Lifeguard Tryouts for SoWal

back in the day in Cali...we were making $12+ an hour...but we had to be EMT cert. and the work was mainly being a cop! Year round, so I bet you will see college kids mostly treating it as intern time! and No......when they think there is a guard on duty....babysitter does come to mind!

I don't think they are suppose to be babysitters. I'm sure the county is assuming parents will still be watching their own kids. But in todays world, who know.

what if it was a pedophile(?) that applied, how would the hirer's know? OMG, this job is really 'county', does that mean they can't be fired? I'm surprised the county didn't do the redirection game and hire a firm to hire, equip, train and employ the lifeguards, that way if anything goes wrong they can just re-bid the job and with that big stick they keep better control. also gets any lawsuits off the county's back if somebody does drown. just my 2cents.

what if it was a pedophile(?) that applied, how would the hirer's know? OMG, this job is really 'county', does that mean they can't be fired? I'm surprised the county didn't do the redirection game and hire a firm to hire, equip, train and employ the lifeguards, that way if anything goes wrong they can just re-bid the job and with that big stick they keep better control. also gets any lawsuits off the county's back if somebody does drown. just my 2cents.

I think the liability would still be there on the County's part. You are correct that the County would have someone to point fingers toward, but they are still ultimately "responsible."

Firing a lifeguard working for the Fire Dpt is much different and easier than voting Roe out of office or firing a "puppet" working for the County.

There was a bid by someone outside of the County, but from what I heard, they did not even bid based on the guidelines which they were instructed to do. For that matter, nor did the Sheriff's Dept). The Fire Dpt's was the only bid that matched the criteria described.

Lifeguard trainees will be swimming in the chilly Gulf waters at Ed Walline Beach Access next week.
?It?ll take your breath away,? South Walton Fire District Deputy Chief Sean Hughes said about Gulf water temperatures, which have been hovering around 60 degrees.
?They?ll be in there for hours,? he said gleefully.
Potential lifeguards are training to be stationed on South Walton beaches by March 11.
For the past few weeks, SWFD has been holding tryouts for the burgeoning lifeguard program. Out of 27 applicants, approximately 21 will be attending lifeguard academy March 6 to 10, Hughes said.
?We?ll take a look throughout the course to see if they?ll fit,? Hughes said.
Based on the 400-page United States Lifesaving Association manual, trainees will learn beach management, observation techniques and dynamics of a drowning.
?A trained lifeguard sometimes knows before a (victim) even knows they?re in distress,? Hughes said.
The academy is just the beginning of their training. Those who complete their training will continue to have practice throughout the week, Hughes explained.
The South Walton Fire District was awarded the contract to provide South Walton beaches with lifeguards on Jan. 24 by the Board County Commission ers. The county?s intention is to have lifeguards on area beaches in time for spring break.
?It?s been a mad dash here,? Hughes said.