Lifeguard shortage at Medicine Hat YMCA
By Samantha Johnson Special to the News on July 14, 2022.
The YMCA in Medicine Hat is struggling with a lifeguard shortage, as are all YMCAs and municipalities across Canada. It is being seen as a direct result of pools closing during the pandemic, leaving lifeguards out of work and allowing their certification to lapse. Sharon Hayward, CEO at the YMCA of Medicine Hat, explained, “The certifying organizations all gave extensions and reached out to people.” They requested those who were currently certified to follow certain steps and their certification would be kept up to date, but many didn’t do that. Once the pools opened following the lifting of restrictions, there was a smaller group of lifeguards to draw from because so many were no longer certified. The process of certification involves several more steps compared to renewing certification. “Athletically, you must be able to do a certain number of laps in a certain amount of time, you must have your Bronze Cross plus your Bronze Medallion, take the National Lifeguard Course – it’s not something you go out and get done in a weekend. It takes several months,” said Hayward. Lifeguards also tend to be younger. Lots of students work as a lifeguard while finishing high school or post-secondary education. Once their academic pursuits are completed, they move onto their lifetime career. “You get a few people who make a career out of lifeguarding, but it tends to be mostly younger people,” stated Hayward. Both the YMCA and the City of Medicine Hat offer all the courses required to become a lifeguard, and stagger when they are offered. They are not proprietary, so if you take courses through one, you can work for the other. However, the associated costs and time involvement make it difficult to recruit. Hayward advised an aquatics scholarship is available and provided by Vista Park Pharmacy, offering up to $1,500 per year to subsidize individuals taking aquatics leadership courses (Bronze Cross, Bronze Medallion, National Lifeguard). This is available only for YMCA-offered courses, and anyone who is interested in applying needs to reach out to Michelle Schuett, manager of health, fitness, aquatics programs at michelle.schuett@medicinehatymca.ca 10-9
