VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The busy beach season is almost here and Volusia County is looking to add more lifeguards to have eyes on the crowds and water.
The county said it would like to hire about 150 more part-time lifeguards.
“We have 160 returning guards, but we need more. The more guards, the better,” said Tammy Malphurs, interim director for Volusia Beach Safety.
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Malphurs said to get more recruits, they’re having to go above and beyond what they’ve done in the past.
“There’s a national lifeguard shortage and we have felt the effects of that, unfortunately,” she said. “We have gone to almost every high school in Volusia County for recruiting events and career fairs and we’ve really stepped up our efforts there in the schools.”
This year, starting pay is at $17 an hour, returning guards are getting higher incentives and new hires can make over $1,700 in bonuses.
“The bonuses go to the lifeguards that work a certain amount of holidays and weekends,” Malphurs said.
She said they have 48 recruits right now who will hopefully pass the final tests to become lifeguards, adding they will have a third recruit class in June.
She said since ramping up recruiting, tryout numbers are higher than last year, but it’s still tough getting the younger generations in the door.
“A lot of times they don’t want to be away from their cellphones. It’s very physically demanding. We’re seeing less and less of these younger kids coming out and wanting to be physical and be outdoors,” she said.
Those already working the beach don’t mind, though.
“The day flies by for me without my phone! It’s so nice to be in this environment instead of being in a warehouse or something. The environment makes the job so much better,” said lifeguard Daniel McGuire, who’s heading into his third year as a lifeguard.
He said getting paid to work out, be at the beach and save lives outweighs everything else.
“You’re locked in the entire day. You’re really focused, it’s super fulfilling,” he said. “Being the person that’s there on someone’s worst day and you can be the person who makes it a better day for them.”
You can find information on the job and how to try out by clicking here.
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