Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Shedding light on local issues
Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District Groundsman David Borbon scrapes the deck Jan. 28 at Dye Natatorium, preparing it for new paint.
District Manager Matt Young, speaking to the lifeguards, emphasizes safety measures and explains the emergency action plan.
Maintenance Foreman Mike Walsh instructs the lifeguards in the operation of the new lift for the disabled and wheelchair-bound.
Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District Recreation Supervisor LeAnn Williams is on the far left in red. The lifeguards in the center row between District Manager Matt Young on the right and Williams are (l-r) Chloe Williams, Morgan Stewart, Alan Ayers and Shawnee Villarreal. In the front row, Taylor Carpenter (l) and Shawn Carpenter. Back row (l-r) Andrew Bartels, Cody Brown, Travis Peterson.
Lifeguards prepare to welcome public!
At their orientation session, the group of nine young lifeguards who will be working at Dye Natatorium when it re-opens to the public Feb. 10 got a pep talk from the heart.
"Welcome to the new era of life guarding," Tehachapi Recreation and Park District Manager Matt Young told them. "No other job instils responsibility like life guarding. Your responsibility from day one is public safety.
"You're the person people come to and thank for keeping us safe."
Young was first a lifeguard at age 16. The crop of lifeguards at the Dye Natatorium range in age from 16 to 20. Some are Tehachapi High School students and some are recent graduates. Two of them were hired just before the pool was shut down for much-needed repairs in May of 2013, and they are eager to get to work.
Young tells them to take pride in their housekeeping and to check constantly for hazards.
There's no lifeguard chair. Climbing out of it is too awkward and wastes time, Young said. Instead, roam the deck.
The lifeguards must be able to take control and close the pool in unexpected situations like a change in the opacity of the water.
"If you can't see the bottom of the pool or across the pool, the pool isn't open," said Young, who acknowledged that members of the public may get angry when told what to do. "I will never compromise on public safety. I will support you 100 percent."
