Supply shortages have been ravaging the United States on the watch of the Biden administration.
One of the most infamous shortages to date continues to involve baby formula. Even after the president managed to get some supplies imported from Germany, parents across the nation aren’t even close to being out of the woods.
Unfortunately, baby formula isn’t the last of shortages that Americans will see. Supply chain clog-ups are still causing serious issues with manufacturers getting the things they need; it’s also causing production costs to rise.
Meanwhile, as Americans head into summer, shortages in lifeguards are now here, according to Newsmax.
Fewer Lifeguards on Duty This Year
The American Lifeguard Association has some troubling news that comes right on the heels of the summer season.
About 100,000 public pools could be forced to stay closed this season, due to shortages in available lifeguards. With fewer lifeguards on duty across the United States, there is also likely to be a rise in people who end up drowning.
Due to a lifeguard shortage, Hilliard can’t open all their aquatic facilities. And other central Ohio cities are having the same problem… If you or someone you know is looking for a summer job, #WakeUpCBUS will tell you where to look.
— 10TV (@10TV) May 31, 2022
According to the American Lifeguard Association, fewer people are going for the mandatory certifications they need to become lifeguards. Therefore, officials are looking into how to prevent lifeguard depletion from remaining ongoing in the years to come.
Some officials have cited low interest in the gig, minimal pay, training fees, and the limited season for lifeguard work as factors in the shortages.
However, it also doesn’t help matters that COVID mitigation strategies ended up halting the J1 visas that were often used to get on-duty lifeguards into the United States.
Possible Solutions
Thus far, increasing pay for lifeguards may be one of the best ways to get more people willing to do the job.
According to experts, lifeguards, on average, can anticipate similar salaries as McDonald’s workers or Target employees; at the same time, people working the latter two jobs also don’t have to deal with training or the gravity of having someone’s life in their hands.
Children are short changed again..why wasn’t there a hiring frenzy in the winter to meet the expectations of parents and children? For the 2nd summer in a row, a severe lifeguard shortage in Denver is delaying public pool openings and limiting hours of operation #noleadership
— Dog Mom (@retrievermom) May 31, 2022
Unfortunately, with fewer lifeguards on duty, this means the type of summer that children experience will be different this year.
Many kids look forward to getting in public pools or otherwise partaking in water activities; yet, without having critical precautions like lifeguards in place, the availability of these activities will lessen.
It remains to be seen how long the lifeguard shortage carries out, the extent of its impacts this summer, and whether or not this is a problem that can soon be fixed.
What do you think needs to happen in order for Americans to fix the current lifeguard shortage gripping the nation? Do you believe a lack of lifeguards will lead to fewer fun summers and more potential drownings across the country?
Readers can share their thoughts in the comments area.
