Several north Iowa pools closed due to lifeguard certification issues
Credit: MGN
(ABC 6 News) – Several public pools in north Iowa have suddenly closed due to what they are calling “Red Cross certification issues.”
The Mason City Family Aquatic Center announced on social media that it will be closed until further notice.
The Nora Springs Aquatic Center announced it is also closed until further notice and includes all swim lessons, water aerobics and parties.
The Hampton Aquatic Center announced it also has closed its pool. In a social media post, it calls the situation “unfortunate”, and said the closing is due to the certification that is required of its lifeguards and pertains to the instructor of the lifeguard classes that its lifeguards took.
It also said all group and private lessons will be made up after the situation clears up.
The City of Mason City said in a statement on Friday afternoon
Several lifeguards of the Mason City Family Aquatic Center were notified by the headquarters of American Red Cross yesterday that their lifeguard certification was being revoked immediately. The Red Cross has determined that the lifeguard instructor failed to deliver the class in accordance with all applicable Lifeguard training requirements for certification.
Due to this error in the training, the American Red Cross has revoked staff lifeguard certifications issued by this instructor. Unfortunately, the majority of certifications for staff at the Mason City Family Aquatic Center were obtained through this instructor at the Mason City YMCA.
Mason City Recreation staff is in contact with the national headquarters of the Red Cross and is working towards getting lifeguard staff the proper training needed to reopen. Multiple instructors have been hired to certify staff as quickly as possible. We are anticipating to re-open the aquatic center Tuesday, July 25th.
City staff is currently assessing swim lessons and an email will be sent out to registered families to let them know how this will affect people enrolled in the third session.
City of Mason City
It’s not clear whether this same instructor taught lifeguard classes at the other pools, or when they may reopen.