Kate Eifert

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Kate Eifert is the head lifeguard at the Shasta Family YMCA in Redding, where she's worked poolside for a year. But the job is nothing new - she's been lifeguarding for almost a decade and swimming since the age of 4. She talks about pool safety and takes a stab at explaining that hoary old eating-before-swimming myth. The following is an excerpt from a recent conversation.

Q. What can parents do to help their kids be safe around the pool?

If their children aren't strong swimmers yet, always be within arm's reach of them. It helps to be in the water with them. Sometimes what we see around here is parents who want to come and sunbathe or they'll be reading their book or catching up with friends - which is great. We totally want to see people connect. But we also want to see them keeping an eye on their kids.

Q. What kind of advice would you give to parents or adult caregivers at the pool?

One thing that we do advise here is - knowing that the water wings that people have been getting into aren't actually the safest flotation devices and the suits that have flotation pieces inside of them aren't actually the best swim suit to use - so if they want their child to have some freedom and not have to be constantly holding them, then a Coast Guard-certified life jacket is advised.

Q. How often are you actually pulling people out of the water?

Not very often at all because a lifeguard's primary job is prevention. We don't want to actually have to get in the water - of course we will and do. One thing we say is, "If you don't know, go." But prevention is the big thing. Occasionally you'll get in for a struggling swimmer just to help them get to the wall.

Q. I've been dying to know this for years, do you really have to wait one hour after eating before getting in the pool?

I think the thoughts behind that (have to do with) circulation, like you have a lot of blood in your stomach. So I don't know about all the myths surrounding that, but just a good thing for people (who) maybe (aren't) strong swimmers to be aware of is to make sure they're really hydrated and have enough strength and energy to be swimming well instead of having that food coma. But hey, if you want to sit in an inner tube and raft, you're good to go.

Pop Quiz is a weekly column. If you know a person or topic you'd like to see featured, contact Rob Rogers at 225-8217 or rrogers@redding.com.