Latest news with #lifeguard
CBC
8 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
How cities in northern Ontario solved their lifeguard shortage
After years of grappling with lifeguard shortages, several cities in northern Ontario say they've finally turned a corner, with fully staffed pools and supervised beaches this summer. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated lifeguard shortages across the country, leading some cities and town to scale back programming or leave certain waterfronts unsupervised. But cities like North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury say targeted changes, including free certification courses, boosted wages and changes to training have improved the situation in the last year. Rebuilding after the pandemic "We definitely noticed [the shortage] coming out of COVID. There was such a long period of time where we weren't able to operate," said Kendra MacIsaac, vice-president of health and wellness for the YMCA of northeastern Ontario. She said during the pandemic, many lifeguards found different jobs because they were unable to work and their certifications eventually expired. Due to that shortage, the YMCA's downtown Sudbury location had to reduce their schedule or close the pool on some occasions. In the last few years, MacIsaac said the YMCA of northeastern Ontario has worked tirelessly to run ongoing certification courses in order to recruit enough lifeguards to be able to run aquatic programs and services at pre-pandemic levels. Usually after years of swimming lessons, 13-year-olds can start the lifeguard certification process by taking the bronze medallion and emergency first aid course. After that they can immediately take the bronze cross certification course, standard first aid and CPR ahead of the national lifeguard certification at 15 years old. In 2023, the provincial government lowered the age requirement for lifeguards to address the staffing shortages across Ontario. MacIsaac said that made a "big difference." But she said maintaining interest between swim lessons and lifeguard certifications is still a challenge. "There's often a gap when kids stop lessons and aren't quite old enough for bronze medallion," MacIsaac said. To bridge that, the YMCA is offering junior lifeguard clubs and other leadership programs to keep kids engaged between the ages of 10 and 13. Various strategies For the first time in several years, the City of North Bay's supervised beaches are fully staffed. "In recent years, only two of the three beaches were staffed due to the widespread shortage of lifeguards," said a city spokesperson in a statement to CBC News. "The City of North Bay has had a full complement of lifeguards across all three of its supervised beaches — Shabogesic Beach on Lake Nipissing, as well as The Cove and Olmsted Beach on Trout Lake." To address this shortage, in 2024 North Bay raised the hourly wage for lifeguards from the provincial minimum of $17.20 per hour to $19.50. The city says it has also benefited from the temporary closure of its indoor pool at the North Bay YMCA, allowing more certified guards to work outdoors. Sault Ste. Marie has seen similar success. The city's aquatic supervisor, Benjamin Ayton, said staffing levels have returned to what they were before the pandemic. "We're back to pre-COVID levels and we're doing all right, at least for the municipality," Ayton said. "Some of the summer camps are still having a hard time, but we've been trying to help them out by getting them certified people." To boost interest and lower financial barriers, the Sault began offering all bronze and advanced lifeguard courses for free. Even when only a few people signed up, Ayton said, the city made sure the courses still ran. "Even though not everyone would go on to work for us, we did offer all these courses for free and that really helped our area," he said. Greater Sudbury isn't currently facing a lifeguard shortage affecting their programming, according to Jessica Watts, manager of recreation with the city. She explained that as COVID-19 restrictions eased, the city returned to offering advanced life guarding certification courses. "We can train people more regularly and have them prepared to qualify for those lifeguard positions to build internal capacity and reduce reliance on external instructors," Watts said. "We also started training our own staff to teach those more advanced levels, which allowed us to deliver those advanced courses in house." Both Ayton and MacIsaac said life guarding is a public safety service that plays a critical role in preventing drownings and ensuring access to water-based recreation. "Most of our job is prevention," Ayton said. "It's not a pleasant experience to have to deal with [an emergency] situation like that, but you do the best you can and it is rewarding when you are able to assist."
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Man from Oxfordshire dies in incident at Cornwall beach
One man has died and a second suffered injuries following an incident in the sea off and Cornwall Police said officers were called to Mawgan Porth beach at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday, following reports of concern for two people in the water. The force said a man in his 40s from Oxfordshire was confirmed dead at the scene after being recovered from the water and given emergency treatment. Another man suffered minor injuries. The force said the death was not being treated as suspicious and the man's next of kin had been informed. An eyewitness told BBC Radio Cornwall that multiple ambulances and rescue craft were at the scene. "The first I saw was a group of people gathered on the beach, with other people looking at them, It was fairly obvious that something bad had happened," he said. He said rescue teams and the coastguard helicopter had arrived at the scene "within minutes". "It was apparent the person on the beach was in big trouble as they started resuscitation and that went on for sometime. "Somebody went to the lifeguard hut for the defibrillator, so it was obviously very serious."He said the search went on into darkness with boats "scouring the bay" with searchlights.
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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- General
- Travel + Leisure
I'm a Former Lifeguard—Here Are 6 Water Safety Items You Should Pack for the Beach and Pool 'Just in Case'
Before diving into the world of travel writing, I made a living patrolling pool decks. I was 15 when I first got my lifeguarding certification, and I ended up loving the line of work so much that I soon became a lifeguard instructor, and later, a waterpark manager. For seven years, I spent my summers teaching CPR and responding to first aid emergencies. On any given afternoon, I was tasked with ensuring the safety of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people. This experience made me into the safety-conscious traveller I am today, and I still find myself using the knowledge I gained as a lifeguard. Curious to know what safety tips this former lifeguard has up her sleeve? Keep scrolling for the six products I recommend for staying safe by the pool, at the beach, and on the lake. Here, you'll find water safety items I routinely stock up on every summer, including polarized sunglasses, SPF 50+ products, and water shoes. You'll also find life-saving safety gear—including life jackets, wound-clotting powder, and neon swimsuits—that I think deserve a permanent spot in your beach bag, based on my experiences in the field. One of the biggest mistakes I see families make—whether at the pool, beach, or lake—is the improper use of inflatables. Arm floaties and baby pool floats may look cute for family photos, but they aren't reliable in terms of keeping non-swimmers above water. They pop easily, and inflating them to the proper limit can be difficult. Plus, it can be tough to know if they have a small leak or whether you've pushed the inflation valve deeply enough to stop the release of air. In fact, my waterpark banned the use of outside inflatables entirely because of how hazardous they can be. I strongly recommend that non-swimmers and weak swimmers—regardless of age—only use U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved devices. Unlike floaties, USCG-approved life jackets are made with durable, buoyant foam and typically have adjustable straps that allow you to fit the vest more closely around the midsection, preventing the wearer from slipping out of them. Amazon has several different options, ranging from infant life jackets to toddler puddle jumpers to plus-sized adult life vests, all suited for a wide range of activities. Practicing good water safety starts on land. That includes reading pool rules, putting on appropriate life jackets, checking weather reports for possible lightning storms, and shockingly enough, choosing the right swimsuit color. In the event that you or your loved one needs rescuing at a public pool, on the lake, or at the beach, the color of your swimsuit can determine how quickly first responders can find you. White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water. This summer, opt for bright colors and bold prints that are distinguishable in the water. Think: Neon orange, red, yellow, green, pink, and purple. Amazon is a treasure trove of vibrant bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, and swim trunks that are both on-trend and water-safe. Some of the most serious injuries I encountered while working as a waterpark manager involved patrons slipping and falling by running too quickly across floor tiles or trying to climb up a slippery pool feature. Now, as a former lifeguard who loves soaking up the sun lakeside and at beach destinations, I often see foot-related injuries of the outdoor variety: Slipping on smooth river rocks, foot scrapes caused by coral, and burnt soles due to walking across burning-hot sand. This summer, I recommend dipping your toes (pun intended) in the world of water shoes, if you haven't already. I personally own these Affinest water shoes from Amazon; they have an adjustable bungee cord lace and thick, treaded outsoles that have kept my feet protected while river rafting, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you prefer to keep your toes free, I recommend investing in a pair of active, anti-slip sandals, like these Teva Hurricane Xlt2 sandals, that you can wear in and out of the water. There's nothing worse than the first sunburn of the summer, but the good news is, you can avoid it by slathering on plenty of SPF throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is to reach for sunscreen that's water-resistant and has an SPF rating of at least 30, and to reapply it at least every two hours. As a waterpark lifeguard manager, I encouraged my lifeguards to double-check the most commonly-forgotten areas before taking place on the stand, including the tops of their feet, their ears, their shoulders, and even their lips (yes, your lips need SPF, too). Besides sunscreen, I also recommend stocking up on burn remedy products, too—just in case. This Alocane Max Emergency Burn Gel is suited to treat first-degree burns; it contains lidocaine hydrochloride to provide quick-acting pain and itch relief, benzalkonium chloride to prevent infections, and aloe to soothe irritated skin. For minor sunburns, though, sometimes a good aloe gel is all you need for relief—for this, I recommend reaching for products that are free of added fragrances and irritating ingredients, like this Badger Organic Aloe Vera Gel, which is safe to use on both the face and body. Note: Always consult with your doctor before using over-the-counter products. Sand, sunscreen, chlorine, saltwater, and UV rays: This summer fivesome can leave your eyes itchy, sore, and sensitive. It may seem like a redundant tip, but I recommend stocking up for summer with several pairs of swim goggles and polarized sunglasses. Should you lose your goggles in the Pacific Ocean or accidentally step on your tried-and-true shades while walking, you'll have a backup pair ready to go. I personally own several pairs of Bircen sunglasses—they're stylish, budget-friendly, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Plus, they provide UV400 protection against the sun's harmful rays. There are plenty of decent swim goggles on the market, but as a former lifeguard and childhood competitive swimmer, I only buy my goggles from Speedo. As for removing chlorine, saltwater, sand granules, or even rogue eyelashes from your eyes, any gentle eyewash solution will do the trick. However, thoroughly rinsing your eyes can be difficult if you (or your child) hate using eye drops. For this, I recommend throwing a pressurized eye wash cup into your beach bag. All you have to do is fill it up with your eye wash, lean your open eye over the opening, and squeeze the silicone handle. This will swish the eye wash in and around your eye, thoroughly cleaning it of any debris. I'm the first to admit that crochet crossbody bags and raffia beach totes are adorable for summer, but these options tend to do diddly squat when it comes to protecting your gear from sand, surf, and exploded bottles of sunscreen. If you won't step foot on the beach without one, I recommend at least throwing a waterproof pouch or toiletry bag inside to protect your phone, medications, SPF products, and other essentials from the elements. Personally, I hate the idea of getting anything I own wet, whether it's my towel, snacks, or beach reads. Waterproof dry bags are the way to go if you're a lover of water activities—they're durable, roomy, and actually waterproof, making them great companions near any water source. As for what goes inside that bag, I recommend investing in a quality, compact first aid kit. I love this option from M2 Basics. It fits into the palm of your hand and comes with multiple types of bandages and wound dressings—but unlike some other small first aid kits, it also comes with an emergency blanket to fight off water-induced hypothermia, a CPR face mask, and a tourniquet to stop heavy blood flow. Speaking of blood flow, I also recommend throwing a pack of BleedStop into your first aid kit, just in case. Water exposure can make it incredibly difficult for wounds to naturally form a blood clot, and this powder can help in an emergency. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Swimmer dies at Assateague Island after leaders call for increased lifeguard staffing
A swimmer died at Assateague Island National Seashore on Thursday, July 24, weeks after state leaders called on the Trump administration to restore lifeguard staffing. The 18-year-old man was near the southern end of the Chinconteague Beach lot around 4:15 p.m. when a relative ran down the beach to tell a lifeguard that two swimmers were struggling in the water, according to the National Park Service (NPS). One of the struggling swimmers was rescued, but the man was unconscious when he was pulled from the water. Officials immediately started CPR, and the 18-year-old was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, NPS said. The area where the man was swimming was nearly 150 yards from the lifeguarded zone of the beach, officials said. The 37-mile-long island is in Maryland and Virginia, though the Maryland district does not have lifeguards on duty, according to NPS. The incident comes shortly after Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks emphasized that the low lifeguard staffing at Assateague Island created a public safety risk. "Drownings happen in minutes, and there is no substitute for attentive lifeguards specifically assigned to monitoring water safety at Assateague," the senators said in a joint letter. "Furthermore, NPS's current limited safety measures burden neighboring beach safety and emergency response efforts, stretching services too thin and making the entire area less safe for residents and visitors alike." The senators urged the Trump administration to fill all vacant lifeguard positions at the park after federal budget cuts led to low staffing levels. The administration laid off nearly 1,000 NPS employees in February as part of a cost-cutting effort. A hiring freeze was also in place through July 15. "The reason there are no lifeguards at Assateague is honestly a symptom of the chaos and dysfunction that has been impacting this agency since the beginning of this administration," said Ed Stierli, the senior director of the Mid-Atlantic region National Parks Conservation Association. In a statement to CBS News, NPS called the lifeguard shortage a "nationwide concern." Assateague Island is known for strong rip currents. Lifeguards made 24 rescues on the island in 2024, according to the letter from the senators. NPS officials recommend that swimmers take the following precautions:
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Swimmer dies at Maryland's Assateague Island after leaders call for increased lifeguard staffing
A swimmer died at Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore on Saturday, weeks after state leaders called on the Trump administration to restore lifeguard staffing. The 18-year-old man was near the southern end of the Chinconteague Beach lot around 4:15 p.m. when a relative ran down the beach to tell a lifeguard that two swimmers were struggling in the water, according to the National Park Service (NPS). One of the struggling swimmers was rescued, but the man was unconscious when he was pulled from the water. Officials immediately started CPR, and the 18-year-old was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, NPS said. The area where the man was swimming was nearly 150 yards from the lifeguarded zone of the beach, officials said. The 37-mile-long island is in Maryland and Virginia, though the Maryland district does not have lifeguards on duty, according to NPS. The incident comes shortly after Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks emphasized that the low lifeguard staffing at Assateague Island created a public safety risk. "Drownings happen in minutes, and there is no substitute for attentive lifeguards specifically assigned to monitoring water safety at Assateague," the senators said in a joint letter. "Furthermore, NPS's current limited safety measures burden neighboring beach safety and emergency response efforts, stretching services too thin and making the entire area less safe for residents and visitors alike." The senators urged the Trump administration to fill all vacant lifeguard positions at the park after federal budget cuts led to low staffing levels. The administration laid off nearly 1,000 NPS employees in February as part of a cost-cutting effort. A hiring freeze was also in place through July 15. "The reason there are no lifeguards at Assateague is honestly a symptom of the chaos and dysfunction that has been impacting this agency since the beginning of this administration," said Ed Stierli, the senior director of the Mid-Atlantic region National Parks Conservation Association. In a statement to CBS News, NPS called the lifeguard shortage a "nationwide concern." Assateague Island is known for strong rip currents. Lifeguards made 24 rescues on the island in 2024, according to the letter from the senators. NPS officials recommend that swimmers take the following precautions:
