LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Summers might look slightly different from usual. You might want to check that your neighborhood pool is open before taking the kids out for a swim.
According to the American Lifeguard Association, a third of public pools in the US could be forced to close this summer due to a nationwide lack of lifeguards.
Wyatt Werneth, the association’s national spokesman, said to the New York Post, “Ever since lifeguarding started, we’ve had difficulty filling the ranks because it’s a tough job to obtain.”
Felicia Bergan is a mother of three, and though her 11-year-old has been able to swim for a couple of years now, her two youngest cannot get over their fears of the water.
“A lifeguard shortage would definitely concern me enough to change some of my behaviors. As a parent who can’t swim at all, having a lifeguard near each part of the pool gives me piece of mind that there is a nearby person who can help my child if they are in danger," she said.
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