Sit by the pool all day and get paid: Worcester seeks lifeguards, offers weekend training
WORCESTER - As residents eye Worcester’s swimming spots as an escape from the heat, the pressure is again on the city to come up with a full lineup of lifeguards by summer - something that has been difficult in recent years.
The city Department of Public Works and Parks is offering a two-weekend training course for lifeguards, with the $350 fee waived for participants hired by the city.
Robert C. Antonelli Jr., the assistant commissioner of the DPW, said efforts also include reaching out to lifeguards from previous years and also scouting candidates from local colleges.
“We usually don’t know how many we’ll have until the end of May, when we see an influx from students coming out of college,” said Antonelli.
However, no lifeguards have been recruited yet, which is a somber fact especially as the tentative opening date of July 1 approaches for the city’s four beaches and one pool - Bell Pond, Indian Lake Beach, John J. Binienda Memorial Beach, Shore Park Beach and Crompton Park Pool.
After the four classes on the weekends of April 29 and May 6, the DPW will offer more classes in June, according to Antonelli.
“We have continually pushed ourselves back with recruitment,” said Antonelli. “We used to start around now, but we have slowly gone back to January.”
Last year, when it was time to open the season, the city stayed put on Indian Lake Beach, choosing not to open it because of the extensive lifeguard shortage.
Only 17 lifeguards picked up boards last year – a dramatic low from the comfortable range the city looks for at between 40 and 50.
Lifeguarding competes with other summer jobs
The shortage has been attributed to the fact that lifeguarding has become less of a feasible option for a summer job, citing the struggles of job conditions.
The city’s beaches and pools are open from noon to 7 p.m., at peak heat hours, time during which lifeguards have to sit and observe under the scorching sun.
This year pay is at $17.50 - only $2.50 higher than the state’s minimum wage, something that the city has tried to combat by trying to become competitive with other jobs.
Lifeguarding in the city has also been marked by the two physical attacks on staff – a stabbing at Bell Pond and a baseball bat attack against two lifeguards at a private pool.
Although the perpetrators were apprehended and nobody was hurt, the DPW acknowledged that the shortage was worsened in Worcester after two July attacks.
Last summer, the swimming areas were staffed with roving officers from the Worcester Police Department to increase safety.
This year, police presence will continue, according to Antonelli, who said that other features have been made available for the lifeguards to assure their safety.
A landline phone, a cellphone and a hand-held radio with direct communication to 911 dispatchers will be made available to lifeguards.
“We’re looking to make communication with authorities as seamless as possible,” said Antonelli.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester seeks lifeguards, offers training course as summer nears
