| It's Memorial Day today and I'm sitting at our pool | | | | want to lifeguard at a Nassau County beach, I |
| looking around at the new group of lifeguards who | | | | understand that the requirements for becoming a |
| watch the pool. The weather is great today and the | | | | lifeguard are even more rigorous than for a pool. |
| pool is busier than usual because of the wonderful | | | | Regardless of the qualifications and credentials of |
| weather. The kids are off from school and their | | | | each lifeguard at your pool, it is still my opinion, that |
| friends are all in the pool having fun. | | | | you, the parent, have an obligation to watch your |
| How many times have you seen parents view the | | | | own child at the pool. Why do I say this? Because |
| pool as a chance to socialize and not pay attention to | | | | the lifeguards get distracted during the day. Especially |
| their kids in the pool? I see it constantly. Just look | | | | when it gets busy. I have seen many instances |
| around at how many young children are in the pool. | | | | where the lifeguard was looking elsewhere and a child |
| Look to see if you can match up those parents in | | | | was in distress and having difficulty swimming. By the |
| the shallow end with each child in the pool. Invariably, | | | | time the lifeguard recognized the problem, a parent |
| there will be parents sitting on a lounge chair reading | | | | jumped in to save the child. |
| or chatting away, thinking that the lifeguards will be | | | | Now, don't get me wrong- I think lifeguards do a |
| there to watch their kids for them if the worst | | | | great job. In fact, my eldest son is going to be a |
| should happen. | | | | lifeguard this summer. However, as a parent, you can |
| Let's take a look at the lifeguards. These are typically | | | | never entrust the safety of your child to someone |
| young kids, some no more than teenagers. | | | | who has a responsibility to oversee and protect |
| Depending on where you live, Brooklyn, Bronx, | | | | many people in a pool. I believe that you must be |
| Queens, New York City, or Staten Island, lifeguards | | | | ever-vigilant at poolside. Put aside your desire to |
| are required to take certain lifeguarding classes with a | | | | socially interact, or do so while keeping a direct and |
| specified amount of time required for lifesaving. If | | | | close view of your child. Doing so, in my opinion, will |
| they pass the final test, then they are qualified to | | | | minimize the risk of something bad happening while |
| lifeguard anywhere in the five boroughs of New York | | | | your child is swimming. Remember, lifeguards are not |
| for a period of three years. Interestingly, in Nassau | | | | babysitters for your child in the pool. They react to |
| County, a lifeguard who takes the lifeguarding class | | | | people in distress. They do not take a pro-active role. |
| must then take an additional and more rigorous | | | | It is the parent's job to be pro-active in watching |
| lifeguarding exam to become qualified to be certified | | | | their child. |
| as a lifeguard in Nassau County. In addition, if you | | | | |