Seal Beach Lifeguards performed 29 rescues, answered eight medical aid calls, performed one boat rescue and treated 26 stingray injuries between Friday, June 1, and Thursday, June 7, according to Marine Safety Department Chief Joe Bailey’s report to City Manager Jill Ingram.
“The number of stingray victims over the last two weeks is high for this time of year,” Bailey wrote. “We are wondering if this is due to the new and improved First Street Beach Parking lot. As we ramp up lifeguard deployment and start to separate the swimmers, surfers and kite boarders, pushing the swimmers toward the pier, we hope the number of victims will fall to normal levels.
“Beach attendance has picked up over the last week,” Bailey wrote. “Good surf and weather has drawn surfers and beachgoers. We are expecting the surf to remain in the 2-3 foot range and weather in the ’70s.”
“As schools of all levels start to wind down we have had many school groups at the beach enjoying an end of the year beach day,” Bailey wrote.
“Training and re-certification days have been planned for the Beach and Pool Lifeguards. Training for returning recurrent guards is critical in refreshing and maintaining lifeguarding skills for our guards,” Bailey wrote.
Sign up for the Junior Lifeguard program will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 16, at Lifeguard Headquarters. Another swim text will be held at noon, Saturday, June 16, for people who missed earlier tests. For more information, visit www.sealbeachca.gov.
