LIfeguards

[Romeosmydog]

The fam and I were at the beach today and I just wanted to complement our lifeguards! It was a red flag (what a bad time for that, eh?) and they were right up near the water being very proactive. You hate to see people going deep into the water, but it's gonna happen...especially on a holiday weekend. They would direct people back and point out where the worst riptides were. I thought they were doing a great job...

Where were you today?? I was at Blue Mountain today for a wedding (yes, a wedding at 1:00 on Memorial Day Weekend) and saw a guy in major trouble. A surfer (Blake) paddled over and pulled the guy to safety. This is not a quick process, they were out there for quite sometime struggling to get in. No lifeguards were in sight. I didn't even know that they were there until someone pointed them out to me. I finally went down to interrupt the lifeguards and tell them what was going on. They were really busy trying to put up their umbrella. Their backs were to the water the entire time.

Within 10 minutes I spotted another guy in the water having a really hard time holding on to his tiny little boogie board. I watched him fight the rip tides for at least 10 minutes. The lifeguards this time were sitting under their umbrella in conversation. I continued to watch the guy and feeling slightly embarrassed to go tell them AGAIN that someone needed them. The guy lost his board and really seemed to be in trouble so I went down and politely said that in no way was I trying to do their job, but someone was in trouble....again.

After the lifeguard got him in, I left the beach. I couldn't watch anymore. I went to Ed Waline instead. The lifeguards there were awesome and on it. AND they had 5 times more people to watch.

 

[SHELLY]

Where were you today?? I was at Blue Mountain today for a wedding (yes, a wedding at 1:00 on Memorial Day Weekend) and saw a guy in major trouble. A surfer (Blake) paddled over and pulled the guy to safety. This is not a quick process, they were out there for quite sometime struggling to get in. No lifeguards were in sight. I didn't even know that they were there until someone pointed them out to me. I finally went down to interrupt the lifeguards and tell them what was going on. They were really busy trying to put up their umbrella. Their backs were to the water the entire time.

Within 10 minutes I spotted another guy in the water having a really hard time holding on to his tiny little boogie board. I watched him fight the rip tides for at least 10 minutes. The lifeguards this time were sitting under their umbrella in conversation. I continued to watch the guy and feeling slightly embarrassed to go tell them AGAIN that someone needed them. The guy lost his board and really seemed to be in trouble so I went down and politely said that in no way was I trying to do their job, but someone was in trouble....again.

After the lifeguard got him in, I left the beach. I couldn't watch anymore. I went to Ed Waline instead. The lifeguards there were awesome and on it. AND they had 5 times more people to watch.

This is disheartening to hear...but I guess it's the best protection $12.50 an hour can buy.

.

 

[enfuego]

You should call SWFD (check their website) and tell them what you witnessed. I have found them to be helpful and responsive.

 

[kloli]

This is good news. I just read where P.C. has been quite busy today pulling folks out!

Stay safe!

We were at the beach in PCB and watched a helicopter hover near us for 30 minutes and came back to hover for another 20. I don't think the person made it. I am trying to find out what happened. It seemed that there were rescuers everywhere. My husband and I were getting a bit nervous watching these two small girls splashing around in the crazy waves (mother didn't seem to mind), and we were tired of calling our son in from the waterline...so we finally had enough and went home. We continued to hear helicopters hovering and circling around after we got home and into the evening. We were hoping the girls were OK.

 

[beachyteachy]

Romeo, we were at the access at Goatfeathers. Wow. A 1:00 beach wedding? Sounds scorching. That stinks about those lifeguards. Ours were very interactive...talking with the kids/families/etc. It's so much more helpful when a "dreamy" lifeguard talks to our 6 year old daughter about precisely how far she's allowed in the water and why. One of our lifeguards actually rushed in to rescue someone who was just splashing and playing around. He seemed to take his responsibility very seriously, never leaving the water's edge.

 

[seagrovegirl]

The lifeguard program has been very successful and these guys have saved many lives. It saddens me to hear about the incident in BMB. If anyone has concerns or witnesses a lifeguard not doing their job PLEASE call Chief Rick Talbert at 267-1298, or PM me with your story so I can pass it on to the Chief.

 

[wrobert]

We were at the beach in PCB and watched a helicopter hover near us for 30 minutes and came back to hover for another 20. I don't think the person made it. I am trying to find out what happened. It seemed that there were rescuers everywhere. My husband and I were getting a bit nervous watching these two small girls splashing around in the crazy waves (mother didn't seem to mind), and we were tired of calling our son in from the waterline...so we finally had enough and went home. We continued to hear helicopters hovering and circling around after we got home and into the evening. We were hoping the girls were OK.

As of 8:30 last night someone was still missing that was in the water.

 

[seagrovegirl]

I have family staying in PCB and they were at the beach yesterday and said the helicopters were hovering around quite a bit. They finally closed the beach. What has happened? It was rare to hear of anyone drowning just 10 years ago, and now it seems like a weekly event. Scary.

 

[sunspotbaby]

It is so sad to hear these stories every summer. The News Herald has a report on yesterdays activities.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/panama_4040___article.html/pulling_authorities.html

 

[Romeosmydog]

Romeo, we were at the access at Goatfeathers. Wow. A 1:00 beach wedding? Sounds scorching. That stinks about those lifeguards. Ours were very interactive...talking with the kids/families/etc. It's so much more helpful when a "dreamy" lifeguard talks to our 6 year old daughter about precisely how far she's allowed in the water and why. One of our lifeguards actually rushed in to rescue someone who was just splashing and playing around. He seemed to take his responsibility very seriously, never leaving the water's edge.

Yeah, I left BMB and went to Ed Waline where they had three "Dreamy" lifeguards. Besides, BobbyJ was at BMB and he looks so cute with his new summer tan.

At BMB the lifeguards were up on their post the entire time I was there, from about 12:45-2:15. The only time I saw them get down from the post was the 2 times I had to point out the struggling swimmers to them.