All over the nation, public swimming pools are grappling with a lifeguard shortage, it's the reason so many pools in the city of Houston haven't been open.
There are 37 public pools in the city, but only 36 lifeguards, and there should be at least six guards on duty at each pool. Local communities are feeling the impact of this lifeguard shortage. Leroy Maura Jr. is the superintendent for the City of Houston Parks and Recreation, he says prior to the pandemic, they recruited lifeguards in local high schools. But once the pandemic hit, that stopped.
"We were only able to hire 50 people, not because the funds weren’t there, not because the pools weren’t ready, but because people were not applying for the job," Maura said. Only of those 50 employees, 24 returned in 2022. The city is in such desperate need, that they’re offering a $300 signing bonus to anyone who completes lifeguard training and starts working for them, it's the first time they've ever provided such an incentive.
"Lifeguard training costs $180 to $200 for weekend training, and in addition, they have to pay for their own equipment," Stubbins said.