Lifeguard supervision wrapped up for season at most N.S. beaches

Lifeguards Unavailable at Most Nova Scotia Beaches for Labour Day Weekend

As the Labour Day weekend approaches, beachgoers in Nova Scotia should be aware that lifeguards will not be on duty at most beaches. The Department of Natural Resources, Parks Canada, and several municipalities typically contract lifeguards to provide supervision at beaches starting in late June. However, this coverage ended at most locations on August 25.

Paul D’Eon, the executive director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, cited staffing issues as the reason for the lack of lifeguards. Many staff members have gone off to university, returned to school, or relocated, resulting in limited availability of lifeguards.

While supervision will continue at Lake Milo in Yarmouth County and Aylesford Lake in Kings County until 6 p.m. on Monday, most other beaches will be unsupervised. This includes Melmerby Beach near New Glasgow, where a tragic drowning incident occurred on August 22.

Increased Risks Due to Hurricane Erin

With Hurricane Erin causing dangerous conditions such as heightened surf and riptides, beach safety is a significant concern. D’Eon emphasized that North Shore beaches are particularly vulnerable to riptides during rare surf events.

Following the drowning at Melmerby Beach, concerns were raised about the adequacy of warning signage and the need for additional safety measures. Michaela Reid, a friend of the victim, suggested that red flags should be added when conditions are hazardous and proposed the installation of an extra lifeguard station to improve response times.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for Natural Resources stated that warnings about the risks posed by Hurricane Erin were issued online. However, the victim was found 600 meters away from the supervised area at the beach.

Enhancing Beach Safety Measures

Looking ahead, D’Eon expressed a commitment to exploring additional interventions to enhance beach safety. While acknowledging the existing signage at beaches, he emphasized the importance of continuous improvement to ensure the well-being of beachgoers.

As beach safety remains a top priority, stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate on implementing measures that will enhance supervision and mitigate risks at Nova Scotia beaches.