A new team of lifeguards took up their posts on Brighton & Hove’s beaches at the weekend to kick off the summer season.
The 24 new recruits join Brighton & Hove City Council’s year round seafront team, from Saturday 26 May to 9 September, to help ensure residents and our millions of visitors enjoy a safe and happy time on the beach this summer.
Many of the lifeguards will be familiar to regular beach goers as they return to the job they enjoyed last year.
The new lifeguards have spent this week preparing for the summer season, when they will patrol the city’s beaches from the Marina to Hove Lagoon and as far as Saltdean during the school summer holidays.
The team of male and female lifeguards, have all successfully completed a rigorous beach lifeguard qualification and a week-long induction course acquiring a wide range of skills from assessing sea and weather conditions and dealing with beach hazards, to carrying out first aid and water rescues.
During an average year Brighton & Hove’s lifeguards carry out over 100 water rescues, and save many lives. They also administer first aid to around 250 beach goers, give safety advice to around 20,000 people and reunite hundreds of children with their families.
Easy to spot in their red and yellow uniforms, the lifeguards will be on duty each day from 9.30am to 7pm, supporting the council’s year round seafront team.
Councillor Alan Robins chair of the council’s Tourism, Development and Culture Committee said: “Once again we are delighted to have recruited a dedicated team of lifeguards to patrol our popular beaches.
“The new lifeguards are committed to supporting our regular seafront officers in ensuring the millions of visitors from all over the world who flock to our beaches every summer return home safe and happy.”
The city’s seafront team manager Chris Ingall, added: “With the weather looking good into the school half term holidays, we’re anticipating a busy time ahead and would ask that as well as having a great time, visitors to the beach behave responsibly by using sunscreen, taking their litter away, and not taking unnecessary risks in the water.
"If in doubt, always swim between the red and yellow flags and if you have any concerns or need advice, please speak to the lifeguard.”