Notice the "beach closed" tape? Many people didn't!Some of you Brooklyn beach bums may be aware that the waters were closed to swimmers over this past weekend due to extreme riptides. But not to worry because you could swim anyway! Most of the lifeguards along the strip of beach between Coney Island and Brighton were more concerned with how to style themselves (should I wear the designer sunglasses and the lip gloss?) or how fast they should twirl their whistles. The most shocking thing was that the group I was near spent most of their time BEHIND or on the SIDE of the lifeguard stand with their backs to the water! (I guess they never heard of the number one surfer rule of thumb. NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR MOTHER!) It was only when someone told them that someone was IN the water that they would self consciously saunter down to the shore, twirling their whistles and would ineffectively blow them. No hand signals, no authority, just non stop whistle blowing.
It was infuriating to watch I have to say. I wouldn't trust these self involved Abercrombie & Fitch model wannabees with my life! I am sure there were beach goers on the shore that could be more trusted if there was a rescue situation. Rip tides are no joke but apparantly the joke is on the young children who are not being watched by paid so called "lifeguards".
Check out this lifeguard on a cigarette break BEHIND the lifeguard chair. Which, by the way no one sat in the whole day. I am not one to whistle blow on lazy workers but these guys are PATHETIC!
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