Swimmers Take Winter Break To Train For Tulsa Lifeguard Jobs

Tulsa leaders wonder if they'll have enough lifeguards for city swimming pools when they open Memorial Day weekend. 

We're guessing that's one of the last things on your mind this holiday season, but lifeguards are training in December. Carmon Brashier is conducting lifeguard certification classes at the Hutcherson Family YMCA.

"It's my dream job," she said. "I love aquatics. I love pools."

Carmon is the Aquatics and Adult Sports Specialist for the City of Tulsa. She says December is the perfect time to train or re-certify lifeguards. Schools and colleges are on a break. 

There are five first time trainees and seven lifeguards working for re-certification. They have to do that every two years.  One of the newbies is Lydia Cutter. A Rogers High School sophomore, she comes from a family of lifeguards.

"My mom, my dad and all three of my brothers," she said. "From the time I was little, I've always wanted to be a lifeguard."

Now she's old enough to be certified so here she is. The training started on Friday and ran through the weekend.

Lydia said probably the hardest thing to learn was the spinal saves, or backboarding.

Because with severely injured swimmers there is just no margin for error - you have to get it right the first time.     Lydia also said she was freezing, which was my cue to shut up and let her get back in the water.

So, here's the deal, Carmon says the training's going well, and when the pools open there will be enough lifeguards.

So it's a Merry Christmas and a happy Memorial Day.