Lifeguards must trade shorts for books

Eron Ben-Yehuda

NEWPORT BEACH -- With school bells ringing again, and more and more

lifeguards starting to hit the books instead of watching the waves,

beachgoers shouldn’t worry about safety, officials say.

More than half the lifeguards patrolling 6.2 miles of coast only work

during the summer break, which for many has come to an end, Marine Safety

Lt. Eric Bauer said.

“Basically, a chunk of people leave each Monday to go back to school,”

he said. “The nature of the beast is we use college students and high

school students to get this job done during the summertime.”

Less help doesn’t mean more danger, though, because many beachgoers,

like the lifeguards themselves, return to their studies, he said. When

big crowds do show up on the weekends, school’s out anyway so enough

lifeguards head back to work, he said. Overtime pay fills whatever gaps

remain, he said.

Lifeguard Charlie Dall starts another year at Golden West College

today, but he’ll be coming back to help on the weekends, he said.

Since the beach closures in Huntington Beach, more ocean lovers have

come to Newport but not enough to cause concern, Dall said.

“Even though it’s a little bit busier, it’s still pretty slow, he

said.

The crowds drop off considerably during the week so “less essential”

lifeguard towers are left unmanned, but even then, backup units in

off-road trucks and boats patrol the area, he said.

“Every single inch of water is watched when possible,” Dall said.

And when the summer rolls around again next year, many lifeguards will

return to fill in the ranks, including Dall.

“It’s the best work environment you can have,” he said. “I hope to

never work a desk job. That’s just my ambition in life.”