Lifeguard ranks running thin, Western Pa. officials say

Red bathing suits and matching flotation devices are a classic summer sight, but interest in poolside work is drying up.

Those who run public pools in Southwestern Pennsylvania have mostly managed to find enough lifeguards for this summer, but they say it has become difficult to fill the ranks.

“There's always a cry for lifeguards. I get calls every day saying ‘I need three lifeguards,' ” said Bernie Koliscak, who teaches lifeguarding classes for the Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania in Fayette County.

Teenagers and college students are common candidates for the job, but many have moved on to other things.

Amelia Staub is not a member of that group.

She said she loves her job as a lifeguard and pool coordinator for Veterans' Memorial Pool in Greensburg, where she started working last year while home from Slippery Rock University.

She said she enjoys getting to know the regulars and being part of the community.

“It's just a fun summer job,” she said.

Staub is among a shrinking group of young people who believe lifeguarding is a worthwhile proposition.

“To work for minimum wage — $7 or $8 an hour — it's not worth it for them,” Koliscak said.

Lifeguard training is time-consuming and expensive, and trainees usually pay for it. Courses can cost $200 or more — a sum that could take a part-time worker weeks to earn back, Koliscak said.

Young workers are more likely to look for jobs in restaurants, where they can make money with no up-front costs, said George O'Brien, CEO of the Greensburg YMCA.

“It's been a problem since I've gotten here,” he said.

O'Brien has worked for the YMCA for about three years.

The Greensburg YMCA manages its pools and, since last year, Veterans' Memorial Pool at Lynch Field. The city of Greensburg used to have its own swimming program, and a lack of lifeguards is one of the reasons the YMCA took over management, O'Brien said.

Lifeguards at the Greensburg YMCA start at $8 an hour.

The shortage could be a blessing for the lifeguards who remain, O'Brien said. They're in demand, working more hours and making more money.

But for pool managers, the lack of staff makes things difficult.

Lifeguards may go on vacation or require flexible hours, and it can be difficult to fill the gaps, according to Ryan DeMatteo, assistant manager of Youngwood Area Park & Pool.

“We've had trouble finding lifeguards. Luckily, we had enough come back this year,” he said. “It becomes a bit of a scheduling problem.”

A lack of recruiting is another reason for the declining interest, Koliscak said.

The Red Cross, which handles training for many lifeguards, used to have many small, local offices. Now operations are centralized in Pittsburgh, which makes outreach more difficult, he said.

“The local contact is gone because we are too regionalized,” he said.

A statement from the American Red Cross attributes a national shortage to rising demand, noting that more pools and water parks are opening throughout the country.

Each year, the American Red Cross trains about 325,000 lifeguards.

Some cities, such as Pittsburgh, say they have not been affected by the decline.

Citiparks has had no trouble hiring a full complement of 165 lifeguards for the summer, said Shelley Terlecki, aquatic supervisor.

Citiparks pays its lifeguards $8.82 an hour.

Pittsburgh's lifeguards are passionate about their jobs and communities, which could be one reason the city has had no trouble finding people to work, Terlecki said. They'll often come back for years and will recruit friends and family.

“They take pride in working at their pools,” Terlecki said.

Jacob Tierney is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.