Aquatic Center jobs plentiful

By Justin Combs, Staff Writer

OCCC offers students and the general public several opportunities for employment. Positions for lifeguards and water safety instructors are always available.

James Hensley, Aquatic and Safety Training specialist, said there are ample opportunities for employment with all the swim meets and other activities ongoing in the Aquatic Center.

“We have employees always transferring to other schools or in the summer going to work at outdoor facilities,” Hensley said.

Hensley said most hiring occurs at the beginning of each semester.

Lifeguards must be able to handle emergencies that require life saving skills.

OCCC is a state run facility so applicants must be at least 16-years-old. “You have to be a certified lifeguard through either the American Red Cross, the YMCA or another nationally recognized organization,” Hensley said.

Tracy Lister, biology major, is a lifeguard in the Aquatic Center. Lister got his Red Cross certification at OCCC.

“There’s a full lifeguarding class you can take at the college through the Red Cross,” Lister said.

“I’ve been a lifeguard here for over three years,” Lister said. “It’s given me a lot of management experienc,everyone’s encouraged to step up and be a leader. This is the only job I’ve ever had and it’s provided me with a lot of work experience.”

CPR, First Aid and Automated External Difibulator (AED) certifications are required to prevent and respond to life threatening emergencies that may occur.

These certifications are not the only things required,lifeguards must pass a physical test as well, to prove they are capable of retrieving a troubled swimmer from the pool.

“They have to be able to pass a skills test,” Hensley said.

“You must be able to go to the bottom of our diving well, which is 18-and-a-half feet deep, and retrieve a 10-pound object and bring it back to the surface.”

Kateri Guyer, graphic communications major, is a lifeguard and water safety instructor.

Guyer attained both certifications while being a junior lifeguard at the Mustang Community Center pool from an instructor who is a certified trainer by the Red Cross.

“Lifeguards are trained to watch the water, and to be able to get in and get out of the water,” Guyer said.

“A water safety instructor is someone who is trained to teach someone how to swim and the basics of the stroke to keep themselves afloat.”

“I like kids and it’s fun to interact with the kids and see them grow into it because they have to go through certain levels,” she said about the little thrills she has found through her experience.

The starting pay for lifeguards is $8 an hour. Volunteers are always needed as well.

The Aquatic Center will be hosting the Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships Feb. 24 through the 28.

Volunteer positions are still available to assist as timers, runners and hospitality help.

Applications and information on jobs and volunteer work are available in the Recreation and Fitness office.

Staff Writer Justin Combs can be reached at StaffWriter2@occc.edu.