More lifeguards on duty as Brooklyn beaches enter peak summer season
As beachgoers packed the shoreline this week, NYC Parks told News 12 there are already more guards on duty than this point in the season last summer, when crews performed more than 220 water rescues.
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Summer beach season is in full swing across Brooklyn, and city lifeguards say they are staffing up to keep crowds safe both in the water and on the sand.
As beachgoers packed the shoreline this week, NYC Parks told News 12 there are already more guards on duty than this point in the season last summer, when crews performed more than 220 water rescues.
Last year saw the highest number of lifeguards since 2019, at over 1,000 guards, with the summer season on pace to exceed that number.
Lifeguards on patrol in Brighton Beach bay 3 say the added staffing gives them more eyes on swimmers who may not realize they are seconds away from danger.
“The swimming slows down, the heads start bobbing, and that’s when we snap into action and get all hands-on deck,” said lifeguard Mia Winters. “I’m thinking about how fast I can get to that person because it takes 20 to 60 seconds for a person to drown.”
Lifeguards say their work extends beyond the water. With more people gathering on the sand, they are watching for signs of heat‑related illness, especially among seniors.
“People getting pale, going downhill. We’ve had people throw up. We immediately try to address that, ” Winters said.
Each lifeguard chair is stocked with rescue boards, oxygen tanks and first‑aid kits in case of emergencies. So far this season, there have been no water rescues reported in Brooklyn, but lifeguards say that is exactly why swimmers should never enter the ocean when guards are not present.
“It doesn’t matter how strong a swimmer you think you are. Anything can happen. This is the ocean. It’s unpredictable,” Winters said.
A recent water rescue in Far Rockaway took place just 20 minutes after lifeguards ended their shifts at 6 p.m.
In a statement to News 12, NYC Parks said, "When visiting our beaches, the safest choice you can make is to only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty. Do not swim in areas marked by red flags and pay attention to any riptide warnings."
Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
