Junior multicultural human services major Judas Foster is a lifeguard here at Elizabethtown College’s recently renovated Alumni Pool. Foster had previously worked as a lifeguard during the summer before coming to Etown. As the semester was starting, they were looking for an on-campus job.
“It was the first semester in my first year, you know, Covid-college, and everything was a little wonky,” Foster said. They heard about the position and decided to take on a job that was familiar to them, since Covid made their first year a bit strange.
When asked what they didn’t particularly like about their job, they had no complaints.
“It’s pretty quiet, only people who know how to swim sign up from the community, and it’s mostly swim team members from the students. So while we’re still guarding, it isn’t as chaotic as a public pool in the middle of a heatwave in August,” Foster said.
During their shift, Foster and their shift partner are responsible for opening up the pool, standing guard as visitors do their laps and then closing up the pool at the end of the day. This may sound easy, but lifeguards must always be ready to jump in and save someone at all times. Lifeguards must be CPR and AED certified, as well as being trained in first aid. Lifeguards must stay up to date with their certifications, some of which need to be redone every year.
Certification requires lifeguards to take a lot of classes and drills in order to learn the necessary skills, as well as being required to take a written and a practical test. During the practical test, lifeguards must perform CPR on a volunteer. When recertifying, lifeguards must take the written and practical test again.
The Alumni Pool was completed in the mid-1960’s and given a major upgrade in 2007. The pool is home to both the men’s and women’s swimming teams for the college. The pool is a 25 yard, six-lane racing pool. It also includes updated locker rooms, lane lines and in 2018 a brand new Colorado Timing System. The pool also received upgrades in 2020 to increase the quality of the water without increasing the chemical usage.
Alumni Pool is located just off the hallway connecting to the BSC and is just steps away from Thompson Gymnasium. When offered, open swim times are available for campus and community members throughout the school year and summer. For more information, visit the Alumni Pool’s webpage. https://etownbluejays.com/facilities/alumni-pool/8
