Miami lifeguards benefit from local training program
MIAMI, Okla. — The City of Miami is taking new measures to make sure lifeguards are properly trained in the place where they’ll be spending their summer.
“It’s good to really be able to test out like our techniques and stuff in like the water will actually be like saving people in,” said Ava Leach, Miami pool lifeguard in training.
Ava Leach is a lifeguard in training for the Miami Municipal Pool.
She and six other trainees are on a mission to get their certification before the pool opens.
In the past, Miami lifeguards would have to train in a different state or in a smaller pool.
“So, it’s just like really good to know what to expect,” said Leach.
Zeb Mingori, the city of Miami parks and cemetery manager, went to Arkansas to become certified in lifeguard training.
He says training somewhere else made it harder for lifeguards, as the Miami pool is different.
“It’s its own monster. It really is and like I said, if you could talk to some of our new guards coming in, it was eye opening for them,” said Zeb Mingori, city of Miami parks and cemetery manager.
Previously training would cost an incoming lifeguard $200 out of pocket.
But now that it’s done in house, it’s saving some money.
“200 dollars compared to $46, it’s a big difference. So yeah, we’re providing quite a service for them,” said Mingori.
Not only will lifeguards be able to learn and practice CPR but the certification will last for two years.
“If they choose to work for us, great. Next year they want to go work for another pool, they can take that certification with them,” said Mingori.
As for Leach, she says she has high hopes for what’s in store.
“Those are things that are useful, not only like at a pool, but just like anywhere. It’s good to know. And so I’ve already learned so much and I’m just starting and I just can’t wait to learn more,” said Leach.
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