Lifeguard shortage felt across Coachella Valley’s public pools

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) -- As temperatures reach triple digits this week, locals are making a splash in the desert's public pools.

However, a shortage of lifeguards is raising alarms among employees, who say the nationwide problem has hurt aquatics centers for decades.

"We are really encouraging our young people to join the swimming sport so that we've got lifeguards to put it in that chair so that it makes it safer for everybody," Caylie Pasat, manager of the Palm Springs Swim Center, said.

Pasat says the problem is due to many factors including low pay, a lack of free training programs and a lot of people being unable to swim.

The solution may be smaller than you think, and it starts with the kids.

"When we don't have enough emphasis on learning to swim and really pushing our youth to join swim teams and water polo, where else are our kiddos coming from? We need capable swimmers that can fit into these positions," Pasat said.

It's why the city is increasing outreach, upping pay and offering free swim lessons.

"Back in 2023, I know that this center was for having a really hard time staffing. But the City of Palm Springs stepped in, and they increased lifeguard wages, and they increased their net, trying to capture as many interested parties as we could. We've gone and talked to the high school and tried to recruit more youth," Pasat said.

It's an issue Jason Bitzer's Never Off Duty nonprofit is also trying to solve.

"It was founded specifically to give at-risk youth first responder and lifeguard job training. So there's no barrier to entry to fix a problem. There's a national lifeguard shortage. What we want is safe facilities, safe beaches, safe pools. And to do that you need lifeguarding and need proper training," Bitzer said.

Pasat says the center has scheduled events like free CPR training and swim lessons. For more information, visit: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/swim-center

For more information on the Never Off Duty nonprofit, visit: https://neveroffduty.org/