Sem is actually a supervisor and security guard at events, but has been working as a lifeguard at the swimming pool in Goirle since Friday. The swimming pool was forced to close the doors in mid -June due to a staff shortage and was closed for two weeks. “I think it’s great work, it’s nice outside and there is nice weather.”
He would normally be working as a security guard at an event or at an asylum seekers’ center, but since this week Sem Leegstra has been working at the swimming pool in Goirle. The 19-year-old comes to the pool for his new work all the way from Zoetermeer, but he doesn’t mind. “The work is nice outside and there is very nice weather,” he says.
Sem ended up at the swimming pool via the security company for which he works. They received a call from the swimming pool in Goirle that they were urgently looking for staff. “The company I work for is already known at the swimming pool in Veghel, that’s how I ended up here.”
He had to follow an accelerated course at the swimming pool for rescue swimming. “So that I can not only come to the rescue of people outside the water, but also in the water,” says Sem.
Staff shortage
The swimming pool suddenly has a staff shortage in mid -June. “With the preparations we were actually so far that we had filled in the entire season with the people we had employed by us at that time. Unfortunately, due to the failure of employees, we were unable to realize what we would like and we suddenly had an acute staff shortage,” explains swimming pool manager Ingrid van Pelt.
The tricky one at a swimming pool is that you cannot just open with volunteers, she says. “Of course there must be people at a swimming pool who are authorized to supervise.”
Because the swimming pool was in the news, several people who wanted to come and help. Unfortunately, they often did not have the right skills. Then the swimming pool came into contact with a security company. “The employees of the security company have all worked hard to follow an emergency course with us, so that we could be operational again from today.”
Emergency training
To have the right certificates, the new employees followed an emergency training at the swimming pool. Ingrid himself was present at the course and is satisfied with the outcome. “The new employees have shown that they are skilled enough to save someone from the deep swimming pit, but also that they have a piece of theory and first aid skills.”
Sem is happy that he can help and looks forward to welcoming people in the pool. “The swimming pool must of course be open with good weather – for children, for everyone who wants to swim recreatively or just want to swim. The new team and I are very happy that we can help with this. Everyone is welcome and I will fit well with them.”