Hershey, Pa.,
20
May
2022
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10:00 AM
America/New_York

Hersheypark Recognizes National Water Safety Month in May 2022

Water Safety is Top Priority at Hersheypark

Did you know that May has been designated as National Water Safety Month? The annual awareness campaign is coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance with support from the World Waterpark Association, American Red Cross, and National Recreation and Park Association. 

Hersheypark amusement park is proud to recognize this important observance by promoting water safety at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park, celebrating its 15th season this summer.

Make a Splash at the Water Park

The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park is open from May 28 through September 5, 2022. Located inside Hersheypark, it is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day with 16 water attractions and one million gallons of water.

Guests can plunge down one of six inline tube, hydro water slides; race again and again on one of the longest mat racing slides in the world;  rocket through hills, tunnels and turns on a water coaster; relax on a slow and winding lazy river; catch a wave in the 378,000 gallon wave pool; and more.

The Boardwalk is also home to East Coast Waterworks, an attraction modeled after iconic boardwalks along the East Coast that offers more than 600 interactive water features alone. The biggest splash comes from a 10,000-gallon tipping bucket for those looking to get drenched on a hot summer day.

Safety and Fun Go Hand-in-Hand

We strive to ensure our guests have fun and stay safe at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark. If you are planning a visit this summer, we encourage you to brush up on the following water safety tips from World Waterpark Association:

  • Learn to swim - The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes both adults and children. 
  • Never leave children unattended - Parents are the first line of defense in keeping kids safe in the water. Never leave children unattended near water, not even for a minute. If your child's in the water, you should be too!
  • Wear a life jacket - If you or a family member is a weak or non-swimmer, wear a life vest. At Hersheypark, guests of the Miniatures, Kisses and Reese's height categories must wear a life vest on certain water attractions. Guests may bring their own life jacket, as long as it is Coast Guard approved. Lifejackets are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Outside wave boards, inner tubes, inflatable toys, or other inflatables including water wings or swimmies are not permitted.
  • Read all posted signs - Follow posted safety rules and warnings. Teach kids that being safe in and around the water is a personal responsibility - yours and theirs.  At the entrance to The Boardwalk attractions, there is signage indicating additional restrictions and accessibility. For example, certain water rides  may not accommodate guests of a larger size (height and/or weight). 
  • Never swim alone or in unsupervised places - Teach your children to always swim with a buddy.
  • Look for lifeguards - It is always best to swim in an area supervised by lifeguards, but remember, lifeguards are the last line of defense when all other layers of protection fail. Hersheypark lifeguards are certified.
  • Watch out for the dangerous "too's" - Don't get too tired, too cold, too far from safety, exposed to too much sun or experience too much strenuous activity. Don't take chances by overestimating your swimming skills.
  • Use sunscreen - Apply sunscreen on all exposed skin to ensure maximum skin protection. 
  • Keep toddlers in shallow play areas - Zero-depth entry pools have water games, sprays and fountains with no appreciable water depth. Bayside Pier and Sandcastle Cove at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark have a zero depth entry ramp.
  • Follow age and height instructions as well as health restrictions - Restrictions apply to many rides and attractions at pools and waterparks. Size and coordination is critical to safety inside open water flumes. Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prevalence toward motion sickness or pregnancy should not ride high-speed or rapid-descent rides.
  • Use plastic swim diapers - Many parks require them. Note where changing areas are located and use these designated, sanitized changing spots. At Hersheypark, only waterproof diapers are allowed in The Boardwalk attractions. These are available for purchase at Beachology and other merchandise locations. 

Hersheypark also encourages guests to wear proper foot protection in queues and all walking surfaces as they may become hot in the sun. Aqua shoes are not permitted on the body slides. There are complimentary shoe drops available to guests. Furthermore, only appropriate swimwear is permitted on the attractions. Revealing bathing suits, shorts with rivets, snaps, zippers, metal ornamentation, cutoffs and jeans are not permitted.

Certified and Trained Lifeguard Staff

The lifeguard staff is well trained to keep all guests safe as they take a break from coaster riding and beat the heat in the water park. Coming off of a perfect aquatic audit season in 2021, Hersheypark received the prestigious Platinum International Aquatics Safety Award from Jeff Ellis & Associates.

Currently, there are 18 Certified Lifeguard Instructors, who are certified to train lifeguards; and one Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, who is qualified to train the Lifeguard Instructors, on the Hersheypark Team. All Hersheypark lifeguards are trained and certified through Jeff Ellis & Associates, a leader in water park safety.

Every Hersheypark lifeguard completes a minimum of four hours of continued in-service education per month to ensure that skills are maintained at a test-ready level. Lifeguard certifications are valid for one year only, which ensures that seasonal team members receive updated training every year.

To be certain that lifeguards are always vigilant, Jeff Ellis & Associates completes random, unannounced, hidden camera audits of the lifeguard staff while they are performing their duties. These audits include the introduction of a mannequin or live action actor in to the Lifeguard’s Zone of Protection to ensure the on-duty lifeguard is maintaining optimum vigilance. In addition, the training and certification that each Lifeguard receives includes CPR/AED/First Aid for adults, children and infants.

Join Our Team

Hersheypark is actively looking to hire lifeguards for the 2022 summer season. Applicants need to be 16 or older, but there are part-time positions available at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark for those ages 15, too. 

Shallow water lifeguards ensure the safety of our guests while providing courteous, friendly, and professional assistance. Job duties include monitoring equipment and supplies, maintain lifeguard and first aid skills at a “test ready” level at all times and participate in daily lifeguard in service training. Applicants do not need to be previously certified lifeguards to apply; training for the position will be conducted by the Hershey Entertainment Complex through Ellis and Associates’ International Lifeguard Training Program. All Shallow Water Lifeguards have the opportunity to be promoted to a Special Facilities Lifeguard position, with a higher pay rate in their second year once trained to guard greater depths of water. 

For information about these and any of our available positions, please visit HersheyJobs.com

Plan a Visit Today

The Boardwalk At Hersheypark is one of three parks included in Hersheypark admission, along with the amusement rides and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife ParkEveryone Pays Kids’ Price when purchasing tickets online through May 31, 2022, so plan your visit today.