July 23, 2012
Monday

I am responding to Ms. Teal's question about having too many lifeguards at the pool. She must have come to the old Smithers Pool when the newly-hired lifeguards were training side-by-side with the experienced lifeguards. At the Smithers Pool, they usually had 3-4 guards for both pools combined.

As an aside, I've been to several pools throughout Southeast Alaska, and we have the best lifeguards I've seen. In other towns, I've seen guards fall asleep or the single guard leave the pool desk with 40+ children in the pool. That DOES NOT happen in Ketchikan.

The thing is, that it's impossible to predict when 100+ people will descend on the pool, or if there will be a birthday party for a three-year-old. Those are the days the pool needs several guards, and they earn every penny they make when they have to jump in the pool multiple times.

The new pool will need more guards because of all the water toys, the water slides, and the vortex. I appreciate the Ketchikan Borough's commitment to having qualified and trained lifeguards at our Aquatic facility.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gadsey
Ketchikan, AK

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