logo
Ontario County will reimburse teens for lifeguard certification costs to boost staffing

Ontario County will reimburse teens for lifeguard certification costs to boost staffing

Yahoo23-04-2025
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A new initiative from Ontario County is aiming to boost staffing at area pools and fill lifeguard positions at pools and beaches across the county — while also helping teens get certified.
The county is usings funds from New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming, or SWIMS, to launch the hiring campaign — looking to fill positions in the following positions:
Deep Run Park
Onanda Park
Kershaw Park
Sandy Bottom Park
Ontario County will reimburse lifeguards for their required certification and costs through SWIMS.
'Lifeguarding is a rewarding summer job that builds confidence, leadership, and lifesaving skills,'said Ontario County Department of Public Works Commissioner Bill Wright said in a statement. 'We know the cost of certification and training can be a hurdle for teens and families, and that's why Ontario County is stepping in to help. We want to make these jobs more accessible to more young people.
Lifeguard, Senior Lifeguard, and Aquatics Supervisor are some of the positions open across the county. For more information, visit the Ontario County website.
The County notes applicants must be at least 15 years old and possess valid CPR and lifeguard certifications at the time of hire.
Anyone looking for more information on the SWIMS program is asked to call (585) 396-4000.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hiker in Tennessee Who Picked Up a Venomous Snake Dies After Being Bitten
Hiker in Tennessee Who Picked Up a Venomous Snake Dies After Being Bitten

New York Times

time3 days ago

  • New York Times

Hiker in Tennessee Who Picked Up a Venomous Snake Dies After Being Bitten

A hiker in a Tennessee state park died after picking up a rattlesnake that bit him in what was a rare fatality arising from a snake bite, the authorities said on Friday. The hiker, a man who was not publicly identified, was in Savage Gulf State Park in Gruetli-Laager, Tenn., around 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, Matthew Griffith, director for the Grundy County Emergency Association, said in an email. A witness told officials that the hiker had picked up a snake, which was believed to be a timber rattlesnake, and was bitten on a hand, Mr. Griffith said. It was not clear why the hiker picked up the snake. The hiker was a half mile along a trail. Emergency medical workers arrived and gave him CPR before transferring him to a hospital, where he died, Mr. Griffith said. Thousands of people in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes each year, but only about five bites annually prove to be fatal, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. More people would die if they did not seek medical care, the agency said. It is believed the man's death was caused by an allergic reaction, but full details have yet to be released, Mr. Griffith said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

'A guardian angel': Teen saves choking Texas Roadhouse employee with Heimlich maneuver
'A guardian angel': Teen saves choking Texas Roadhouse employee with Heimlich maneuver

USA Today

time5 days ago

  • USA Today

'A guardian angel': Teen saves choking Texas Roadhouse employee with Heimlich maneuver

SOUTH BEND — Fifteen-year-old Valeria Markiewicz was eating at Texas Roadhouse with her family for her mother's birthday dinner when she saw something alarming — an employee choking. And also alarming was the fact that nobody seemed to know how to help. The employee, Dekari Henderson, said he was talking with his manager while eating a steak kabob when he realized a piece had gotten stuck in his throat. His manager tried to help, Henderson said, but he couldn't dislodge the food. Henderson said he'd almost drowned as a child, so he'd experienced what it feels like to be in a life-threatening situation. And when he saw his manager wasn't able to help him, Henderson said, he knew he was in another one. "I looked back at him … and I honestly gave up that day," he said. "Sad to say, but I did, because I knew my life was fading." But Markiewicz didn't hesitate. "I was like, 'Oh my goodness, something has to be done,'" she said. "… He was turning purple, his lips were a different color. And so I ran over there, and I'm like, 'I'm CPR certified, I got this.'" Markiewicz performed the Heimlich maneuver on Henderson, helping him expel the food and ultimately saving his life. Henderson described Markiewicz as "a guardian angel," saying he wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for her. "She beat the life into me," he said. "That's the best way I can explain it." Markiewicz learned life-saving techniques in a high school class Markiewicz recently finished her freshman year at New Prairie High School, and she said she was able to help Henderson because of one of the classes she'd taken. During the year, she was enrolled in a biomedical science class taught by Tonya Aerts, who now works at Legacy Medical Academy after 19 years of teaching at New Prairie. Aerts, who won a national award this year for her work promoting sudden cardiac arrest preparedness, said Markiewicz and the other students in the class had just earned their CPR certifications in fall 2024 when the incident occurred in January 2025. She said she remembered the day Markiewicz told her about what had happened. "I come into work on a Monday morning, and there's Valeria standing at my door, which was unusual, and she was so excited to tell me, I quote, 'I saved a life this weekend,'" Aerts said. "And I was just so excited for her, but so impressed with her courage and her bravery to step up when other people didn't know what to do." Aerts has been instrumental in encouraging Indiana schools to become "Heart Safe" by meeting set standards and conducting regular emergency preparedness training. She said this is the second time someone's life has been saved because of training at the New Prairie United School Corp.; when a parent collapsed in the parking lot of New Prairie Middle School due to a cardiac arrest over a year ago, school staff was able to respond and revive him, and he survived. Aerts nominated Markiewicz for the LaPorte County Citizen of the Year Award, an annual award from the LaPorte County Emergency Medical Services that recognizes citizens who have made a difference in the community. In May, Markiewicz was named the award's 2025 recipient. Markiewicz said she'd learned a variety of life-saving techniques in Aerts' class, including CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and how to stop bleeding. And it was because of Aerts' class that Markiewicz knew what to do, she said. "Mrs. Aerts, she always taught us, if there was something there, and no one was running up, and if you knew how to do it, you should go run and do it," Markiewicz said. "… She really has a special place in my heart. Because of her, now I helped a life, and maybe I could help multiple more." 'Everything happens for a reason' In the months since the incident, Henderson said, he's seen a significant change in his life. For one, although he said he's "not super religious," he's started attending church more. Henderson said he takes care of his mother, who lost a lung during the pandemic. He said he's grateful to Markiewicz for saving him and allowing him to continue caring for his mom, adding that "everything happens for a reason." "It truly was a blessing that she was there to save me, because without her, I don't know where my family would be; I don't know what my mom would be doing," he said. "… My mom, she's like my rock. Everything I do, I do for her. … I was literally about to lose her." Markiewicz's school, New Prairie High, is also where senior Mark Mayfield collapsed in a school hallway and tragically died from a cardiac arrest in 2017. Mayfield's mother, Diane Mayfield, said from the perspective of a mother who has lost a son, it's vital that people know what to do in an emergency. "You don't understand until it happens to you, but it's devastating. So any chance our children have to survive something is just priceless," she said. "… Just being prepared — and, you know, hopefully you don't ever need it — but just one life saved, it means the world." And Markiewicz agreed, saying she's seen firsthand how learning life-saving techniques like CPR and the Heimlich can mean the difference between life and death. She said she believes everyone who can should earn their CPR certification, so they'll be prepared to respond like she did. "It makes me more grateful that I got CPR certified and stuff," she said. "It makes me grateful that I learned all this, and I took the time to do it." Markiewicz added that she wants to go into nursing as a career, giving her even more opportunities to help people. She said the incident has changed her perspective, as well. In the moment, Markiewicz said, she felt a mix of pride that she knew how to help Henderson and relieved that he was OK. And in the months since, knowing that she can respond in a crisis has given her a sense of empowerment and confidence that she'd be able to do it again, she said. "I've completed great accomplishments before, but nothing, like, ever this great before," Markiewicz said. "… I pass all my tests and everything, and that's a good accomplishment. But to step up this big, that's, like, something to be really, really proud of." Email South Bend Tribune staff reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@

Hiker dies after rattlesnake bite: What to know about venomous snakes in Tennessee
Hiker dies after rattlesnake bite: What to know about venomous snakes in Tennessee

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Yahoo

Hiker dies after rattlesnake bite: What to know about venomous snakes in Tennessee

A hiker is dead after he was bitten on the hand while picking up a rattlesnake on a trail at the Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County, authorities say. Grundy County is about two hours southeast of Nashville on Interstate 24. Rescue crews were called to the trailhead on 55th Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. Aug. 8, the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency said. When they found the hiker, they immediately started CPR until he was hooked up to a mobile CPR machine. The man was rushed to a hospital, where he later likely died from an allergic reaction to the snake's venom, the agency said. More: With warmer weather comes Tennessee's most venomous creatures: What to do if you're bitten What to do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake If you or someone with you is bitten by a venomous snake, called 911 immediately, especially if the bitten area changes color, swells or is painful, the Mayo Clinic said. While waiting for help, the Mayo Clinic recommends these steps: Move far away from the snake Stay calm Remove any jewelry, watches or tight clothing before swelling starts Sit or lie down so that the bite is in a neutral, comfortable position Clean the bite with soap and water. Cover or wrap it loosely with a clean, dry bandage How common are rattlesnakes in Tennessee? Tennessee is home to two varieties of venomous rattlesnake — the timber rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake. Tennessee's other venomous snakes are copperheads and cottonmouths. Timber rattlesnakes are the largest and most dangerous of the four venomous snakes in the state, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. The large, heavy-bodied snake has a large triangular head, vertical pupils and a rattle. Their bodies can vary in color from tan and brown to gray and black. Pygmy rattlesnakes are much smaller with a tinier rattle and are considered very rare. They're listed as imperiled by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and largely reside along the western highland Rim from Stewart County to the southern border, according to the agency. Most snake bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing, the U.S. Forest Service said. The snake that bit the hiker was likely a timber rattlesnake. Their habitats include mature, heavily wooded forests with rocky hillsides, bluffs or ledges, according to the wildlife agency. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grundy County hiker dies after picking up rattlesnake, bitten on hand Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store