4th Of July On The California Coast
Beaches, barbeques, and beer. Fireworks, family, and fun. It seems a whole lot of people have those kinds of plans when it comes to the Fourth of July national holidays around the United States.And with a combination of beaches, barbeques, and beer, lifeguards have to be especially vigilant around water.
On the Southern California coast, the lifeguards are stationed in lifeguard towers with communication equipment and armed with radios, a lifesaver tube and fins.
“We do a lot of preventative work, so when we see people who do not look confident in the water, we warn them before they get in the water,” explains Lexie Kelly. “We have 3 kinds of flags: green for acceptable conditions where it is generally safe. Yellow for conditions with waves or currents that require swimming with fins or more for experienced swimmers. And red for more dangerous conditions.
If a lifeguard has to make a save in one of our flanking towers, then we know to keep watch over their unmanned areas until he is back in position. There is always someone or something to keep an eye out for.”
Especially on a holiday.
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
Latest posts by Steven Munatones (see all)
