These are statistics from the city regarding ocean rescues at our beach property. Click on the image for greater detail. The table above is for the year 2007 and the one below is for the year 2008, less data from December. Note that the 2008 data would likely not include Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October and November since that is after the start of the current fiscal year. This is when the policy went into effect saying that the city would not have lifeguard coverage at the beach on those two days.The column at the extreme right is a little hard to read, but it indicates the number of times the beach has been closed due to threat of lightning. The other columns from left to right are: Rescues, Minor Medicals, 911 calls, public assists, preventative rescues, lost/missing persons and sharks.
Below is the section of the City's Code of Ordinances relating to lifeguards at our beach:
Sec. 7-3. Compliance with regulations posted at beach; obedience to lifeguards.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to swim in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean which lie east of the city, specifically the municipal ocean beach owned by the city, except and unless such person complies with the notices posted on such beach by the city.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to disobey any reasonable command of a duly employed lifeguard of the city that is designed to protect the public and/or public property in the use of the municipal ocean beach.
(Code 1956, § 7-1; Ord. No. 86-12, § 1, 3-17-86)
It shall be unlawful for any person to swim in the waters of the municipal beach when an official lifeguard of the city is not on duty at the beach.
(Code 1956, § 7-3)
Here is a letter from the United States Livesaving Association dated January 28, 2009. In the letter they plead for the city to provide lifeguard coverage seven (7) days a week:
Clearly we need seven (7) day a week coverage at our beach. What was the Commission/Mayor/staff thinking by implementing such a dangerous precedent? Judging by the statistics provided by the city, there is much more being done by the lifeguards than swimming rescue. The beach can be a dangerous place - particularly for those not familiar with the area - tourists! And, we all know that an emergency situation doesn't depend on the day of the week.
It's interesting to note that estimated attendance is up in 2008 from 2007 - even though December is not included in the statistics. That means that in 2008 over half-a-million people visited our beach. That's equal to the attendance of five (5) Super-Bowls!
Please remember this irresponsible action when you go to the polls. Remember, this is the same crew that brought you the trash calendar. At least that was just a nuisance and not a life-or-death matter.
Perhaps John G's could step up with a contribution to fund those two days a week to partially make up for the public subsidy they have received for 35 years.
Here is a letter from the United States Livesaving Association dated January 28, 2009. In the letter they plead for the city to provide lifeguard coverage seven (7) days a week:
Clearly we need seven (7) day a week coverage at our beach. What was the Commission/Mayor/staff thinking by implementing such a dangerous precedent? Judging by the statistics provided by the city, there is much more being done by the lifeguards than swimming rescue. The beach can be a dangerous place - particularly for those not familiar with the area - tourists! And, we all know that an emergency situation doesn't depend on the day of the week.
It's interesting to note that estimated attendance is up in 2008 from 2007 - even though December is not included in the statistics. That means that in 2008 over half-a-million people visited our beach. That's equal to the attendance of five (5) Super-Bowls!
Please remember this irresponsible action when you go to the polls. Remember, this is the same crew that brought you the trash calendar. At least that was just a nuisance and not a life-or-death matter.
Perhaps John G's could step up with a contribution to fund those two days a week to partially make up for the public subsidy they have received for 35 years.
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhHyCn84ZIQ/WezjlEL-0tI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/CzkhriK6zpEJJ3d9Je1495d49gIhnMlxACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
