Round Rock Aquatics Division Honored For Life Guard Recruiting

ROUND ROCK, TX — The city's aquatics division recently secured a major honor for its efforts to fill a lifeguard shortage sparked by heightened water theme park attendance levels.

The Round Rock Parks and Recreation's Aquatics Division secured the "Best of Aquatics 2017 Award for Lifeguard Management" award at the Association of Aquatics Professionals Conference earlier this month. The award honors the best and most innovative lifeguard management programs nationally, yielding a feature article showcasing the Aquatics Division in the trade publication Aquatics International Magazine.

The prestigious award is in recognition of the local officials' effort to fill a need for additional workers in the wake of potential lifeguard and pool attendant shortages. Those shortcomings were sparked after a renovation that effectively tripled the size of Rock 'N River Water Park and concurrent deficits in lifeguard/pool attendant levels at public pools.

Rather than being paralyzed by panic, Aquatics Division members took the challenge head-on by launching an innovative social media campaign to recruit teenagers and other young adult to fill open positions. Creative promotional videos also were produced for social media channels featuring current municipal lifeguards and water safety instructors.

The award also honors the division's training efforts once new hires are secured to transform the newbies into full-fledged and fully capable bodyguards. Along with regular lifeguard training, the city takes meticulous steps to ensure newly hired guards are ready for real-life scenarios. This is achieved via partnerships with EMS medics and firefighters to create realistic mock emergencies complete with sirens, flashing lights and faux patient intake.

Such realistic dramas yield lifeguards who are at the ready and fully prepared to respond to real-world emergencies, officials noted.

More than 200 seasonal team members are required each summer to staff four pools and one water park in Round Rock. For more information about aquatics jobs in Round Rock, visit roundrocktexas.gov/lifeguards.

The City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded accreditation status from the National Recreation and Parks Society (NRPA), and was awarded the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation, officials noted. The NRPA Gold Medal Award is the highest national honor in the park and recreation industry.

>>> Top image: Pictured from left to right: Nichole Bohner (Aquatics Manager), Michelle Weydert (Aquatics Supervisor), David Buzzell (Asst. Director, Parks and Recreation), Joanne McClain (Editor in Chief, Aquatics International Magazine). Photo courtesy of City of Round Rock