Kelly Richards: I Take Great Pride in Being a Lifeguard, As Lifeguarding Is One of My Biggest

Kelly Richards: I take great pride in being a lifeguard, as lifeguarding is one of my biggest passions. It is not just a summer job, it is a lifelong commitment. A lifeguard is someone important, someone you and your family trust, and someone who is an essential part of the community. My sister, Emily, and I began training during the summer of 2011 at ages 14 and 12 through a California junior lifeguarding program. Since then, we have been double certified through Starguard and Red Cross (re-certified multiple times). We were also trained by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, who greatly furthered our education on water safety and techniques. My love for lifeguarding has led me to begin studying as a pre-med student.

Regardless of our credentials, the City of New Buffalo did everything they could to try and make us fail.We followed the rules, but were never told how to execute them. There was no guidance, which made us feel like we were on our own. Face-to-face interactions with managers were rare, which I do not believe created a healthy work environment. The only formal meeting we had was when a lifeguard was terminated after the Fourth of July weekend. As a side note, this meeting is also the only time lifeguards saw David Richards face, yet we were called “unqualified and poor quality people.”

**Besides a lack of management, there was also a lack of usable supplies and equipment. When we asked for these needed supplies and equipment to be provided, the phantom“$60,000” budget was apparently diminishing, yetnothing had been bought, three days were cut from our schedules, and many rain/double-red flag days caused us to leave work early or be called off. We took it upon ourselves to buy the needed gear, equipment, and supplies, such as: Band-Aids, binoculars, uniforms, whistles, ice packs, and seal easies –a type of CPR mask-, among other items, without reimbursement. Where do they think all of the supplies and gear came from? We did not realize the budgetissue was so severe, until our health went into danger due to a limited amount of water bottles and shade provided.**

Even though we never let our health affect live saving duties, we did suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration.There would be days we would try to make a limited amount of water bottles last until more could be provided – sometimes provided at 2-3 P.Mafterrepeatedly asking/telling the managers. The tarps for lifeguard towers are worn and do not provide full sun coverage (managers are well aware as we asked for them to be replaced multiple times). The guard room does not have air conditioning, or a working fan, which makes it unbearable to be inside for more than five minutes. A thirty-minute break was allowed, however, it seemed like breaks were not possible, as managers frowned upon them. Most of the time, there were too many people on the beach to abandon our duties and upsetting the managers, in fear of losing our jobs, was not an option. Eventually, we were told to “figure it out” or “take a break in the lifeguard tower with our backs turned” due to labor laws. Side note: Taking a break in a lifeguard tower with our backs turned meant we were still on call or duty, and would require us to be paid. It is also not possible, as it looks extremely bad and endangers patrons.

The City of New Buffalo has not acknowledged our hard work. Instead, they continue to slander and disrespect us, despite us covering them from many lawsuits.From burning my feet on 100 degree+ sand by giving my sandals to a lost child while we looked for her father, to rescuing two 250 pound men with my sister, to even creating a fully detailed records book for incidents, I put my heart and soul into saving and protecting the lives of New Buffalo City Beach. Drownings would have happened if we had not been there, and it would be foolish to say otherwise.

Citizens put their faith and trust in city council members to ensure our community will remain a safe space. However, not having lifeguards is the complete opposite of just that. It is an example of failure and irresponsibility. I ask they say to themselves, “I am willing to live with myself knowing babies, children, siblings, or mothers and fathers alike will die a preventable death, because of me.”If you think of it this way, in the 3 minutes given to each individual to speak, a baby, a child, a sibling, a mother, a father, is now suffering from brain damage and is on the verge of an incredibly painful death. You call out for help, but no one knows what to do, no one can save them…You watch them sink and have their lifeless body be taken away by the current, all because a lifeguard was not there to rescue them. (Sounds dramatic, but it is true. This is what happens without lifeguards. This is the horror someone will have to go through and never get over.)

I am curious to know what system will be in place of lifeguards, as we are the first responders on the scene in less than a minute. I have been incredibly grateful for my job and would go back in a heartbeat. There is not a better feeling than going home and telling your mom, “I saved lives, today.”

Extra notes which I believe should be emphasized/said/mentioned/questioned…

Total swimmers rescued: 17 -number does not account for other minor water incidents such as a jet ski failure incident, guiding someone out of the water, or swimming along with a patron to make sure they got where they wanted to safely-
“$60,000 budget” was nowhere to be seen by the lifeguards
Lifeguards were repeatedly told to keep their mouths shut if asked about the disputes going on within the city. If we talked about the city, we would be terminated.
The people who come to New Buffalo rely on lifeguards to keep them safe...that is why they are willing to pay the $12 parking fee, when other beaches around us are free. What are the patrons on the beach paying for if it is not the lifeguards? The debris is hardly cleaned and the boardwalk is falling apart. There is no draining system by the shower, which causes hygienic problems, along with not having ventilated bathrooms...
-Has any city council member been in our positions as lifeguards and/or educated on water safety?
-How does the city council plan to ensure water safety/what system will be in place?
Lifeguards know more than anyone that patrons do not look at flags/know the meaning of flags, signs, boards, etc. Markers in the water will constantly shift, too.
Lack of police response, mentioned in separate statement
-What will be done about the 911 calls being more expense of taxpayer’s money?
-What about the coast guard cost when they are called to look for a body?
-Do the city managers have credentials for their positions, or are the multiple positions given around the city to save money, even if they aren’t qualified?
An apology from David Richards and other city managers is requested by the lifeguard crew due to the malicious slander and false accusations made against us (lifeguards)

Preventative measures as requested by Nora Howe:

Keeping coast guard radio on the tower at all times for immediate weather and water updates
Eyes were always on the water, scanning all areas of water
Crew efficiently communicated with each other
Every morning/when needed to be updated, two lifeguard boards were designed by Emily Richards, which included:
Temperatures, wind, water temperature, surf, UV index, sunset, and warnings (if any)
Umbrellas would need to be kept in line or behind lifeguard towers in order to prevent blind spots. Rule was fair for all types of umbrellas.
Constant water patrol by swimming in the swim zone with rescue tubes/rescue board
Constant beach patrol by walking the shoreline and break wall (rocks)
Buoys were put in by lifeguards multiple times as waves and currents would constantly shift them out of place
Binoculars
Kept Third Coast renters, boats, and jet skis out of the swim zone
Fanny packs for immediate access to first aid (Seal easy CPR mask, Band-Aids, gloves, antiseptic wipes, portable radio)
Clear rescue lane lined by cones for immediate access to distressed swimmers and life-saving equipment (rescue board and tubes)
Restocked first aid when needed with our own money, along with air horns
Lifeguarding 101 Handbook created by: Kelly Richards
Back to back filled with How To steps such as; How to use an AED, Asthma Attacks, Anaphylaxis, Broken Limbs, CPR –Infant, Child, Adult + pictures, Heat Stroke/Exhaustion, Spinal Injuries…just to name a few (all for incidents that could have occurred when we were off duty and if beach staff did not know what to do)
Methods for prevention, such as the RICE Method
Phone numbers of managers and police
Rules posted up at the front of the beach
Detailed incident reports for rescues and first aid
Changing flags throughout the day and informing beach patrons
Alerted patrons when lightning was spotted and we could no longer be on duty
At the end of our shifts, we announced on both sides of the beach we were off duty and to swim at your own risk
Kept swimmers from jumping off the rocks/going along the break wall
Called swimmers back in if they were going past the buoy line or if inflatables were NOT advised due to conditions
Gave detailed responses to patrons when asked questions about lifeguarding, flags, conditions, etc.
Prevented patrons from swimming in the marina (other side of break wall with boats), along with the reasons why
Blew air horn and went out on rocks when people climbed the coast guard tower…kept them off the rocks for the rest of the day
Polarized sunglasses to see the water more clearly
Frequently switched positions (water patrol duty, beach patrol, lifeguard towers, take turns with umbrellas and rocks, etc)
Constantly changed positons in lifeguard tower to stay alert and focused (Standing, sitting, etc.)
Attempted to stay in contact with police and parks throughout the day
If a child could noticeable not swim well, we informed parents to stay with them at all times or to put a floating device on them
Morning runs, swims, and other workouts to prepare for the day