Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Man Outside of His Zone
Former Member
Link to the story Florida Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Drowning Man Outside of His Zone
"According to the Sun Sentinel, Lopez was approached by a beachgoer who pointed out a man struggling in the water nearly 1,500 feet south of his post.
Instinctively, he ran down the beach to save him. By the time Lopez got to him, he had been pulled to shore by fellow beachgoers.
Following his rescue attempt, Lopez was let go for leaving the area he was supposed to be covering."
Parents
Former Member
I'll grant that a lifeguard leaving her/his position/zone or whatever could put swimmers at risk who remain within that zone, but wouldn't that also be true if the lifeguard goes to save someone within his/her assigned zone? The focus would be on that one swimmer and someone else could get into trouble at the same time.
Was there only one lifeguard assigned to the area? That would be an incident waiting to happen. I seem to recall that lifeguards worked in pairs along ocean beaches, so that there would be a lifeguard at a station in case of an emergency. Even at my pool, there will often be more than one lifeguard.
I used to train Ellis lifeguards, zones have overlapping areas of coverage in a pool environment, not sure about open ocean. I do know in Volusia County FL (Daytona Beach area), guards work alone from guard stands set approximately 50 yards apart.
In pools when a rescue is being affected, the pool is cleared so all guards can assist with the situation.
I'll grant that a lifeguard leaving her/his position/zone or whatever could put swimmers at risk who remain within that zone, but wouldn't that also be true if the lifeguard goes to save someone within his/her assigned zone? The focus would be on that one swimmer and someone else could get into trouble at the same time.
Was there only one lifeguard assigned to the area? That would be an incident waiting to happen. I seem to recall that lifeguards worked in pairs along ocean beaches, so that there would be a lifeguard at a station in case of an emergency. Even at my pool, there will often be more than one lifeguard.
I used to train Ellis lifeguards, zones have overlapping areas of coverage in a pool environment, not sure about open ocean. I do know in Volusia County FL (Daytona Beach area), guards work alone from guard stands set approximately 50 yards apart.
In pools when a rescue is being affected, the pool is cleared so all guards can assist with the situation.
