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On vigilant watch. On guard. On the stand. On their toes.
That is the job for a Sea Colony Beach Patrol lifeguard from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through June 14 and from Sept. 3 through Oct. 14, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 15 through Sept. 2.
While virtually everyone else around them on the beach is cavorting, reading, sleeping, talking or just taking in the magical salt air, the Guardians by the Sea are ready to spring into action.
Even while being cordial to those who approach the lifeguard stand, they are always on alert. Their eyes remain on the swimmers in the surf even while they are sipping and chewing for sustenance during the long beach day.
Someone’s life may be in danger. And they are the ones who have the ability to rescue swimmers in need.
The Coastal Point is once again spotlighting one of these Guardians by the Sea with a beach lifeguard feature story each week during the season.
Rescues in the surf and on sand
Sea Colony Beach Patrol lifeguard Sam Beebe was sitting by himself on the north side of the resort community near the Bethany Beach border earlier this summer.
Suddenly, the first-year guard noticed three small boys caught in a rip current, which is strong and narrow, and can victimize swimmers who panic or have limited water skills. Beebe cleared his stand and ran for the youngsters, while two colleagues from Bethany Beach Patrol did the same.
Beebe reached one of the youngsters, gave him a rescue buoy and quickly walked him out of the surf. Simultaneously, the BBP duo did the same with the other two boys.
“This was my most memorable rescue, because the two Bethany Beach Patrol guards were close friends of mine,” he said. “That made it sort of a bonding moment for us.”
Beebe also participated in an umbrella rescue that occurred on the beach.
“Umbrella rescues occur when we have strong westerly winds that are pretty crazy,” he said. “When umbrellas get uprooted from the sand and fly along the beach, that can be very dangerous. As lifeguards, we must quickly sprint to those umbrellas and secure them before they injure someone.”
Beebe trains every single day to ensure that he will be ready when any type of rescue is required.
“I also usually assist older citizens as they exit the surf on those days when the waves are large,” he noted. “The strong currents and large waves make it difficult for some people to simply exit the ocean.”
Being a lifeguard is like being part of a family
For Beebe, being a lifeguard is akin to being part of a family.
“I feel a tight bond with everyone I work with,” he said. “When you train with them every single day to improve, it doesn’t even feel like a job. It’s more of a supportive group who push you to be the best you can be every day.”
The easiest part of Beebe’s job, he said, is simply showing up with the knowledge that he has the potential to help people and make a difference.
“That’s why I fell in love with being a lifeguard,” he said. “Each day, I am excited to better prepare myself for any event that might occur. I’m always eager to get to the beach.”
Conversely, he said he considers the mental and physical demands as the toughest part of his responsibilities.
“You have to be well-focused, act quickly and be strategic when people are in their most vulnerable situation,” he said. “You cannot let anything slip past you — it may cost someone their life.
“It’s a physically demanding job,” added Beebe. “We must complete hour-long morning workouts that include running, swimming and bodyweight workouts, and three workout breaks throughout the day. There are also SCLA lifeguard competitions throughout every week, so it’s very easy to become sore and tired.”
Beebe, who became a lifeguard due to his love of the ocean and the desire to help people, has lived in Bethany Beach since he was 2.
“I’ve been at the beach every day that I could,” he said. “So, I’ve always had lifeguards watching over me. So, I feel it’s my turn to give back to my community in that regard.”
Beebe credited his father, Andy Beebe, with having a profound impact on his lifeguard career.
“He provided me with the biggest support that I’ve ever received in anything. He motivates me every day through what he does and makes me want to better myself.
“I’ve always worked in restaurants, so transitioning to being a lifeguard was very uncomfortable for me at first,” he said. “I owe my father all the respect for helping me get to where I am today and always supporting me.
“Honorable-mention credit to those who helped me progress as a lifeguard goes to SCBP Capt. Dave Griffith, and to Lts. Cindy Fajardo and Elizabeth Fry,” Beebe added.
When Beebe realized that he wanted to be a lifeguard, he said, he set the Rookie of the Year award as a short-term goal.
“I want to be the best that I can, and I’m really motivated to try my hardest every single day and give it all that I can.”
As for long-term goals, Beebe said he hopes to become an SCBP lieutenant and earn his degree in nursing at the University of Delaware.
“I’m forever grateful that I get to do what I love at the beach,” Beebe concluded. “I want to thank the SCBP for being so supportive, and for teaching me everything that I’ve been able to learn.”
Sea Colony Beach Patrol
The Sea Colony Beach Patrol oversees half a mile of private beach daily from the weekend before Memorial Day to Columbus Day in October. The SCBP is a United States Lifeguard Association Advanced Certified Agency consisting of 21 guards, who are each certified in American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Emergency Medical Response. Each of the six lifeguard stands are located in front of the Sea Colony high-rise condominiums near Bethany Beach.
SCBP lifeguards respond to land and water emergencies, and they provide information and education about hazards in the sun, weather and ocean. SCBP beach lifeguards train daily to prepare for any situation on land or in water, and they constantly strive to exceed their high standards of open-water safety.
Article by Mike Stern, Coastal Point, August 16, 2024
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