Indy Parks Needs Lifeguards

Indy Parks and Indiana Sports Corp are partnering for a free lifeguard certification program this week in hopes of having city pools fully staffed in time for summer.  

Last summer Indy Parks pools had to close pools because of a lifeguard shortage.  This year the department is trying to be proactive and fill the over 300 positions for its 19 pools by Memorial Day. 

Around 30 kids are expected to show up for a rigorous 3-day certification program this weekend sponsored by Indiana Sports Corp.  It usually costs $175 for teens to get certified, which may be one deterrent for kids looking for a summer job. 

Jennifer Stoneking, senior aquatics manager for Indy Parks says the swimming pre-requisite is another reason for the shortage.

"A candidate needs to be able to swim 200 yards, there's no time limit but they do need to swim either front crawl or breast stroke, they have to be able to tread water with no hands for one minute, and they have to be able to go down to the bottom of a 10-foot pool and retrieve a 10-pound brick," says Stoneking. 

She says the schools balanced calendar also plays a factor.  The department says they could lose up to 15 percent of its staff before the summer ends.  This year they were able to increase lifeguard pay to $10 an hour. 

Indy Parks will also offer a lifeguard in training program later this month to help kids who want to be lifeguards strengthen their swimming skills.