Fancy a quick dip in the pool to cool off in the middle of a heat wave?

Suddenly, it's a cold shower: the municipal swimming pool is closed, for lack of a lifeguard.

This is the risk that weighs on many basins, when attendance is in full swing in summer and poses serious security problems.

Throughout France, "there is a lack of at least 5,000 lifeguards in the year," says Axel Lamotte, of the National Federation of Lifeguards (FNMNS).

As explanations, he cites in bulk low wages, the privatization of aquatic centers and training centers, and also the incivility of users, which undermines morale.

The difficulty is the insufficient number of “people entering training”, also notes Jean-François Druon, director of Performeo, a training center for lifeguards in Béthune.

The lifeguards of the 1970s, who arrived in the profession with the "1,000 swimming pools" operation (a national program to build swimming pools to promote learning to swim), are retiring and they must therefore be replaced, explains he.

"Out of 35 hours, the lifeguard does not spend more than two or three hours on his chair"

In a bathing suit, perched on his surveillance chair, the whistle around his neck… the profession also suffers from an erroneous image, according to professionals.

"Out of 35 hours, the lifeguard does not spend more than two or three hours on his chair", emphasizes Jean-François Druon.

The lack of lifeguards is felt in all regions.

Some cities are forced to reduce the opening hours of the pools in the summer.

And this, while high temperatures and holidays attract more visitors to the pools.

This is the case, for example, at the municipal swimming pool of Lambersart, in the Lille suburbs, where a post of lifeguard has been “vacant since February”.

“We are hampered in development, we cannot open on Sunday mornings”, regrets Thomas Hubert, sports assistant for the city.

"We have revised the salary a little upwards, but that means increasing the salaries of those who are already in office," he adds.

Roxana Maracineanu and the diploma reform

In this context of missing staff, “we are forced to lower the prerequisites” for obtaining the lifeguard diploma “so much the level (of swimming) has deteriorated”, deplores Axel Lamotte.

“Lives are at stake,” reminds the head of the Federation of Lifeguards, emphasizing the role of the profession in learning to swim.

In France, accidental drownings are responsible for a thousand deaths each year (including around 400 in summer), which makes it the leading cause of death by accident in everyday life among people under 25, recalls Public Health. France.

But subjecting the candidates to demanding and costly tests, with training estimated at some 5,000 euros, can curb goodwill, believes Roxana Maracineanu, former Minister of Sports and swimming champion.

Swimming 800 meters in less than 16 minutes, as required by the diploma, "it's far too high a level to teach swimming to children," she points out.

For the former lifeguard, “the pool is there, we know where to go to find it”.

It thus proposes to pass the water rescue certificate to all members of water sports federations.

The certificate is not enough to provide swimming lessons, as only a lifeguard can do.

But Roxana Maracineanu thinks that this measure can create vocations and refocus the profession towards surveillance, rescue and learning.

“The job of lifeguard has sometimes become that of pool leader,” she regrets.

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