Summer is here, but the outdoor pool is closed more and more often. The industry is missing 3000 swimming champions. The job at the edge of the pool has its nice sides, but brings with it a lot of responsibility – and little money.
Swimming champion Armin Bölke is happy: finally the best outdoor pool weather and people flock to him in the pool. Finally breathing in the smell of chlorine and crispy outdoor pool fries again.
The 61-year-old from Mundelsheim in the district of Ludwigsburg in Baden-Württemberg calls himself “swimming champion” and not “lifeguard”. After all, he has a “swimming pool” underneath him and not a “bathtub,” laughs the man at the edge of the pool, adding: “I have four jobs in one: I’m a lifeguard, technician, sometimes a police officer and a psychologist.”
Swimming champion Armin Bölke has many tasks in the outdoor pool.
Lots of responsibility, little money
“It’s good for you, Armin, you spend the whole day in the outdoor pool and you get money for it,” a bather calls out to him from the edge of the pool. “Whoa dream job,” counters the lifeguard.
The work is responsible, with unfavorable working hours on weekends and holidays. The job is also badly paid. The starting salary is 2200 euros gross.
One of the reasons why specialists for pool operations – as it is officially called – are desperately needed. There is a real lifeguard crisis, criticizes Bölke. The Federal Association of German Swimming Champion (BDS) estimates that around 3,000 of them are missing nationwide – and the number is increasing.
fear of company non-swimmers
The result of the lack of staff: According to the German Life Saving Society (DLRG), around 80 of the more than 6,000 indoor and outdoor pools close every year. Another consequence of the swimming pools dying: fewer and fewer children can keep their heads above water. Of ten-year-olds, 59 percent cannot swim safely. The DLRG also attributes this to the fact that more and more swimming lessons are cancelled. Bölke fears that there will be a society of non-swimmers.
Opening times must also be restricted in the Mundelsheim outdoor pool.
The bathers are the ones who suffer
Already in winter, Bölke was looking for a new colleague for his outdoor pool in Mundelsheim – in vain. “Now we have to shorten the opening hours, to the chagrin of the bathers,” he says, and then immediately calls to two young people: “Hey guys, be careful with the ball! There are bathers, it’s dangerous. Otherwise I’ll take the ball away from you .”
Armin Bölke is concerned about the poor pay. After all, he and his colleagues bear a great deal of responsibility: they have to monitor 375 square meters of water surface.
A sad experience still has an impact today: At the beginning of his career, a nine-year-old boy drowned during his shift. Bölke couldn’t help it, he says today. The parents violated their duty of care. “All desperate attempts at resuscitation could not save him. I can still see the boy lying there today,” he says, visibly touched.
Outdoor pool as a reflection of society
“Such an outdoor pool is a reflection of society,” says Bölke – with a lack of respect, riots and drunks who molest women. Once he had to call the police because of drugs in the bathroom.
At 8 p.m., the lifeguard also finishes work. Then he has the Mundelsheim outdoor pool, which is picturesquely situated between the Neckar and vineyards, all to himself. “My best moment of the day,” says Bölke – and jumps headfirst into the water.