NYC tweaks lifeguard requirements to mitigate national lifeguard shortage

New York City is changing some of its lifeguard requirements to address an ongoing national lifeguard shortage that has affected city beaches and pools for the past few years, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday, just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

The changes include ending a timed component for a training initiative in shallow-water pools and, starting next year, using “tiered” vision requirements to allow more people who need corrective eyewear into the training program.

All other components of the city’s training program, such as in-water and dry-land skills, CPR and first aid provision, will remain the same, so that lifeguards who are currently in the program and meet the modified requirements will be eligible for positions at those pools.

Adams said the tweaks are meant to bring lifeguard requirements more in line with state and industry standards. “There's just too many outdated issues that are just in the way of getting things done,” he said at a press conference outside City Hall.

For shallow-water pools, lifeguard trainees will no longer be required to do a timed 300-yard swim.

All city beaches will open on Saturday, according to city Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. Pools will open on June 27.

Janet Fash, a chief lifeguard who was assigned to Rockaway Beach for more than 40 years before being transferred to a city pool, welcomed the announcement. She said she hoped to return to Rockaway this summer.

“In the ocean you want speed and you want endurance,” Fash said. “And in a pool, you’re not going that distance and you’re right there, and the critical skill is scanning and drowning recognition, and ‘who needs my help?’ and prevention.”