Waco YMCA Prepares for Summer Crowds as Temperatures Rise
With swimming pools among the most popular ways to cool off, the YMCA says it's taking extra steps to accommodate large crowds safely.
'We're trying to make sure that we have the capacity to take as many people as we can,' said Chris Bradford, Associate Executive Director of the Waco YMCA. 'We do have guards on all of our pools, and we keep a ratio that we have to maintain.'
While the water offers relief from the heat, YMCA officials are reminding visitors to take safety seriously, especially first-timers.
'Acquaint yourself with the rules,' Bradford said. 'Most of the time, nine times out of ten, drowning happens to a first-time visitor of a swimming pool or facility. Make sure you know where you can and can't go.'
Bradford also recommends the U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for those who cannot swim.
Lifeguards like Noah Johnson say they are also stepping up efforts ahead of the busy season.
'We are a team, so we help each other out. We're always communicating with walkies and we always have eyes on the water,' Johnson said. 'Then based on the amount of people, we have more lifeguards in the water, and that does alleviate a lot of the stress.'
Johnson admits the job can be stressful, but said staying calm is essential.
'Fear is transferable,' he said. 'If I'm panicking and having a hard time, I think that's going to make it a lot worse. So even though I am kind of a little stressed out, I do try to keep my composure.'
With summer just around the corner, YMCA officials claim they are ready to keep swimmers safe and cool.
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