Is your community pool open? Bucks County pools navigate US lifeguard shortage
While pools across the country are dealing with a lifeguard shortage, Bucks County pools say they are ready for visitors to dive in.
According to data from the American Lifeguard Association, at least one-third of public pools in the U.S. risk being shut down or changing hours due to the staffing shortages, but Bucks County pools are working through the shortage.
For those looking to cool down on hot summer days, Fanny Chapman in Doylestown is one of many pools in the county that is open and operating with a full staff of lifeguards.
“We're extremely busy. But we've got a large staff this year that will probably be over 100 kids and adults,” said Pool Manager Jim Foster. He added that the pool currently has 42 lifeguards — nearly 12 more than last summer.
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In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a delay in lifeguard certifications, causing a shortage that is continuing to affect employment this summer. In response, Fanny Chapman hosted a lifeguard class last summer that returned on June 14 of this year. Foster said he expects to hire 10 more lifeguards from the class.
“Last year we had a shortage even after the class. Now we have more with the lifeguarding class still to be determined. We could have ended up with 24 more guards than we had last year,” said Foster.
Bucks County Parks and Recreation Director Angie Nagle said the county-run Oxford Valley Pool in Fairless Hills and Tohickon Pool in Pipersville are still experiencing staffing issues but not to the same extent as in 2021.
“We are in slightly better shape than we were last year. We've attempted to get creative (when recruiting.) We've had some Zoom hiring Q&A sessions and we attended the county job fair. But there's competition. We're competing for the same pool of lifeguards as the municipalities,” said Nagle, adding that the county pools are operating at 70% staffed for lifeguards. Currently the county pools are open weekends, from noon to 5 p.m.
In addition to finding trained lifeguards, pools also are competing with higher wages at other companies. Nagle attributed the boost in lifeguards to the county increasing pay and covering the cost of certifications. She said the starting rate for lifeguards is $13 an hour with senior guards receiving $15 an hour.
Wesley Robinson, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said that wages have impacted the hiring of lifeguards for the state-run pools at Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem and at Nockamixon State Park in Quakertown.
“I think a lot of this is driven by the wages. People may say, ‘Oh, I'm only going to get paid $10 an hour, I can go work at Sheetz and make $15 an hour,'" said Robinson.
However, the state pools are managing the shortage as both are currently open seven days a week with full-time hours.
Several township pools also said they did not have difficulties hiring lifeguards amidst the shortage. For instance, Ashton Miller, recreation coordinator for Quakertown, said the Quakertown Community Pool had a high returning rate of lifeguards. According to Miller, the pool is fully staffed with nearly 35 lifeguards, and opened recently after renovations that began last year were completed.
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“We are just so excited to be back,” said Miller.
Warrington Township Parks and Recreation Director Andrew Oales said the Mary Barness pool has many returning guards this summer. The pool has 20 guards ready for the season and had little recruiting in place.
“We are not in any danger of having to alter hours or anything like that. I lucked out and a lot of my guards were returning. We get a lot of siblings and people who grow up at the pool and they join the swim team and then they become lifeguards,” said Oales.
After the COVID-19 pandemic put many limitations on the last two pool season Oales said he was looking forward to a successful summer
“Let's face it, the pool is a great place. You're outside, you're in the fresh air, you're in the sun, you're in chlorinated water, so it's really a nice nice getaway,” said Oales.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County pools manage national lifeguard shortage
