Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Ginormous Trench Dug at SMS #17



We previously blogged about all the digging going on these days at the beach this summer due to the proliferation of toy shovels... well, late in the afternoon on the last day of July 2012 we came across a GINORMOUS trench running perpendicular to the shore line at SMS Tower #17.  It was quite an undertaking and perhaps they were anticipating a seven foot tide that wasn't calendared... but it was still an awesome effort! 




10-4

---

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

***   ***   ***



"Wieland Shield - Victoria" Team Visits Will Rogers Lifeguard HQ

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at approx. 9:45 a.m.

Re:  "Wieland Shield - Victoria" team visit to Will Rogers Lifeguard HQ.

The Aussies wanted to see where Baywatch was filmed and so they stopped by WRHQ this morning and were surprised by a visit by Baywatch star and LACo Recurrent Lifeguard (Ret.), Mike "Newmie" Newman.












Running point of this visit to WRHQ was Tim McNulty, Sr., shown at right below with Wayne from Anglesea SLSC in Victoria.








x-ref:
http://www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au/www/html/626-wieland-shield.asp

http://www.surfcoasttimes.com.au/sport/othersport/2012/07/22/local-lifesavers-eye-wieland-shield/#.UBgv9UQmZao

https://www.facebook.com/wieland.shieldvictoria

---

We are also informed that the Wieland-Shield team will attend the Medal of Valor Dinner on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 and will be competing this weekend at the International Surf Festival.

10-4

Until next time.....



"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Aqua Jet Pack Dude !

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Santa Monica South.  Just south of the Santa Monica Pier yesterday something out of science fiction appeared about 300 or so yards off shore...
Photo by & Copyr. Will Maguire 2012.  All Rights Reserved.


Meet "Aqua Jet Pack Dude"... though the first thing I said to myself when I first noticed this guy 300 yards offshore was "WTF!?..." and then I had a moment of recalling the recent "War of the Worlds" film with Tom Cruise and the Big Aliens with the long hoses... 

Apparently, this device is available for sale but the price is too high for mass purchase at this time... Thanks Goodness!... or these devices would start appearing inside the surf line, no doubt, and causing havoc with swimmers, body boarders and surfers, etc.

x-ref:   http://www.maritimedirectory.com.mt/newsread.asp?l=e&ID=1087

---

10-4

"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Recurrent Alert! Summer of the Big Dig!

Cheap "Big Yellow" Toy Shovel Abandoned Recently At The Beach

As previously noted in an earlier blog post on the proliferation of cheap beach toys, have you ever seen so many kids and families digging in the sand?!...  We're talking fox holes, trenches, deep holes, and tunnels.  The principal reason for this dramatic increase is the aforementioned proliferation of cheap plastic toy shovels such as "Big Yellow", above.

Typical beach towels and toy shovels that are left discarded on our beaches

These diggings represent a couple of dangers for us as lifeguards. 

First and Foremost, you could trip and fall in one of these obstacles or even break a leg.  As first responders such injuries could imperil our ability to save lives in danger in the water. 

Secondly, the tunnels are of concern because of the potential for collapse.  Just this past weekend in Monmouth County in New Jersey, a youngster died from a collapse of the tunnel he had dug in the sand on the beach.

It is, therefore, imperative, that we as lifeguards:


a. Watch very carefully where you walk or run.  In this regard, there should be no holes or digging permitted in the coned area adjacent to our towers, as well as the area in front of our towers all the way to the low tide line.  Avoid running diagonally across your coned area and then on to the soft sand where patrons are seated as that is where you may encounter these obstacles.

b.  Be sure to do your foot patrols to check on what obstacles have been dug in the sand.  In this regard, several weeks ago I discovered a large hole and a tunnel that had been dug by a family
just to the north of SMN Tower #4 and a concerted effort had been undertaken to obscure this effort with umbrellas, beach towels and chairs.  Once discovered, I explained the new County Reg. that forbids any digging deeper than 18 inches and then together we filled in the excavation project.  An hour or so later I returned to this area on another foot patrol and encountered another family excavating with toy shovels and their hands in an effort to recreate this deep hole and tunnel.

Another popular effort by kids is to dig a hole several feet deep and put a kid in feet first and bury him up to his/her neck.  In this effort, their head, arms and hands lean deep into the holes they are digging.   Earlier this week while on a walk along SMS while the Tower #17 guard was in the water in a rip making a rescue I came across a young boy busily and quickly digging a hole with the intention to bury his younger brother up to his neck.  I advised him about the 18 inch rule which he seemed to me to dismiss. Meanwhile his father did not understand a word of what I was saying as he apparently did not speak English and he spoke in a foreign language with a Middle East accent.

On my return from my off duty beach walk I came across two ankle or leg breaking holes in the sand just above the berm.  These holes had been dug earlier in the day and left that way and the diggers were long gone.  I called attention to these holes adjacent to and in front of the open and manned lifeguard tower and then filled in the holes so no one would trip in them, esp. nearing dusk or later in the evening.  Such holes as can cause serious injury should be filled by on duty lifeguards while on their foot patrols in this lifeguard's opinion.

Below are a few of the holes and diggings I have encountered and which are included herein to reinforce the importance of watching where we step and to conduct foot patrols to discover dangers and to fill in holes that exceed 18 inches in depth or which otherwise have been abandoned and left for other patrons to fall in and get hurt.
Classic Fox Hole

Another Fox Hole

Classic Ankle Breaker/Hole Left Behind by Diggers

Be careful out there, Recurrents!

10-4

---

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Discarded/Abandoned Toys & Stuff Found At The Beach


















 Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****


Summer 2012: Watching The Water

 Today we bring a photo collection of our lifeguards doing what they do best... "Watch The Water!"  Enjoy! 


A whole team of OL's watching the water...


Shift Change with OL Tommy Doman (Jr.) arriving for duty

Capt. John Greger watching the water

Capt. Robert Torres, Race Director at recent Ed Perry Regatta, watching the water and the competitors...

OLS Kevin Maxwell watching the water


Zuma/Westward, OLS Kevin Williams watching the water and making an ordinance enforcement.

L2R, OLS' Chappie DeHaven and Bill White




Will Rogers OL, Iggy, watching the water at Tower #6

OLS Alex Vicente, watching the water

OL, Brandon Henry Snell, watching the water

Watching the (July 4th) Parade...

Not watching the water...

Off duty... on a workout

This OL sure looks familiar...

A Venice OL watching the water at Ave 26


Watching The Water & Looking Good!... Capt. Scott Grigsby

OLS, Joji Abasolo, watching the water

Joji still watching the water!

OLS, Matthew Pennington, watching the water

OL Arthur C. Verge, watching the water and selling SMN area t-shirts

Pete The Pelican watching the photographer... while still "striking a handsome pose"...

OLS Sean Lemm, at left, watching the water and the Taplin Paddlers during tryouts...

L2R: OLS, Eric Wylie and OL Jack Jacobs, watching the water

OL, Michael Schwimer, watching the water and making preventions!

OL Nick Sullivan arriving for duty

Watching the water at No. Pier in Venice...
Watching the water and backing up a guard in the water...

OL Taylor Manuel, in foreground at left with his rescue can raised while backing up the guard from Tower #17, namely, OL Carla Cano, making a rescue in a monster rip off of and between Towers #17 - 18, July 24, 2012.
and last but not least, if you were wondering if we shot any video of the aforementioned Monster Rip and Rescue by LACo OL, Carla Cano...... well, YES, indeed we did!  Here ya go:


Video Alert & Link!  Woo Hoo!...
Monster Rip & Rescue Off Of SMS Tower #18 featuring LACo OL, Carla Cano.

http://youtu.be/S-wC5Wz00o8


10-4

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.  All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.)

Fourth Year Rookie Mistake... come on!...   :-)

















Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***





DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

2012 Mega Colossus Champs Identified!

Source:
http://www.statelifeguards.com/lifeguardmegacompetition.html

We've just learned that two L.A. County Recurrents, Taylor Spivey and Nick Sullivan dominated their respective female and male fields and were crowned as the Champions of the 2012 Mega Colossus multi run swim run event in Huntington Beach this past Thursday, July 19, 2012.  This is an annual event hosted by the Huntington Beach State Lifeguards.  Congratulations to Taylor and Nick!  

http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2012/07/you-want-these-lifeguards-on-your-side.html 

x-ref:  LACo Recurrents Kicking Ass and Taking Names.


Taylor Spivey, below, competing at the recent San Clemente Ocean Festival this past weekend. Photo by & Copyright Skip Prosser 2012. All Rights Reserved.  Used here with permission.




Nick Sullivan, at right below, hamming it up with a lifeguard pal at Taplin 2010 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Photo by Will Maguire.





10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****



Summer of Cheap Beach Toys...

Have you ever seen so many discarded and cheap beach toys in your life?  Broken toy shovel handles proliferate our local beaches.  These toys are so cheap that patrons often simply discard these toys where they lay in the sand.

The larger toy shovels are a bit sturdier and are the principal culprits behind the dramatic increase in sand digging and tunnel building that we must all be wary of tripping in or worse, trapping children.  *** For this reason foot patrols are highly recommended and to be repeated and watch where you are stepping, people!  When you are running to a rescue or a prevent you now have to be mindful of watching both the victim(s) and where you are stepping.

Insofar as the cheap (ass) beach toys goes, however,
our beaches are littered with these cheap beach toys (small shovels, rakes, sand castle molds, etc.) that break easily and are sold by (illegal/unlicensed) vendors on the beach, at drug stores and the 99 Cent Stores, along with super cheap styrofoam body boards that break very easily. 



*** Be careful out there, Recurrents !

10-4

---

OL Pete The Pelican, Will Rogers Tower #14, July 23, 2012. Photo by Will Maguire.


Until next time.....



"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com



Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****


Monday, July 23, 2012

Just sayin'...


Photo by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.  All Rights Reserved.

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Invasion of the Jellys...

Numerous Jellys along the high tide line at WR#17, July 17, 2012
A "Jelly" near the high tide line, Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at approx. 7 pm at Will Rogers Tower #17
 

Up and down the coastline of Central Section, these jellies (juvenile jellyfish) have been getting washed up on shore with the rising tide and surf.  These particular jellies were seen on Will Rogers earlier this evening in the area of Tower #17.

A few minutes later we came across Capt. Scott Grigsby on patrol (see below) and he informed us that these jellies were the size of marbles about a month ago, whereas they have now grown to several inches in diameter and circumference.  In another month or so, Scott also indicated that they jellies will grow into the typical purple jellyfish that we get when the water warms.  In this regard, it was said to be 68 degrees in the ocean today at Will Rogers...  so get your swimming in now cuz there will be jellyfish to contend with next month most probably...
Capt. Scott Grigsby, on patrol, at Will Rogers Tower #18





10-4

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.)

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****