DEEP recruiting lifeguards

State starts search for 2019 summer season

MIDDLETOWN — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is recruiting lifeguards for the coming 2019 summer season at the eight Connecticut state park guarded beaches.

To assist in recruiting, DEEP is offering American Red Cross Lifeguarding classes at no cost to those interested in becoming a lifeguard for the Connecticut state park system this summer.

Participants must successfully complete prerequisites and attend all days of the class to complete the certification. The certification will be retained by DEEP, and can only be used for the purposes of employment as a lifeguard at Connecticut state parks.

“While summer is months away, the process to finding and training lifeguards to protect our beach visitors is well underway. These classes are designed to train people interested in working as a lifeguard at one of our state park beaches, and who may not be in a position to pay for the certification themselves,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen, in a statement. “We hope this new approach will assist our recruiting efforts to have full lifeguard squads at each of our lifeguarded beaches.”

DEEP is offering a Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module class for people who have no current certification. DEEP is also offering a Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Review class for guards who already have a certification but it will expire before next summer. The classes will be held at Woodrow Wilson Middle School: 1 Wilderman’s Way, Middletown.

Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Review Class: Thursday, Dec. 27: 11 a.m. -7 p.m. ; Friday, Dec. 28: 11 a.m. -7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 29: 12:30 p.m. -7 p.m.

Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Class: Thursday, Dec. 27: 11 a.m. -7 p.m ; Friday, Dec. 28: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 29: 12:30 p.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 30: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

To register, contact Sarah Battistini at sarah.battistini@ct.gov or call 860-4185958.

The basic duties of a lifeguard are to monitor activities in swimming areas. preventing accidents and providing assistance to swimmers at state park beaches; to caution swimmers regarding unsafe areas; to maintain order in swimming areas; to rescue swimmers in danger of drowning and administer first aid and/or CPR as required; to participate in physical and rescue skills training; to perform general maintenance tasks and other related duties as required. Hours of work are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week, for a total of 40 hours. Weekends and holidays are mandatory. Minimum age by May 25 must be 16 years for lifeguards, 18 years for lifeguard supervisors.

Lifeguards cover eight of the state parks beaches: Black Rock State Park, Watertown; Burr Pond State Park, Torrington; Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison; Indian Well State Park, Shelton; Rocky Neck State Park, Easy Lyme; Sherwood Island State Park, Westport; Silver Sands State Park, Milford; and Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield. To apply visit: to https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/