Me, published in the newspaper. I was trying to write a letter to the editor and it got a little out of control. I used to have a paper route and deliver this paper.
Lifeguards have tougher job than it first appears
COLUMN
While many people might feel that being a lifeguard is an easy job, I have to disagree. From the outside, getting paid to sit in a chair and get a suntan might seem like what is going on, but that is not all that is happening. The people who are hired to sit in those chairs and to walk around the pool are responsible for the lives of all the people who choose to come to the pool that day. Being a lifeguard might not always be hard physically, but mentally it is very taxing to stay focused and alert. As a guard, you know that if you lose your concentration and are slow to react or notice a situation, someone could die. Having the lives for 200+ people rely on your concentration is not something that is easy to do hour after hour and it gets tiring rather quickly. The last thing anyone wants is a tired lifeguard on duty. When someone gets into trouble at a pool, the reaction time of the lifeguard can be the difference between life and death.
I worked as a lifeguard at Aumiller Pool for three summers and then spent four years working as a lifeguard and assistant pool manager in Columbus.
I understand that cost cutting measures might need to be taken. At the same time, I feel that before it is assumed that cutting into the lifeguards' "breaks" is the solution for staffing the concession stand, some thought should be taken as to whether it will effect the lifeguards' ability to recover during their breaks. A tired lifeguard can lead to dangerous situations. Studies have shown that driving a car while tired is almost as bad as driving a car while drunk. Lifeguard fatigue is something that should be of serious concern when making the decision to remove or lessen the amount of time allotted for your lifeguards as breaks. Dealing with a bunch of people demanding items from a concession stand is not a break for a lifeguard. Finding a quiet place to hide for a few minutes where you are not required to watch anyone is a lifeguard's true break.
If it is decided to staff the concession stand with lifeguards, please keep in mind that on the really hot days, lifeguard breaks are already minimized, because more guards are needed to watch the pool, whether by staffing the optional guard station and/or by patrolling around the pool on foot. Perhaps rather than adding a concession employee, increase the number of guards on duty by one and make the concession stand a part of the rotation, but do not assume that having the guards staff the concession stand on their break continues to constitute a break. It does not.
A public swimming pool is an investment made by the community. It encourages children and parents to be active. It keeps children from being idle in the summer, which keeps them from getting into other mischief and keeps them under supervision. I do not advocate that children be dropped off at public swimming pools as a substitute for parental supervision (lifeguards are not supposed to be underpaid baby-sitters), but a public swimming pool is easily a central theme for an active summer away from the classroom.
I spent many summers at Aumiller Pool. I learned to swim there, taking the lessons offered by the Red Cross. I later became a lifeguard and practically lived there for three summers. I hope this valuable piece of Bucyrus continues to be used and cherished by the community. I have many fond memories of Aumiller Pool and I hope that many more children will be able to say the same thing in the years to come.
RedJen, 30, is a graduate of Bucyrus High School. After moving to Columbus to attend and graduate from the Ohio State University, she relocated to Raleigh, N.C., where she has been employed as a Software Engineer since 1997.
Originally published Tuesday, February 25, 2003