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."
Luckily no one got hurt in this situation. But had he not responded and the man drowned, that would be an even worse situation. Even if JE&A said he did the "right" thing not leaving his post, the kid has to live with that for the rest of his life.
That's an important consideration which I think the employer may have not considered when developing its rules for its lifeguards. I would have classified all the lifeguards I saw on the TV report as "kids". I don't think any of them were more than 20 years old.
Luckily no one got hurt in this situation. But had he not responded and the man drowned, that would be an even worse situation. Even if JE&A said he did the "right" thing not leaving his post, the kid has to live with that for the rest of his life.
That's an important consideration which I think the employer may have not considered when developing its rules for its lifeguards. I would have classified all the lifeguards I saw on the TV report as "kids". I don't think any of them were more than 20 years old.
