Rescues on the rise for beach crews

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19: Missing toddlers, dislocated shoulders, stricken swimmers and jellyfish stings are just some of the situations faced by the island’s lifeguards this summer.

It has been a busy season with hundreds of thousands of people descending on Bermuda’s beaches but a very successful one too, according to lifeguard superintendant Nathan Trott.

Since May 1, the lifeguards have dealt with hundreds of beachgoers requiring first aid and assistance.

And they will remain on Horseshoe Bay, Cooper’s Island, Turtle Bay, Clearwater Bay, and John Smith’s Bay until the end of the month.

This year they were even forced to close Horseshoe for a day after dangerous rip tides led to seven sea rescues in the space of a few hours.

Mr Trott said: “We have seen a rise in the number of incidents where we have had to give first aid this year.

“It’s difficult to say exactly why but these days more people of all ages are able to get out and about and enjoy the beaches in Bermuda.

“We have also dealt with a lot more jelly fish stings than usual.

“There have been days when we’ve turned up on the beach and Portuguese Men o’ War have been everywhere.

“Just on Horseshoe alone we have dealt with 69 jelly fish stings so far this year and that obviously does
not include the people who did not come to us for help.”

Every incident they deal with and every bit of advice they give out is now logged on a daily ledger.

Training

It is all part of the more professional approach to the job, which has also seen senior Bermudian lifeguards help train up new recruits.

Mr Trott added: “I think we have the strongest team of lifeguards now than ever before.

“It is a very professional group of individuals who work hard and do a great job.

“Six of our senior lifeguards now have the qualifications to help train the new lifeguards and that obviously helps us improve the service.”

Over the last five-and-a-half months lifeguards have come to the rescue of dozens of kayakers, swimmers and people injured on the rocks.

Some worked well past their regular hours to help treat a volleyball player on Horseshoe who dislocated his shoulder while playing.

One of their biggest challenges this year came when hundreds of people descended on Horseshoe for BeerFest.

Mr Trott said: “We dealt with people who were falling in and out of consciousness.

“A lot of the 20 major first aids we have carried out took place during BeerFest.

“It was certainly the most pressure the lifeguards have ever been under and presented the most risk we had ever had.”

So far this summer the lifeguards have dealt completed 28 rescues, 27 of which occurred at Horseshoe.

They have also been involved in 43 incidents of vessel assistance where they have helped people on boats or kayaks.

Mr Trott added: “A lot of the work we try and do is preventative to try and stop a situation from happening before it does.

“This can simply involve speaking to people or putting out buoys and flags.

“It takes up a great deal of time but can have significant benefits.”