HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With stay-at-home orders in place, it is still a question as to when and how many activities will be available for youth and adults this summer when it comes to recreation.
Ted Nelson with Salt City Splash says they are working to get staff and lifeguards together for the upcoming season even though many training facilities are unavailable during the pandemic.
“We’ve been talking with them and we, of course, we know they’re currently shut down,” Nelson said. “We’re all looking anxiously forward about the time in which we get a couple of restrictions taken off.”
Nelson says the Red Cross is working to make sure potential lifeguards can at least get the classroom work done in advance.
"They’re doing what they call 'blended learning' in which you sign up for a class and you do all online that you can,” Nelson said. “Then all we have to do is wait for the in-person water skills.”
The in-pool training can be done over a weekend and the Splash has been in contact with area pools to get the necessary training in. So far, Nelson says they have a good start to get a full complement of lifeguards for the season.
“We’re just under 50% of our staff from last year returning and the ones who aren’t are for various reasons,” Nelson noted. “And we’re looking at a pretty good number of applicants, but we could always use more.”
Nelson says they need about 40 lifeguards for the summer and have about 18 potential applicants on file at the moment.
If you would like to get more information on becoming a lifeguard, call Nelson at 620-662-3367 or email Nelson at [email protected]. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old.
While the exact date is still fluid, Nelson says plans are to open May 23.