Emergency officials warn of dangers in ocean as many lifeguard staffs reduced

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Along the Crystal Coast are wrapping up their seasons for the summer and at some beaches, lifeguards are off duty.

Others will have lifeguards for the rest of the month. In Emerald Isle, lifeguards are going to have a reduced staff until the season officially ends on Sept. 30.

They said that if you must go swimming when lifeguards are off duty, you should know your limits. The beaches are being manned by a skeleton crew.

“We’ll drop back to a five on the beach strand and we’ll reduce our hour shifts from two shifts to one shifts,” Emerald Isle Fire Chief William Matthias said. “So, we’ll just have a singular shift out there and we lose that additional coverage in the evening hours from 5:30 to 7:30.”

So we see the transitional period where people aren’t so much stayind down here for vacation and summer and sand but for fall fishing season

He said the summer was fairly active for his crew. “We still have a month to go. So, we see the transitional period where people aren’t so much staying down here for vacation and summer and sand, but for fall fishing season,” Chief Matthias said.

The warm weather and people still swimming is a matter of concern for the lifeguards. Chief Matthias said they plan to be on top of the conditions day to day and will change beach flags if they have to.

Chief Matthias said you shouldn’t swim when lifeguards aren’t on duty. If you still do take to the ocean, he said to know your swimming abilities and/or wear a life jacket.

“I know to a lot of people, pride is a factor in that. But, it’s a lot better to continue to live your life than to lose your life,” Chief Matthias said. “So, any time that comes around and we have reduced staffing or we have dangerous conditions, you know, it’s like, ‘Hey, you know, please don’t risk your life out there.”

Chief Matthias said there are many dangers the ocean can present. “There’s always a danger out there, whether it be marine life, currents are always present, no matter what color flag is flying for us,” he said. “And that goes for anywhere. You know, those currents don’t disappear. It is Mother Nature. That water’s moving around. So just, you know, study up, get educated, and obviously be safe as best you can.”

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