COLUMBUS, Ohio — Take a splash in the pool to cool off from the heat.

What You Need To Know

  • The Grandview Heights pool is one of dozens of pools open today and crowded with families trying to stay cool in 90 degree heat

  • The central Ohio community is one of the city's not experiencing a lifeguard shortage

  • SwimSafe Pool Management partners with Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation and is in charge of hiring all of the lifeguards

Families are running to their nearest pool to cool off during a stretch when we’re expected to flirt with record-high temperatures for several straight days.

“Feels like pools are back,” said the Columbus general manager of SwimSafe Pool Management, Jacob Hooker. 

With feel-like temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees in most parts of the state, it seems like pools are necessary.

“This week, the pools are going to be extremely busy. We were already busy yesterday, and it was even a little cooler. We should see this place at least 50% full, if not a little higher, but it’s going to be going to be busy,” said the director of Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation, Mike Patterson. 

Lifeguards are necessary for people to enjoy pools safely. Last year, communities across the state shut down some of their pools because of a lifeguard shortage. But according to Jacob Hooker with SwimSafe Pool Management in Columbus, they haven’t experienced any lifeguard hiring issues this year.

“It was actually our best summer for hiring since probably 2020. We had a lot of interest working with the city, and we are able to offer very competitive pay rates. So that’s helped us bridge that gap a bit,” said Hooker. 

SwimSafe partners with Grandview Heights parks and recreation. They are in charge of hiring and training the lifeguards to ensure visitors and lifeguards alike are safe, especially this week.

“We’ve looked at our staffing levels. We’ve added a staff member for this week. So we are definitely anticipating a big uptick since it’s been a bit of a softer start to the summer this year weather wise,” said Hooker. 

Keeping the community cool one pool and lifeguard at a time.