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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Most area pools will start opening their doors this weekend. But it takes so much more than just flipping the closed sign to open.

The lifeguards at Hannibal Community Pool have been working for a few weeks to get things ready.

"We started painting and training new guards--we started that last week. We do other things like clean up the pool, wax the slides and things like that," lifeguard Heidi Turner said. 

The lifeguards start out the day at 9 a.m. and work until 6 p.m. out by the pool. And there are new things going on at the Hannibal Community Pool this summer.

"Certain Sundays during the summer we're going to have special days where there's going to be different qualifications but you can get into the pool for free," Turner said.

Lifeguards have to go through extensive training before receiving their whistle.

"Basically what happens is, you have to be 15 years of age or older and you have to do a couple of pre-recs. You have to swim and then a brick dive that you have to do. And once you complete that you actually start in on the course that consists of some written exams, water skills, cpr and aed training. There's two of us here that do that, myself and Ian. We ran through that will all our new guards--just finished up on Monday. So we have about 8 guards that we just trained and they'll be new this year," lifeguard trainer Drake Taylor said.

Friday, May 25, is the last day to get your season pass at a reduced price. If you're interested you can contact the Hannibal Community Pool at 573-221-9658.

Sunday Fundays include:

June 3 - Mom's Day: Mother's admission is free when purchasing a regular price admission for a child.

June 10 - British Challenger Soccer Day: Participants of the 2012 British Challenger soccer program get in free*

June 17 - Father's Day: Father's admission is free when purchasing a regular price admission for a child.

June 24 - H.O.R.S.E. Day: Anyone who participated in the H.O.R.S.E. tournament gets in free*

July 1 - Military Day: Anyone who shows Military ID gets in free.

July 8 - Huckleberry Fun Run Day: Anyone who participated in the Huckleberry Fun Run gets in free*

July 15 - First Responders Day: First responders get in free when showing ID

July 22 - Grandparents Day: Grandparent's admission is free when purchasing a regular price admission for a child.

*Must have admission ticket

Wavering Aquatic Center and Indian Mounds Pool in Quincy also open this Saturday.

The Keokuk Aquatic Center opens in early June.

Glenwood Pool in Macomb opens in mid June.