The Last Word Guest columnist
View from the
Lifeguard Stand By Laurie Herzing
H
ave you ever wondered what it would be like to be a lifeguard? The job is both fun and serious; it’s fun watching kids laughing and having a great time at the pool but serious because we are always on the ready to help a swimmer in trouble. This year, we are ready for the battle of the cicadas, but every summer has its own noteworthy stories and experiences for the lifeguard crew. During the summer, all lifeguards must attend a weekly in-service training to help keep up on their skills. Sometimes we have a little fun by participating in relay races. One memorable relay was down to two male lifeguard finalists swimming toward the finish line — and let me tell you, some lifeguards are very competitive. One of the lifeguards was so competitive that, at the end of the race, he wouldn’t get out of the pool. He just stayed very close to the wall. Come to find out, the guard swam so fast and wanted to win so badly that he swam right out of his trunks. Sure enough, when I looked, his trunks were in the middle of the lap lane, sunk at the bottom of the pool. After that the male lifeguards made sure they tied their trunks on securely before every race. One year, we had a lesson in how lifeguard equipment can be a challenge. Lifeguards must wear a rescue tube, a little red tube placed on their laps with the strap crossed over the shoulder like a seat belt. When a guard has to make a rescue, this tube can hold up to 500 pounds. One summer a lifeguard was ready for a rescue. He stood up and went to jump off the stand but all of a sudden found himself dangling above the water. The strap of his rescue tube was caught on a hook of the lifeguard stand, and he was left dangling until another guard helped him down. Luckily, all ended without casualty, except for one nasty mark from the tube across the unfortunate lifeguard’s chest. One of the craziest events lifeguards have to deal with at the pool is the annual Hot Dippity Dog event. I never thought I would see 255 dogs in Memorial Pool as we did in 2010. Some dogs were swimming after toys, going down the water slides and even surfing on kick boards. Some even came dressed in their bikinis. I believe the guards were a little concerned that they might have to give CPR to a dog, but they were all up for the challenge. I guess you can say that the pool has gone to the dogs. Who knows what will happen at the pool in the future? Being a lifeguard is a very rewarding job. Good days or challenging ones, lifeguards have to roll with the punches and are always ready for the next challenge that lies ahead. n Overseeing the city pools and lifeguard training each summer, Laurie Herzing is the recreation program supervisor for Jefferson City Parks and Recreation.
98 | July/August 2011