OG lifeguards get ready. June, 2019. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
Sept. 1, 2020, OG boards, but at 8 am before the lifeguards officially take charge at 9 am. I noticed no one in the water at the time of this photo. Paul Goldfinger image. Blogfinger.net ©
Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
The beach season with lifeguard coverage was supposed to be completed on September 7 (Labor Day, 2020.)
But since many visitors are renting, or staying, or visiting in the Grove through September, lifeguard staffing will be extended two more weekends after Labor Day.
The beach will now be covered on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday Sept. 13 . Then there will be coverage on Saturday Sept 19 and Sunday Sept 20.
On those two extra weekends, badges will be required, but not on weekdays.
On weekdays, there will be no lifeguards after Monday, September 7. The “no lifeguard on duty sign” will be up. It would seem best if no one swims during the week, but people may do that at their own peril.
The Office of Emergency Management has ready procedures if someone gets into trouble in the water, but that sequence cannot be activated if no one is around to dial 911. So, if someone plans to swim during the week or after hours on weekends, they should at least have someone with a phone tagging along.
Interestingly, a water distress call to 911 will contact the usual emergency groups including police, EMS and fire, but a water emergency will also produce a response from the “Answer Team” which is a network of experienced lifeguards who can provide specially trained assistance in an emergency.
If the 911 call is for a “swimmer in distress,” then members of that Answer Team team from OG will respond and bring their TORP with them—– that is the red flotation device which is a lifeguard’s best friend.
JAN HOWARD. “Sunshine On My Shoulder.”