County youth leaders discuss lifeguard shortage

By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - New statewide certification standards for public swimming facilities were discussed at a November 16th meeting co-sponsored by the Sullivan County Youth Bureau and the American Red Cross. The conference -- attended by 40 representatives of community organizations, camps, and other groups which offer public swimming -- was held at the Monticello Neighborhood Facility.

In a crisis this past summer, many regional swimming pools and beaches were forced to close due to an unexpected shortage of certified lifeguards. Now, with the addition of the new regulations, county leaders are working to prevent a worse problem next summer.

According to recreational planner Jane Ostrye, of the Sullivan County Department of Planning and Economic Development, the Red Cross will begin training lifeguard instructors in January, who in turn will train others in advanced lifesaving and emergency water safety.

Specialized training in lifesaving CPR is also required.

"I would like to see a surplus of lifeguards in the county.

Right now, we're only hiring people based on certification, not on whether they're likely to be good employees," Ostrye said.

With an estimated 200 facilities in Sullivan County requiring certified safety supervision (including 135 children's camps), there is presently only one person in the county qualified under the new standards to instruct lifeguards.

County Red Cross directory Sally Popoli said her agency is attempting to identify individuals previously certified as water safety instructors, who are interested in updating their training.

John Pinkney, representative of the New York regional Red Cross, explained that the Red Cross is involved with safety certification as part of its mission to help avert disasters. Describing drownings as the their leading cause of accidental deaths -- after fires and auto accidents -- Pinkney said 40% take place in home pools.

In addition to the changes in lifeguard requirements, the NYS Department of Health is now requiring a certified pool treatment operator to supervise filtration systems in pools over 3000 square feet, as well as those using chlorine gas.

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