Lifeguards near finish line of beach season

Lifeguards near finish line of beach season
Despite Earl, summer 2010 brings calmer seas and fewer rescues
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

Tommy Lyons, of Rumson, catches a wave last week in the rough surf caused by a tropical storm. ERIC SUCAR staff Tommy Lyons, of Rumson, catches a wave last week in the rough surf caused by a tropical storm. ERIC SUCAR staff LONG BRANCH — At this time last year lifeguard supervisor Michael “Spike” Fowler at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park talked about having to make a record-breaking number of rescues.

However, Fowler said last week that the number of rescues Monmouth County Park System lifeguards have had to make has gone significantly down this summer.

“They are down significantly from last year because we had a period of extraordinary calm water through May, June, July and most of August,” he said.

Fowler said last summer that the lifeguards were forced to make multiple rescues a day during the weeks leading up to the end of summer.

He said this year the last few days heading into Labor Day is when the water started to get rough.

“Just recently we’ve had our first influx of bad surf,” Fowler said. “Actually, it’s been good until several days ago with the onset of the storm, [hurricanes] Danielle first and Earl behind it.”

Fowler said that his staff takes precautions every day when going off duty to ensure the public is aware that there are no lifeguards on duty.

“One of our protocols is to remove all the bathers when lifeguards go off duty at 5 p.m,” he said. “There is no mistake that lifeguards are off duty and have left the area.

“Our benches are tipped down, bathers are removed from the water and we vacate the beach,” he added. “We post signage at the entrance of the park and the beach location that there are no lifeguards.”

Fowler, who will close out his 47th year as a lifeguard, gave some reasons why people choose to swim on beaches after hours.

“We always say swim near a lifeguard; that’s basic common sense,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had a spell this summer of extraordinary hot weather.

“People that work during the day are motivated to come down at the end of the day and cool off,” he added.

Fowler also said economics play into the decision.

“Another unfortunate thing is some people who are economically disadvantaged can’t really afford the daily admission fees and they want to take advantage of the free admission,” he said.

Fowler also identified the conditions where swimmers tend to get themselves in trouble.

“They get caught in these developing rip currents, usually when it is mid-tide between high and low tide,” he said. “These rip currents come up and people get caught in them and we end up rescuing them.”

He also said that the lifeguards are trained in identifying when a problem may arise.

“Our protocols are we end up identifying the location of the rip currents, identify people that are swimming in the rip currents and then identify people having difficulty coming to shore,” Fowler said. “We don’t want to react to a rescue, we want to plan a rescue as we see it set up.”

Although Fowler said rescues are down at the county level, he said beach attendance has been record breaking in 2010.

He credited hot and dry weather as the main reasons for the high attendance.

He also said the county was prepared for any rain or wind from last weekend’s Hurricane Earl, which was downgraded to a Category 1.

“I’m expecting to have red flags on tomorrow [Sept. 3] and Saturday with the possible clearing on Sunday, although it is a little early to tell,” he said. “Usually, the residual effects of these storms last for several days. As a result, as soon as the storm is out of our area, the water does not automatically calm down.”

The county will keep lifeguards on duty on weekends until Sept. 19 but stops charging for beach access Sept. 6.

Fowler said that local residents tend to cherish beach days in September.

“September has been oftentimes the most beautiful month of all, especially for area residents when beaches tend to be less crowded,” he said. “All of us enjoy the slightly cooler weather, the blue skies and oftentimes the very calm and warm water that September brings.”

Fowler also credited the county lifeguards for winning the lifeguard tournament for the 10th time in the last 11 years.

Fowler’s 47 years as a lifeguard have prompted him to write a book, along with co-authors Bernard and Edward Olsen, titled “Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore,” detailing the history of lifeguarding in New Jersey.