Input from a South Walton Lifeguard.
I just want to say thank you for all the appreciation and support of locals and
Visiting tourists who thank us on a daily basis for the work we do as lifeguards.
We put our lives on the line everyday to keep people on the beach safe.
Most days are noneventful (thank God.) Today was not one of those days.
Today was suppost to be my day off. (Gods day.) I was call in to help out
because of the double red conditions. As I arrived at the Tower the flags were
being changed from red to double red. Double red flag days are NEVER fun days
to work. When we go to double red flags, one of the first things we do is get everyone out of the water. (Or at least that is the plan.) We move down the
beach in each direction, east and west of the tower asking/telling people to get
out of the water. Most people are very grateful for the warning and clear the water.
A very small percentage of people do not want to cooperate. This small
percentage make our work very difficult and sometimes dangerous. They get
out of the water when we ask them to, but when we are 100 yards down the beach
they jump right back in !!! They are putting their lives in danger and they are
also putting the lifeguards in danger by there actions. Adults who do this are
setting a VERY bad example for children and other adults who watch them blow off the lifeguards.
We are trying to keep them alive and they want to argue with us !!!!
Double Red means the water is closed. No discussion. No negotiations. No arguing. I had to ask one family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children)
5 times to get out of the water ! They would get out and get right back in when I
was back at the tower. One kid shot me a bird and yelled at me when
I ask him to get out of the water!
One major problem that I see with the way this currently works, is we (the lifeguards) have no enforcement powers.
If someone wants to ignore us we have to call the sheriff’s office and have them send out a deputy to get them out of the water and give them a ticket. Lifeguards need limited enforcement powers to be able to give out tickets. And the fines need to be substantial; $300 to $500 per person/per incident. How much is life worth?
PS: The lifeguard program always needs more money and these fines would help the program greatly.
I just want to say thank you for all the appreciation and support of locals and
Visiting tourists who thank us on a daily basis for the work we do as lifeguards.
We put our lives on the line everyday to keep people on the beach safe.
Most days are noneventful (thank God.) Today was not one of those days.
Today was suppost to be my day off. (Gods day.) I was call in to help out
because of the double red conditions. As I arrived at the Tower the flags were
being changed from red to double red. Double red flag days are NEVER fun days
to work. When we go to double red flags, one of the first things we do is get everyone out of the water. (Or at least that is the plan.) We move down the
beach in each direction, east and west of the tower asking/telling people to get
out of the water. Most people are very grateful for the warning and clear the water.
A very small percentage of people do not want to cooperate. This small
percentage make our work very difficult and sometimes dangerous. They get
out of the water when we ask them to, but when we are 100 yards down the beach
they jump right back in !!! They are putting their lives in danger and they are
also putting the lifeguards in danger by there actions. Adults who do this are
setting a VERY bad example for children and other adults who watch them blow off the lifeguards.
We are trying to keep them alive and they want to argue with us !!!!
Double Red means the water is closed. No discussion. No negotiations. No arguing. I had to ask one family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children)
5 times to get out of the water ! They would get out and get right back in when I
was back at the tower. One kid shot me a bird and yelled at me when
I ask him to get out of the water!
One major problem that I see with the way this currently works, is we (the lifeguards) have no enforcement powers.
If someone wants to ignore us we have to call the sheriff’s office and have them send out a deputy to get them out of the water and give them a ticket. Lifeguards need limited enforcement powers to be able to give out tickets. And the fines need to be substantial; $300 to $500 per person/per incident. How much is life worth?
PS: The lifeguard program always needs more money and these fines would help the program greatly.
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