Rookie Guards Train Eyes on Sand and Surf

Rookie lifeguard James Pierce scanned the YMCA group--a hundred tykes romping on San Buenaventura State Beach, close to the pounding surf. Nothing unusual caught his eye. Just the standard beach-blanket chaos.

In the water, a few swimmers dog-paddled against the current. No perilous situations were imminent, but Pierce, ever the sentinel, never let his attention drift.

“A lot of time, there’s nobody in the water, but I have to be prepared and mentally alert and make sure I do all I can to prevent injury,” Pierce said, his eyes hidden behind wraparound sunglasses, his back ramrod straight.

One of 10 rookies buttressing the 40 veterans guarding Ventura County’s state beaches this summer, Pierce, 23, was manning Tower No. 4 earlier this week, providing a measure of security for parents.

This summer, the state had to hire more rookies than ever, but that doesn’t mean the quality isn’t there. As this week’s Centerpiece points out, only the best candidates survive lifeguard boot camp. Aside from superior swimming and lifesaving skills, the young guards need the right stuff.

“If you have an attitude problem, they send you home,” said Pierce, a recent graduate of Humboldt State who wants to be a firefighter or paramedic.

If you think lifeguards merely stand around looking buff, consider this: At San Buenaventura alone last year, lifeguards made more than 200 rescues and issued thousands of warnings. Their biggest accomplishment at that beach last summer: None of the 1.5 million sun-worshipers drowned.

While the rookies keep an eye on the public, the veterans keep an eye on the rookies.

“It definitely adds to the pressure,” Pierce said. “You have to prove yourself to the older guards, supervisors mostly.”

Guard towers are 400 yards apart, so Pierce has a large area to patrol, adding to his anxiety.

“I have to be aware of everything,” he said. “And not just in the ocean. I have to see the entire picture. There could be problems on the sand, behind the tower, on the boardwalk. It’s a big responsibility.”

The rookies have been working only six weeks. Pierce has yet to rescue anyone, but he has dealt with routine glass cuts and other accidents. Working at Carpinteria State Beach, Pierce had to treat a volleyball player who dived for a ball and split his head open on a rock.

“I’ve prevented a lot of rescues from having to happen,” Pierce said. “I don’t want to rescue people. I want to get them out of the water before they get into trouble.”