimaginable problem, regardless that they began recruiting and coaching earlier and have spent more cash on promoting.
As of now, solely the 5 year-round services are open, and they’re already seeing impacts from the shortages.
Barton Springs Pool has been closed on Mondays and Wednesdays resulting from lifeguard staffing, along with its regular Thursday closure. To be a lifeguard at Barton Springs you do want an additional certification to be an “open water” lifeguard, however that solely takes about 4 hours to get. The Deep Eddy Pool has had the shallow finish closed on weekdays resulting from a lifeguard scarcity as effectively. There isn’t any timeline but for when both of those changes will return to regular.
The Metropolis wants at the very least 750 lifeguards to function all 34 services, and proper now it has 200 lifeguards on employees.
It has 500 candidates proper now, however in 2019 the Metropolis had greater than 1,600 candidates and was in a position to rent 850 lifeguards.
June 6 is when the Metropolis normally opens about 20 extra swimming pools after which it opens the remainder the next week. However these opening dates could also be delayed this yr as a result of lifeguard scarcity.
“Deep Eddy and Barton Springs are the principle ones which might be affected right this moment,” stated Aaron Levine, aquatics supervisor with Austin Parks & Recreation. “However in a couple of weeks when June comes and all the youngsters get out of faculty, that is actually the place we will be affected.”
The minimal age to be a lifeguard is 15 years previous and the minimal pay is $16 per hour.
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