In recent years, a lifeguard shortage has forced about a third of the nation’s public pools to close or open sporadically, according to the American Lifeguard Association .
The United States has more than 300,000 public swimming pools. One of those pools can be found on Sanibel Island.
“You know, ideally, we would love to be able to expand our pool hours, but, due to a lack of lifeguards, really, right now, that is really limiting,” explained Andrea Miller, the recreation director for the city of Sanibel.
The Sanibel Recreation Center’s pool attracts neighbors from all over.
“It's always nice when the families come, you know, the parents, grandparents, grandchildren, children,” said Brian Krakowski. He keeps a watchful eye on the water at the rec center’s pool as a lifeguard. “You always have to keep your eyes peeled.”
He serves his community now decades after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard as a helicopter rescue swimmer and a state trooper in Michigan where he worked on the dive team. Krakowski has come out of retirement to continue the mission of keeping people safe here on the Gulf Coast. “They're in a safe environment. We're here. You know that. That makes my day,” Krakowski added.
He’s not the only retiree keeping watch over this water.
“My whole work life, I've been in sort of a people oriented business,” shared retired police chief, Chris Menzel. “I had done that actually a total of 28 years,” Menzel added. He spent those 28 years keeping people safe in New York. Now, he’s putting that passion for helping the community to good use here on the Gulf Coast.
“We have our equipment, and we're ready for whatever we'll have,” Menzel explained.
They’re filling a gap that public pools across the country are facing when it comes to lifeguard staffing.
“Here we are not any different than anywhere else, I think, in the nation,” Miller explained. She said she’s grateful for the retirees who have come aboard to help keep the pool safe. “I think what they bring to the table and their experience and their awareness, from their previous careers, it's something that priceless.”
I checked with the Florida Department of Health. Florida ranked fourth in the U.S. for unintentional drowning deaths among all ages in 2021. Lifeguards, like Rob Knight, can help prevent those deaths from happening.
“Sanibel has had its struggle to hire lifeguards and keep them on,” Knight said. He’s a swim coach who also keeps people safe at the pool. He said working on a barrier island with one way off and one way on can make recruiting difficult due to the traffic. “I have about a 15 minute commute to the causeway. Then, from there, it just depends on traffic,” Knight explained.
With experience going back to his teenage years, it’s a job Knight is committed to as the rec center works to recruit even more guards for the summer and beyond.
“If you're a lifeguard here on Sanibel, we do pay for all of your training. We cover your tolls. We offer a competitive hourly wage,” Miller added. Wages start at $17.95 an hour with an additional $0.25 an hour for relevant certifications.
For guards like Krakowski, it’s not so much about the money. “I like swimming. That's my favorite form of working out. I used to run a lot when I was younger, but now, you know, I'm no spring chicken,” Krakowski concluded.
To be a lifeguard on Sanibel, you have to be at least 17. You’ll also have to get Red Cross lifeguarding certification. CPR and first aid professional rescuer certification are also required. Start the application process here.