City launches lifeguard recruitment program

“Lifeguards are Philly’s hometown heroes.”

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell showed her appreciation for the city’s lifeguards while recently announcing open recruitment and training to fill the 400 lifeguard positions necessary to open all municipal pools this summer. The lifeguard position pays $15.25 to $17.24 an hour and candidates do not need to reside within the city to work as a lifeguard at a city pool.

“From teens and college students to retirees and school teachers, lifeguards come from all walks of life but have one thing in common – a passion for our city and giving our kids the safe summer fun they so deserve,” she said Ott Lovell.

Free training and swim lessons are available to anyone interested in building the swimming skills necessary to get certified to work as a lifeguard this summer. Red Cross certification classes are free for anyone ages 16-24 who commits to working at a city pool. The Red Cross lifeguard certification course fee is $110 for all other candidates.

The first step for interested candidates is to brush up on swimming skills and prepare for the lifeguard screening, which includes:

• Swimming 300 meters nonstop.
• Treading water for two minutes.
• Retrieving a 10-lb brick from the bottom of the deep end.

The screening test is required for all new and returning lifeguards. Certified candidates who pass the screening test will be ready to complete the job application and go to work this summer. New lifeguard candidates who pass the screening test will be enrolled in a Red Cross certification course. Red Cross certification lasts for two years, and is a basic requirement of most lifeguarding jobs.

Candidates can book their training or screening test by visiting phila.gov/lifeguard. Candidates with questions can contact PPR Aquatics at lifeguard@phila.gov.