People eagerly awaiting the arrival of the weekend for the season’s first dip in the Barcroft Pool at Callahan Park in Bradford will have to wait at least one more week.
City officials said Wednesday a shortage of lifeguards has forced them to delay the opening of the popular summer attraction.
“The city is experiencing a shortage of lifeguarding staff, which has never been experienced before,” said city administrator Teri Cannon in a brief release.
“We typically have a pool of 15 to 20 kids that are certified,” she explained to The Era. This year, however, they aren’t getting many applicants.
Chip Comilla, director of parks and public works, said, “We normally have eight people (lifeguarding at one time) and that way we can have everything open.”
The pool has a deep end of 13 feet, a diving board, a slide and a slide pool and a splash pad. There are eight lifeguards needed to be in operation — one near the diving board, one at the deep end, one at the line where the floor of the pool changes from about 5 feet to 3 feet, one for the slide pool, one at the bottom of the slide to make sure children are tall enough, another at the top of the slide to make sure people go down sitting upright, one at the spray pad and one at the concession stand.
“We could have 150 to 200 people on a hot day,” Comilla said. “A slow day for us is 50 people. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going with (fewer lifeguards than eight) unless we close something.”
As of Wednesday morning, there were six lifeguards set for the summer swim season.
However, he explained, there are dates in the summer when those people have prior commitments.
“They can only work sporadically,” Cannon said. “It’s very difficult to get the pool scheduled.”
She asked that anyone already certified as a lifeguard and interested in working, contact city hall. And anyone who is interested in becoming certified, the city’s human resources department can help. Contact them at 362-3884 ext. 125.
Lifeguards need to complete a lifeguard course and be certified in AED, CPR and First Aid, and must have security clearances.
Cannon said the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is sponsoring a class this month for lifeguard training. The city’s human resources department has the information about signing up for the class, and about a discounted rate for it.
