July 31 is National Lifeguard Appreciation Day, and it serves as an important reminder of the
vital role lifeguards play in protecting our community. According to the CDC, drowning is the
leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and the second-leading cause for kids ages 5-14.
Behind every safe day at the pool are dedicated lifeguards whose vigilance helps prevent these
tragedies before they happen.
The Town of Clarkstown employs approximately 100 lifeguards each summer, and they are
among the most highly trained in the entire country, preparing extensively to recognize
emergencies, respond quickly, and remain alert throughout every shift. Our lifeguards go
through a rigorous hiring process each year to ensure that their skills and swimming are up to
the Red Cross Standards. Throughout the summer, the aquatics staff engages in ongoing
inservice training as well as live rescue drills to keep all skills refreshed.
Our guards are trained to spot trouble in a window of seconds, and every one of those seconds
counts. A novice swimmer can go from looking fine to actively struggling and going underwater
in 20 to 60 seconds. This rapid transition is often completely silent. In many cases, there’s no
splashing or shouting, just a quiet disappearance beneath the surface that can be easily missed
in a moment of distraction. Once someone has gone roughly 90 seconds without oxygen, the
risk of brain damage begins to climb. A pool lifeguard's entire job is built around beating that
clock when called upon and remaining focused and diligent on every shift.
Still, many of us view lifeguards the same way we look at a fire extinguisher. We’re glad to know
it’s there in case of an emergency, but we don’t think much about how it works. While a fire
extinguisher has only one job, our lifeguards hold many responsibilities beyond their main
mission to prevent drownings. They enforce safety rules, monitor pool occupancy, test water
chemistry, administer first aid, remove debris, and help maintain a clean and safe environment
for everyone. They also serve a role similar to customer service representatives, often handling
difficult situations with professionalism and maturity. For many of our lifeguards, most of whom
are teenagers, this means confidently enforcing safety rules with patrons of all ages, including
adults who may not always welcome being told what to do.
You’re most likely to notice a lifeguard when they’re blowing a whistle to stop kids from running
around the pool, but few of us give much thought to how important those whistles are as a
communication tool in keeping us safe. Whistles might seem low-tech, but they work instantly,
can be used hands-free, function underwater, and are universally recognized as alert signals.
Lifeguards use these tools as a clear, highly audible way to send fast messages, such as one
short blast for rule enforcement, one long blast for a water rescue, and multiple short blasts to to
call for Head Guard assistance. So when you hear a lifeguard whistle, know that there’s a good
reason behind it.
The simplest way to support our lifeguards is by following pool rules, even when their purpose
may not be immediately obvious. Everyone understands why running on wet surfaces, diving
into shallow water, or roughhousing in the water is prohibited. Other rules, such as requiring
proper swim attire, are equally important, even if they may be less intuitive. Municipal pools
across the country require dedicated swimwear for reasons of safety, hygiene, and equipment
protection. Swimwear is specifically designed to be lightweight and non-absorbent, which
becomes critically important if a lifeguard must rescue someone from the water. Street clothes
and other non-swim fabrics can become heavy when soaked, making rescues more difficult.
They can also introduce contaminants into the water, shed fibers that clog filtration systems,
and release dyes that affect pool chemistry. When a lifeguard asks someone to leave the water
because they are not wearing appropriate swim attire, they are not enforcing a dress code for
appearance and they’re not judging you on your fashion sense, they’re doing it to protect you
and our pools by enforcing a safety standard that protects both swimmers and our facilities.
Our lifeguards serve to protect us in many ways. By maintaining order, curbing dangerous
behavior, and diffusing potential hazards before they manifest, they provide safety to our pool
visitors. They occupy one of the most critical summer positions in our nation, but frequently
escape our notice precisely because their vigilance ensures our days at the pool go by without
incident. I encourage you to join me this week and take a moment to offer a word of thanks to
these dedicated young professionals for their commitment to Clarkstown’s safety. Enjoy our
beautiful pool facilities and have a great rest of the summer!
