Click the play button on the video window to the see the storyPHOENIX -- It is very easy to get distracted during a party, even just for a second.
And as health officials, police and firefighters routinely point out, that is all it can take for a child to slip into the water unnoticed.
Hiring a lifeguard to watch the pool during your party may make it easier for you to play the host while still looking out for the kids.
"Stuff always happens and it's always unexpected, so it's good to have people around there specifically for that reason," said Jordan Stevens, a public pool lifeguard who does private parties as well.
Even if the crowd is small, or if there is someone assigned to watch the pool at all times, it may be a good idea to bring in a certified professional.
"A bystander might not notice that a person is in distress. They may hear splashing an think that the child is just having fun but they're really in distress," said Kristin Black, a lifeguard instructor who has also worked private parties.
Black says that lifeguards are trained to notice signs of distress, no matter how subtle they are.
You can find certified lifeguards on
Craigslist or websites such as
Happy Swimmers and
Rent a Lifeguard.
You can also call or go to any public pool in your area and request one of the lifeguards there.
"If we get a call, we kind of fight over them, like who gets to have it," said Stevens.
Stevens says you can even make the request the day of the party, if she is available, she will work the party.
Prices will vary from person to person, but as Bolick pointed out, "The peace of mind would be priceless."
