City of Marquette searches for new lifeguards

MARQUETTE — With May on the horizon, the beaches will soon be packed.

However, you can’t go to the beach without a lifeguard. That’s why the city of Marquette is offering a free waterfront lifeguard training class. It’s open to the public, and you need to be at least fifteen to register. Fire Chief Tom Belt says it’s a great summer job.

“It’s a chance to be on the beach, it’s a chance to be in a public service. It is a life saving job, so the person needs to be alert and so I think it’s a pretty fulfilling job especially if you’re able to keep the beaches policed and keep them safe,” Belt said.

The class will be held at the Marquette Senior High School pool on May 9, 10, 16, and 17. If you’re thinking of registering, the skills you’ll learn aren’t for the faint of heart.

“Everything from strong swimming to diving and retrieving objects of weight. It’s a real good confidence course for people who start out as good swimmers and then will emerge from the class as very proficient swimmers. You’ll learn back–boarding techniques for dealing with people, how to operate a kayak, and we also have a jet ski too that we give separate training on for our lifeguards,” added Belt.

If you’re interested in being a lifeguard, it’s not too late to register. Just call the City of Marquette Human Resources offices at 906–225–8584