QUESTION
What measures is the Parks Department taking to extend lifeguard testing beyond February to accommodate student schedules?
3:38:20
·
3 min
The Parks Department is exploring accelerated lifeguard training programs to allow for later qualification testing beyond February and March to better accommodate students' schedules.
- A 16-week training program is required after passing the initial qualification test.
- The department extended the qualification time limit from 35 to 45 seconds to enable more to qualify.
- An accelerated training program was piloted last year and is being tried again to potentially add 30 more lifeguards from those who qualified earlier.
- Expanding testing beyond February would require additional staffing and resources for training.
Shekar Krishnan
3:38:20
But wasn't the last qualifying test in February?
Sue Donoghue
3:38:23
Yep.
3:38:23
It was.
Shekar Krishnan
3:38:24
So has the parks department given any consideration to in early March?
Sue Donoghue
3:38:30
Early March.
Shekar Krishnan
3:38:30
Has the parks department given any consideration to expanding its testing into later months because it seems to me, especially if you're hiring students in college, high school, as they front what they wanna do over the summer, it will take past February early March.
3:38:46
And it seems to me that the box department should be doing in every way possible, all it can to maximize opportunities available for lifeguards and for hiring.
3:38:55
Has the Parks department given thought to offering testing beyond February into later months into the spring into into later spring?
Sue Donoghue
3:39:05
Yes.
3:39:05
Absolutely.
3:39:06
And I'll let my 1st step of the day jump in here.
3:39:09
Just want to offer the reminder that the reason why we have to get this certification done early is we have to allow a good amount of time for training.
3:39:17
This is a very difficult test to pass.
3:39:20
It's a 16 week training program.
3:39:22
So in order to have lifeguards ready to go for this week, which we need, And for when our pool is open in late June, we have to make sure there's enough time for training.
3:39:32
But the first deputy has worked implement a program where we could do a faster training process that she'll discuss.
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa
3:39:41
Yes.
3:39:42
So it's wonderful.
3:39:43
I mean, what we try to do in terms of the qualifiers and the reason why we had it have it from December 2nd to March 1st is is actually the opportunity for these students or college students that come in for the holidays and things that have to come and test and qualify to be able to give them an opportunity to be able to come to the classes.
3:40:01
And as the commissioner mentioned, you know, the it's a very stringent we do use the Red Cross manual, but it's also implemented during the curriculum that we have, and it's a very intense curriculum.
3:40:13
I mean, we're talking about the city of New York.
3:40:15
It does have the 14 miles of beaches.
3:40:17
So we wanna make sure that these particular lifeguards are ready to be able to to exercise their job at at our beaches and pools.
3:40:24
So 16 weeks does give them, as the commissioner mentioned, give them the opportunity to be able to condition.
3:40:30
So even though we extended these instead of 35 seconds to 45 seconds for the qualifiers, they still have to be able to be consistent because now when you have the qualifiers and you also have to train, And at the end of at the end of it all, you have to do the CPR test, and then you have to do an exam, and then you have to do an extensive you know, exam to be able to retrieve something in the water as if it was a a person.
3:40:55
So it is it is quite complicated.
3:40:57
We're looking at many ways and as the commissioner, this administration has allowed us to be able to do is to be able to do some modifications, to be able to allow more people to be to qualify for this the lifeguard training program.
3:41:12
Oh, so when we talk about x the the accelerated aspect of it, which we were trying.
3:41:17
We tried something last year.
3:41:19
We're trying something else this year where we're inviting some of the individuals that did qualify during those 3 months to be able to come and now do more of an accelerated portion of it to be able to come back so that hopefully it'll generate maybe hopefully another 30 potentially lifeguards?
Shekar Krishnan
3:41:36
Well, I would say I look forward to to more conversations with you all to find ways to expand qualifying testing beyond February.
3:41:45
There are a lot of swim groups across the city who are ready to help in this effort, who have people they've trained as well who would definitely participate in later tests, and and I think it's a good idea.
3:41:56
And I hope that We can continue to work towards that goal.
3:41:59
It does strike me that to do so.