Lifeguard Shifts

Dear Editor:

Last week, Mike Balfe commented that lifeguard shifts should be rotated to keep the beaches covered until dusk. He is correct, and that’s the way it used to be. Today, all lifeguards work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the early 1970s, when I was a lifeguard at the Beach 106 shack, most guards worked 10 – 6, but some worked 11 – 7, and a few worked 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. This way the beaches were covered until dark, just as Mike suggests. Plus, on very hot days, we were kept on overtime to protect the swimmers. I don’t see any reason why the city can’t schedule lifeguards like that today. Except for the overtime, it’s cost neutral.

Peter Galvin