Do we need a full-time lifeguard service?

Should lifeguards be on duty all year round? Hannah May, one of West Penwith's lifeguards and a freelance writer, thinks so - not least after a recent trip to Lanzarote, during which she and her brother, also a lifeguard, helped save the life of a tourist caught out by a strong current.

Lanzarote was a fine vantage point for the curious coastal antics of the holidaymaker. One day at La Santa, double overhead rollers were breaking on to the rocks with a bevy of snap happy tourists playing skipping stones uncomfortably nearby, seemingly oblivious to the lingering threat beyond. Several days earlier, my brother and I had to drag a German tourist from the water when the current proved too difficult for him to navigate. I spoke to a local who told me that drownings occur frequently, but remain unreported to the masses - supposedly due to fears of the tourist industry suffering as a result.

Back to Cornish waters, and the beaches in my service were displaced of Lifeguards at the end of September. I have since been surfing, observing the throngs of people still flocking to the coasts and wondering about capability and accountability. The decision to relieve the guards of duty flows from the received wisdom that at off-peak tourist periods there are fewer people in the water, with most of those in the sea being locals who should, and usually do, have some knowledge of the area and prevailing conditions.

But this is not as straightforward as it seems. The surge in popularity of beach culture, particularly surfing, means that the Cornish ocean is a busy Mecca in the local and urban escapists’ map. The urbanites are known in some quarters as DFLs (Down From London types) and their frequent weekends away, combined with the school holidays and the year-round availability of water sports, means that there is little reprieve for the ocean. Even in winter it's a fair bet that many people in the water aren't locals, and so knowledge of the sea and prevailing conditions cannot be assumed. So should the seasonal lifeguarding be replaced with an year-round presence?

In my view, yes. The RNLI has recently announced that it will be assuming management of the beaches in West Penwith. While it is expected to run a longer season than we've been used to, I believe that the time is right to end post-summer lifeguard absenteeism. It may seem absurd to place lifeguards on beaches where in a stormy blizzard they may not see a soul for days. However, it is dumbfounding to hear of yet more avoidable deaths - for example, the recent tragic cases in Portugal and Spain - as a result of the sea’s powerfully unpredictable ways. Most surfers I know have had to assist struggling water users in order to avoid tragedy (and some on more than one occasion), and many lifeguards' skills have been called into action while off-duty. If they were on duty full-time, I’m positive such dreadful events would be less common.

Costing lives is a difficult process, and need is different from worst-case scenario panic. It means money pulled from other places, and priorities are notoriously difficult to define. And, of course, people need to exercise their common sense. If they avoid dangerous-looking oceans, ask the locals’ advice and proceed with utmost caution, the risk of a tragedy is minimized. But there's no cure for drowning. We can only talk in terms of its prevention. Having a full-time lifeguard service might cost more money, but it is surely worth it if even one life is saved as a result.

Pictures courtesy of Hannah May. If you agree with Hannah, please post a comment here.

Comments

[Sebastian]

Great stuff Hannah, I fully agree.

Here in New Zealand we also have an underfunded Lifeguard service and many of our beaches go unpatrolled so I can sympathise with your cause.

Awesome effort on saving that chaps life.

[Dave J]

I agree. Even if it's a skeleton service in winter it'd be better than nothing.

[Russell Pierre]

Alex, have to disagree on this one. Lifeguards seem to be power crazed at the best of times, Most people seem to accept the lifeguards in the summer due to the ignorance of the average tourist. However, to be told where we can or can't surf throughout the year would be ridiculous, to have jet skis racing up and down the line up, air horns blowing, and having to wear a leash all year would drive most people mental. People need to be more responsible, surf shops and surf schools need to take some responsiblity. Ask the average local surfer and winter is a welcome end to silly season and that includes lifeguards. Most surfers would have rescued anyone in trouble before the lifeguards have even fired up the jetskis, put their wetsuits on and worked out how to paddle out in 6 foot surf.!! Sorry my opinion.
Russ
Its the leash issue really!!!

[Alf Alderson]

If the DFLs drown because they're too dumb to realise the power of the ocean that's no great loss surely...?

The less of them the better!

I will now remove my tongue from my cheek in order to say that irrespective of the pros and cons of year-round lifeguard service it wouldn't be a bad idea if beach users learnt to take a bit more responsibility for their own actions.

And on a practical note, where is the cash going to come from? Our local council are threatening to close the swimming pool, the ONLY public recreational facility we have (other than the ocean) and if it came to choosing between that and winter lifeguards I'd far rather see the pool stay open and provide a facility for locals than have to see my council tax spent on visitors. Yet again...

[Ken]

Ah yes, Russell. Wonderful rant. Let me guess: you once applied for a position as a lifeguard and you were turned down? Perhaps you even hit your potential employer in the face with a wayward rescue board after refusing to wear a leash. And just think, you could have revealed all of the secrets of paddling out in 6ft surf (any pointers?).

Overconfidence is one of the biggest problems facing lifeguards working on the beaches today. People (like Russell) think that guards are an inconvenience. They make generic accusations of incompetence against a stereotyped profession and, quite often, these are the same people who are deluded about their own abilities and are the ones who end up needing assistance. It may come as a revelation Russ, but I’m pretty sure that there are lots of lifeguards out there who are far more knowledgeable, experienced and skilled than even you when it comes to beach safety. Remember, if you’re not part of the solution…

The fact is that if you are asked to move and surf elsewhere, it’s clearly because you are presenting a danger to other beach users (generally swimmers). The bathing area is generally where the surf is the smallest and weakest – you should be thankful for being asked to move to a place where the waves are better. In the winter, there are not as many swimmers, so space would not be such an issue.

More people are using the beaches in the winter. It would come as no surprise that if the lifeguard season was not extended in response there will be preventable deaths occurring on our shorelines. Even the most skilled water users will tell you stories of how they have found themselves in difficulties – I cannot imagine how anyone with genuine experience and a respect for the sea could say otherwise. A winter service is a positive idea: people shouldn’t have to rely on other surfers to rescue them.

P.S. On the issue of leashes – you should wear one, especially if you have a plank over 6.5’ and you are grossly irresponsible if you do not. It may not be needed as much if you are a pro-surfer, but even then you should wear one as an example to others and as a precaution. Soul surfers may find it difficult to get cosmic when they are struggling to stay afloat when they’ve lost their board or when someone else’s has slammed them in the face. Just my opinion.

[Alf Alderson]

Just a thought on the back of Ken's comments, but how come the beach is the only place where the public are considered to need permanent safety cover?

Climbers, skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers, etc. - all take risks but they neither have nor expect to have someone watching over their every move to ensure they don't get into trouble. Sure, mountain rescue, ski patrol etc. are there in an emergency but they're not sitting at the bottom of each slope watching over Joe Public's every move.

What makes the beach so much different? It's certainly no more dangerous than a winter mountain.

Time people accepted a bit more responsibility for their own safety I reckon

[Brendan McCann]

Nice comments Hannah and hopfully it will not be long before your wishes are carried out. Only one gripe and that is you appear to put locals on a pedestal and they enlighten us with their wisdom and fortitude, if only this was true. Locals drown just as anyone and have the arrogance that Ken rightly pointed out. Just read Russel's comments to understand the mentality of locals like this guy. Being a lifeguard like you Hannah, I have noticed that people who do not wear leashes are generally the ones who need to use them. Get a life Russel and respect other beach users.