Henrico pools and swim clubs get creative to fill lifeguard vacancies

It’s officially summer, and for many that means days spent by the pool with family and friends. But lifeguard shortages across the country – and Henrico County – have laid a wet towel over some folks’ summer fun.

Pools throughout Henrico have been feeling the heat of lifeguard shortages since COVID-19, according to Douglas Aquatics Director of Pool Operations Curtis Johnson. This meant companies like Douglas Aquatics and Swim Club Management Group, which staff local pools with lifeguards, had to rely more heavily upon word of mouth and signage for recruiting.

But even as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and people come out to swim, some parents are hesitant to let their kids work over the summer, SCMG staffing director Jacqueline Gray said.

Though lifeguarding is “one of the coolest jobs that you could have” according to Johnson, teenagers have shown more interest in other higher-paying jobs, meaning pools have had to get creative and raise wages to keep up with the growing demand for workers.

Douglas Aquatics began offering performance-based incentives and bonuses for lifeguards who brought a friend on board, Johnson said.

SCMG was able to get ahead of lifeguard shortages this year by raising wages from $10 to $15 an hour and offering to pay for training classes, Gray said.

More local pools like Anirav Swim Club in Varina and Ridgetop Recreation Association in the Near West End, also were able to lean on their members to help fill gaps in lifeguard staffing.

“We have been fortunate to have sufficient lifeguard staffing at our pool this summer,” Ridgetop Recreation Board of Directors President Jeff Cook said. “Most of our lifeguards live in our immediate vicinity and come from families who have been long-time members of the club.”

But for nonprofits like Chestnut Oaks and privately run pools like Hungary Creek Recreation Association, keeping up with rising wages is difficult, and they have had to offer more to stand out, Hungary Creek pool manager Matt Togna said.

“One of the things we did differently this year was we offered to pay for kids' Red Cross certifications in exchange for a two-year commitment,” Togna said. “A lot of kids have discovered that they can go work at a place like a Starbucks or a Target or a Costco and make really good money and a lot of these seasonal places, like pools and rec centers were kind of caught off guard by that.”

The Frank J. Thornton YMCA Aquatic Center in Eastern Henrico even has started hiring full-time lifeguards along with raising wages and offering to pay for training to keep their aquatics center open for members, Thornton YMCA Programs Director Liz Sawyer said.

To help prepare potential lifeguards for certification, the Thornton YMCA offers monthly training classes and began allowing those interested to join and come swim to get back in shape for the lifeguard training class.

“With COVID and everything being shut down and the lifeguard shortage, it really is trickling down where people aren't getting in the pool as much as they may have the previous summer. So, they are swimmers, and they just need to build that endurance up,” Sawyer said.

Getting ahead of the lifeguard shortage this year with wage increases and other incentives has helped most pools to continue regular operations, according to Gray. The YMCA also has been able to continue offering financial assistance and membership fees consistently, YMCA of Greater Richmond media coordinator Lindy Bumgarner said.

But Sawyer acknowledged the YMCA had to adjust pool hours earlier in the year to stay within the Red Cross’ safety ratio of one lifeguard per 25 swimmers. The YMCA’s reservation system (through which members can reserve a swim spot and cancel up to 30 minutes in advance) also has been a key safety tool, Sawyer said.

“I currently have a staff of 11, and in a perfect world I would like to have 20,” Sawyer said. “Right now, we're in an okay place, but again, always looking for more, always trying to strengthen the community because the more staff we have the more safety, safety and swim lessons skills we can really spread into our community.”