News Flash

The City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department will hold internal lifeguard trainings from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 24 at Frenger Pool, 800 Parkview Drive. The weekly trainings and tests are being conducted to meet mandatory certification requirements and staffing needs in preparation for the summer aquatic season. Lifeguard applicants are also being scheduled for swim tests as needed.  

The training is being conducting in full compliance with the Public Health Emergency Order issued by the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Department of Health. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water”. Lifeguard training is not only an annual requirement but is being done as a proactive action so city pools can be opened to the public at the earliest and most reasonable time when and if the executive order is lifted or modified. 

“We are taking all necessary precautions and making sure our staff are practicing safety guidelines as directed by the state,” said Sonya Delgado, Director, Parks and Recreation Department. “We have essential maintenance and training that must be done but we also want to keep our staff healthy and safe.” 

Lifeguard staff are scheduled in groups of three with a supervisor on duty and maintain recommended distance of at least six feet. Pool maintenance workers continue to disinfect and service the pools daily as required. Staff times are scheduled and approved in advance by Delgado.  

For more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation department at 575/541-2550. If you need more information about the CDC report “Water and COVID-19 FAQs”, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html