GuamWaterMensClub: VoiceOfThePeople

Lifeguards Put Their Lives On The Line

Kudos to Terry Mayberry for his address to parents regarding children and water safety. Allow me to add onto Mayberry’s plea.

To all parents: Do not place the life of a child into the hands of another child. “Watch your brother/sister.” Sound familiar? Older children are just that — children — and should not have thrust upon them a responsibility they cannot begin to comprehend. Although fun and enjoyable, the water can be a life or death situation and no eye is as watchful as a parent’s eye on a child.

To our island leaders: Our lifeguards need more training and support. Not only are they the most knowledgeable about the conditions of the waters they patrol, but lifeguards put their lives on the line every single day.

Their rescues often do not make the paper, though they prevent drownings daily, whether it’s the swimmer who cramps up and gets pulled in or the snorkeler who swam out too far, can’t fight the current at Ypao and gets towed in.

The people rescued are local residents and tourists alike. Perhaps the Guam Visitors Bureau could find it in their budget to assist in implementing a lifeguard training program modeled after other island destinations such as Hawaii. Top-notch lifeguards plus beautiful beaches would definitely be a plus for Guam.

LETITIA SHIMIZU

Sinajana