Rookie lifeguards make a splash at TOH beaches and pools

Wantagh residents Alex Charkowick, Samuel Cioffi and Kristina Fuchs are among the 2018 graduating class of rookie lifeguards for the Town of Hempstead who were presented with golden whistles at a ceremony at Point Lookout Park in Lido Beach on July 16.

Town of Hempstead Supervisor and former Town lifeguard Laura Gillen took the opportunity to recognize the newest rookie lifeguard class in a special way after a reported trend of areas experiencing shortages of lifeguards.

Every year, Town of Hempstead lifeguards make thousands of rescues, including over 200 saves during the recent, busy July 4th weekend, according to Gillen. Town beach lifeguards are certified through an extremely rigorous and physically demanding, week’s long training course, which includes rigorous running, swimming and extensive practice in such areas as spotting rip currents, shore breaks and sharks. Typically, 1 in 4 recruits are unable to complete the training.

The Town of Hempstead has approximately 560 lifeguards for its 23 pools and 11 beaches. It is the only ocean lifeguarding program in the country to be awarded four national awards from the United States Lifeguarding Association.

“As a former Town of Hempstead lifeguard, I was delighted to present ceremonial whistles to our newest rookie graduates,” Gillen told the class. “Our ocean lifeguards are the most highly trained in the country…Congratulations to our new guards and their proud parents”

Notices to become a Town of Hempstead lifeguard are sent to every high school and college in Nassau County in April .