Hannibal Parks & Recreation officials are seeking lifeguards for the summer season and have made a change to make sure the employees are “rescue ready.”
The department switched from Red Cross to StarGuard ELITE training. Applications for jobs at the Ronny Ferrel Hannibal Aquatic Center are now open and those employees will undergo the new training. Applications are available on www.hannibalparks.org and are due March 14.
Emily Hultgren, director of the aquatic center, said StarGuard ELITE will allow more in-house training and internal safety audits at the pool.
The city of Hannibal’s insurance company, Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency, encouraged the move. StarGuard ELITE requires training every year, instead of every two years.
As a StarGuard ELITE instructor, Hultgren passed written and skills tests to demonstrate lifesaving expertise. The certification allows her to teach Lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, Basic First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens and Emergency Oxygen.
As the aquatics director, she will train at least 30 lifeguards in lifeguarding skills, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator and first aid implementation. She will also train front desk/concession staff members, along with Parks & Recreation staff and maintenance employees first aid, CPR and AED instruction.
Hultgren also earned the National Parks & Recreation certification as an Aquatic Facility Operator.
The Ronny Ferrel Hannibal Aquatic Center opens May 31.