With temperatures almost at the century mark, kids young and old are looking for ways to stay cool this summer.

One Laredo family says they were trying to do just that when they were turned away from a public pool.

They claim it was due to a shortage of lifeguards.

"It's been going on for several years now. We've attended that one, but we always get turned away because there's not enough lifeguards or it's full...full meaning about 15 kids in the pool."

"A trip to the pool on a hot summer day like today is supposed to be fun and games...but for one local family, their trip to this pool did not turn out to be a splash."

"The 1st year we took them, we might have been turned away once. The 2nd year, more often and now, pretty much, we have to call way in advance to see if it's full or not and it could change within 5 minutes."

A reservation needed to get into a public pool?

That's almost what Rudy Elizondo says he had to do in order for his kids to enjoy some fun in the sun.

He blames it on a shortage of lifeguards, but that's not what the city is saying.

"There is no shortage of life guards. All swimming pools are equipped with the proper staff."

Assistant city manager Jesus Olivares says the city's doing everything they can to make sure that all public pools and water parks in the city are open, and fully staffed with well-trained professionals.

"All the pools are open at this time throughout the city. We've done a very intensive effort to certify all lifeguards working for the city of Laredo."

But what about the city's splash parks? They were supposed to be open weeks ago, but instead, they are still high and dry.

"We're working on the splash parks they were ready to start functioning. Some of the sensors on the computer board went out and they're being replaced right now.”

With a waiting line to get into city pools and a waiting game until the city gets these splash parks up and running.

People like Rudy are resorting to some do-it-yourself methods of keeping their kids cool this summer.

"Uhh…use a water hose, I guess. We're not supposed to, but you know, what else can we do."

City leaders say all public pools are already open to the public. That includes the Freddie Benavides Pool, the Thomas Pool, Del Mar, Three Points, and Civic Center pools.

For more information, you can call Parks and Recreation at 795-2350.