As some of America's prime beach resorts suffer a lifeguard scarcity, they have appealed for qualified Irish students to sign up for Baywatch-style summer jobs.
Lack of lifeguards during the Memorial Day holiday at the beginning of the month forced several states to either close beaches or restrict swimming to areas they could patrol. Now, with the first of over 8,500 Irish university students leaving for J-1 working visa holidays in America, US water safety authorities have issued an "America Needs You" appeal.
Those willing to help shore up the service will get about $10 an hour for their efforts and generally work a 48-hour week.
In the past, hundreds of Americans had queued up for glamorous summers of sun, sand and surf but the buoyant economy and students seeking more career-orientated job experience have hit the supply. "In some areas of the state we are 50 per cent down on what we need. We can never remember it as bad. Unfortunately we have had to post signs that waters are unguarded," according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management which normally hires 500 lifeguards.
"There is a life and death pressure with lifesaving and some people are looking for jobs with less responsibility." While Massachusetts wants only certified lifeguards, a New York spokesman said they would train suitable swimmers with good eyesight who can cover 50 yards in less than 35 seconds.
"The course takes about 40 hours and for the first time this year we will pay students a lump sum for the training providing they complete the season with us." The course involves life-saving and cardiac-pulmonary resuscitation training. New York needs 1,200 lifeguards but had only managed to recruit 900 when the season ended last year. "It's a pretty severe problem. We would definitely hire Irish students if they had the necessary work permits and fulfilled our basic requirements.
"We make a huge drive every year but almost never fill our quota and can always use good Irish lifesavers. They have to be strong swimmers. There are no height or weight qualifications - it's how fast they can move in the water and their ability to carry someone," a spokesman said.
In an effort to ease the problem, New York lifted a ban on hiring people from outside its five boroughs. Other states hit by the lifeguard famine include South Carolina and New Hampshire.