For more than ten years, Thionville has served as a national training center for lifeguards. Monday September 11, 13 apprentices returned to school. This system allows local areas to avoid being affected by the shortage phenomenon affecting the profession.
J.-M. C. – Today at 07:00
Regularly documented in our columns, the shortage of lifeguards is a deep and seasonal problem. Every summer, many swimming pools navigate through troubled waters in terms of staff numbers. Not Thionville. Never Thionville. On this point, the two establishments headed by the Portes de France agglomeration, Hamelys in Basse-Ham and the community aquatic center of Thionville, remain dry.
An observation that owes nothing to chance: since 2012, the agglomeration has been a partner of the French Federation of Lifeguards (FFMNS). This gives it the enviable status of a national training center for lifeguards. A singularity on the scale of the late Lorraine.
“We help competitors find their professional path”
This Monday, September 11, the new class, made up of 13 candidates, met Daniel Indrigo, training coordinator. This swimming heavyweight is none other than the current president of the Sporting-club Thionvillois, a giant with its 1,700 members: “In terms of numbers, we are on the doorstep of the French top 10,” explains the manager. .
Daniel does not hide it: housing this system serves local interests. Training at home allows future lifeguards in the sector to be drawn from the source. And above all, “to offer a path to reclassification for all these young people who have spent time in the pools. We help competitors find their professional path with this state certificate.”
“The profession suffered from a lack of recognition”
For example, seven SCT swimmers appeared in the credits of the training delivered last year. This available fishpond made it possible to support the launching of the Hamelys community aquatic center. Without this proximity, recruitment could have proved very delicate: “For years, the profession suffered from a lack of recognition,” regrets the septuagenarian, who loves a profession which, according to him, still suffers from numerous prejudices. For the general public, a lifeguard boils down to monitoring a pool. This is not the case, far from it. The profession involves numerous activities which cover the running of aquatic lessons, teaching to schoolchildren and supervision. Being in contact with the public is exciting.”
This varied profile explains the drop in the level of requirements for joining the training: “Before, the sporting performance criteria were higher,” recognizes the coordinator. From now on, you must hold the BNSSA and be able to complete a 400 m in less than 7’40”. It is within the reach of a swimmer who knows how to… swim. » Provided over ten months, the training is shared on site and in the “company”. The success rate is close to 90% and the hiring rate of patentees reaches… 100%. A way forward, in short.
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