Chris Hayes and Megan Mueller
15 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS – After reporting a shortage of lifeguards in recent years, it turns out there will be a surplus of lifeguards this summer camp season.
The effects of a lack of lifeguards are well known, as they were linked to the drowning of 6-year-old TJ Mister at a summer camp in 2022. He died at the Kennedy Rec Center in St. Louis County. Mister's death came after a series of safety failures at the pool, including inadequate staffing as well as equipment failure.
That's where Midwest Pool Management comes in. The company is one of the area's leading pool monitoring companies and has been hired by St. Louis County to prevent further tragedies.
FOX 2 met with company officials at the Crestwood pool as they prepared for next weekend's opening.
“We are very confident and excited about this summer,” said owner Chrissy Withrow.
Withrow's company monitors more than 15 government pools in the St. Louis area and is ready to respond to anything.
“That's how we look at our staff, our first responders. They go through rigorous lifeguard training and have consistent on-duty ongoing training,” she said.
While there have been reports of challenges hiring lifeguards in recent years, Withrow says there is now a surplus.
“We are in a really great position,” she said. “We are staffing all of our facilities to open full-time. Some people are on waiting lists in some areas of town.”
Withrow credits it all to a strong social media presence and referrals from within her staff. Her lifeguard, Anina Montroy, answered the phone.
“We have so many guards this year. We're really excited because we're going to build a really good community here,” she told FOX 2.
When Montroy first started working four years ago, she was surprised to immediately find herself helping someone.
“It wasn't obvious that he had drowned,” she said. “It happens very quickly and looks a lot different than other people. My son was joking, 'Dad, it's okay, wake up.' And then I saw a sign and I was like, he's not okay. I realized that.”
She credits the company's owner, Mr. Withrow, with his in-depth understanding of training, as she began her career as a lifeguard.
