OLD ORCHARD BEACH — With duties that range from handing out Band-Aids to saving people’s lives, being a lifeguard is not about relaxing in the sun and getting tan.
This year, lifeguards have had an especially busy season. There has been an increase of riptides in the area and perpetually sunny skies have attracted large crowds of beachgoers.
Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer, with about 20 on duty each day, staffing the 12 lifeguard stations on the beach.
“The number one duty, obviously, is swimmer safety,” said Lifeguard Captain Keith Willett. Other duties are administering first aid and enforcing beach rules, which include no dogs on the beach, no alcohol on the beach and no digging deep holes.
Lifeguards are part of the fire department, and work closely with fire officials during rescue calls. All of them must get their certification and pass a physical fitness test that includes a two-mile run, a 500-meter swim and diving down to the bottom of a pool to retrieve a 10-pound brick.
Once hired, lifeguards begin their work day with a 2-mile run plus additional exercises.
On Wednesday morning, the beach was covered with people, beach towels and umbrellas.
“This place has been packed,” said Willett, standing by the main lifeguard post near The Brunswick hotel.
This year, lifeguards have seen an increase in rescue calls, he said. By Wednesday, a tally showed that lifeguards had made 93 rescues at the beach. Last year, when gray skies and rainy days prevailed throughout much of the summer, there were no rescues in June or July.
Many of the rescues have come from people caught in riptides ”“ strong currents that carry water away from shore.
Willett and other lifeguards blame the increase of riptides on beach erosion, which has carved out the ocean floor and changed the shape of the beach.
In some areas, swimmers can suddenly drop from being in knee-deep water on a sandbar to water that is over their head, said Willett.
With the way the shoreline has changed, swimmers can get picked up by high waves and crushed against the shore, according to Assistant Lifeguard Captain Wes Rhames and lifeguard Billy Corcoran. Corcoran said recently a swimmer crashed up against the shore and dislocated their shoulder. He said because of conditions in certain areas, children need to be careful where they use boogie boards.
“The beach has never looked like this,” said Rhames.
When lifeguards are standing at their stations, they are constantly keeping their eye on the beach and watching out for any potential problems. “You can read the water,” Willett said, and the telltale signs of riptides are white, bubbling water.
Willett said he has a “very solid group” of lifeguards, who have been ready to face the added numbers of rescues this year.
The town has 36 lifeguards on staff, many of whom are veterans who come back every year. Rhames said he enjoys going out on rescues, and it makes the job exciting.
“It’s great to come out to the beach every day. I feel like I’m making a difference,” said Lifeguard Lieutenant Mike Peterson.
And though riptide rescues have made the headlines lately, lifeguards say that the riptides are not a frequent problem on the beach.
“It’s still a very safe beach to come to,” said Rhames.
“It’s safe, you’ve just got to be smart,” said Corcoran.
Part of what Corcoran calls being smart is talking to lifeguards. If unsure whether parts of the beach may be unsafe, always ask a lifeguard about the conditions.
Lifeguards also maintain safety by administering preventative measures, like making sure people are in safe depths, said Rhames.
Another duty lifeguards perform is reuniting lost children with their parents, although fortunately, Rhames said the number of lost children has been down this year.
Beach rules must also be enforced. People are generally cooperative, but every once in a while lifeguards will run into someone who doesn’t want to listen, and the police are called to handle the situation, said Rhames.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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