Photo: @lacolifeguards
Summer heat and big waves are two factors that always lead to busy weekends for beach lifeguards. The two don’t always come together, but they have in recent weeks around Southern California. Los Angeles County Lifeguards reported on Tuesday that they just recorded nearly 2,000 rescues over one busy summer weekend as a result. One thousand of those rescues came on Saturday alone.
According to an announcement from the group’s social media, lifeguards throughout the county conducted 71,274 preventative actions (active surveillance and enforcement of rules), 517 medical aids, 749 emergency vehicle responses, and 1,950 ocean rescues. A video accompanying those numbers showed some hectic rips in the South Bay and Venice Beach, with guards venturing out to assist struggling beachgoers.
“As wave heights increase, so does the frequency and strength of rip currents. With elevated air temperatures across the Southland this week, if you plan on coming to the beach to cool off, use extra caution, as ocean conditions are expected to become increasingly hazardous,” wrote the department in a previous post, anticipating the busy weekend ahead. “Always remember to swim and surf in front of an open lifeguard tower, know your limits, and take a moment to check in with a (lifeguard) before entering the water.”
View this post on Instagram
A rush of inland beachgoers escaping the heat is considered the biggest factor in local beaches having so many people on a given day. The department doesn’t expect things to die down soon either, as waves continue and more heat advisories are issued for inland areas. Temperatures are forecast to stay the mid-90s and reach as high as 105 degrees in some inland areas.
