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Show 18 August 26, 1999 wiiTuner by Steven R. Ford Hilltop Times staff Even though the summer is winding to a close and many swimmers will be heading back to school, Hill AFB lifeguards will continue to be on duty, watching over the lives of Hess Fitness Center patrons. "It's one of the best jobs in town for lifeguards," current lifeguard Heidi Smith said. For those who think the lifeguards are just a formality, there are families on base who would disagree. One particular family at a pool party at the outdoor pool near the Enlisted Club had an inflatold son thought he able dolphin that their could ride. But the dolphin was too far out for the V 1 ! ar little boy to reach, and he slipped off the deck , into the water, disappearing under the dolphin. Ali Hales, 17, on duty with Smith at the party, turned and noticed the toddler under the dolphin and immediately jumped in to save the child, pulling him up above the water and handing him to a pair of very Hn; 1 f - fX.jsij&st.Si''.- ti grateful parents. "She just turned around and saw the little kid under the dolphin," Smith remembered. "She didn't even grab her rescue tube, just went in the water and picked him up. It was a cool save." "They were just so relieved that there was a lifeguard on duty that actually paid attention to the water," Hales said. At another pool party, lifeguard Josh Dukes responded when one boy jumped off the deck on top of another, injuring the second boy. Dukes braced the neck of the injured boy and called 911. When the emergency crews arrived, it turned out that the boy was all right, just shaken up. 'The boy was fn:e," said Hess Fitness Center aquatics manager Howard L. Howard. "It scared him bf" more than anything." At the beginning of each year, lifeguards apply to the Civilian Personnel Division from all over the surrounding area. In order to be qualified by Hill's or older standards, applicants must be with verification of their lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor certifications. Personnel then begins to Photo by Steven R. Ford screen out the applicants, first by verifying their Hill lifeguards, Heidi Smith, in the chair, and Ali Hales keep a qualifications and certifications and then with a watchful eye on swimmers at Pool 3, west of the base clinic. thorough background check. Then it's up to Howard and some personal inter- standards pretty high, but, eventually, he composes views. He says he looks for availability, experience his core of lifeguards. and confirmed qualifications. Some candidates just "They're all good kids," Howard said of his curdon't pass muster. Howard admits that he sets his rent crew. "They're all qualified." " . braces...the Confidence builder , pools about three times Friday & a her children. "I feel very confident about their ability," Lewis said. "They do a great job, and they're great with the kids." In addition to their duties watching over swimmers, the Hill lifeguards are part of other aquatics programs. Lifeguards will often teach deep and shallow water aerobics and the swimming classes. "Watching over the swimmers, teaching water aerobics, teaching kids to swim just every little bit that you do is helpful," Smith said. Pool 2, near the Enlisted Club, has already closed for the year, and Pool 3, west of the Hill Clinic will be closing around Labor Day. The Hess Center's indoor pool remains open during the fall and win-- ; ter months. For more information on the pool hours " and closing dates, contact Howard at Ext. . Saturday tetfr rose mr AUGUST 1 SPECIAL ID $19.99 (801) 773-840- 0 ' w tliltsii 4 if Hit 1 V 'pg .W.Vv,.ll)! A beautiful smile is a confidence builder. 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(sol) 2735 Washington Blvd. ugden, Utah Tkf"1 AT y o ' Arranged Special Factory Purchase Direct From o mJ 2 Dozen Roses AUGUST 27th and 28th ? week, says that she feels comfortable with the lifeguards watching over 2 Day Truckload Sale! for Military Family Members wji3iy.w..w.jj).yi 7 X The lifeguards are understandably strong swimmers, and many have competed in high school on their respective teams. Sean Snorgrass, 23, now a lifeguard-in- g senior at Weber State and a seven-yea- r and for swam backstroke veteran, freestyle a Clearfield High. Hales, senior at Layton High School is a district record holder in the 100 freestyle, ,an event she hopes will lead to a college scholarship. Jenny Allen, 17, was part of the 400 freestyle relay team that set a Fremont High School record. Because of the nature of their occupation, the Hill crew is very serious about what they do. They don't take their responsibilities lightly. Snorgrass says that lifeguards are on duty 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year, whether on dry land or near a body of water. He notes that lifeguards may be the only people in the vicinity trained in emergency procedures or first aid during an emergency. "Whenever I'm anywhere else, I still feel like I'm on duty," Snorgrass said. "Lifeguarding for me is a personal responsibility. Whoever enters my pool I'm responsible for their life." area So how do they do it? Hales and Smith say that a lifeguard learns to look for shadows under water, active victims, running on deck, lifejackets in the deep end, diving in the shallow end, things that shouldn't be in the water, floatation devices that aren't Coast Guard approved. Howard adds that lifeguards should roam occasionally to avoid blockages to their field of view. ; Shelli Lewis, whose two girls swim at the base 1 Dental Plan. 247088 2 LAYTON 757 W. Antelope Dr. 779-299- 5 MIDVALE SLC 850 E. 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