Lake Arthur park adds lifeguards to address safety concerns

Published 7:23 am Thursday, July 7, 2016

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LAKE ARTHUR – With summer in full swing, more people are enjoying the Lake Arthur park and beach and creating concern for swimmers’ safety, Mayor Robbie Betrand said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The increase of the park’s use has led town officials to add lifeguards in order to make sure those enjoying the park stay safe this summer when swimming, he said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“This is out of concern for the safety of the people and for the people to follow the rules,” Bertrand said. “There are signs in the park that say don’t jump off (the boardwalk), but people do and we have had a couple of incidents. People need to be smart.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Signs are also posted along the beach warning people to swim at their own risk. Those signs will remain in place even with having lifeguards, Bertrand said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The town is also considering cordoning off a designated swimming area near the five-foot depth.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Everything outside of that area will be a no swimming zone,” Bertrand said.</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Team L.A. is also working with the town to provide floatable life rings with ropes to be strategically placed along the boardwalk to help struggling swimmers and those needing assistance.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“That way if someone does what they are not suppose to do, hopefully someone will be right there to throw out the life ring to them,” he said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Bertrand, who was a lifeguard while in high school, said lifeguards were a part of the beach activity in the 1970s, but over the years beach attendance dropped and lifeguards were no longer used.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The lifeguards will be on duty 10 a.m. to dusk until late summer. After dusk, police officers will provide extra patrol to monitor the water.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To become a lifeguard, persons must be 16 yeas or older and complete a lifeguard certification course which includes CPR training through the American Red Cross. A class will be held Saturday for the first lifeguards.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A minimum of four lifeguards will be needed.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The last drowning occurred in Lake Arthur last year and a near drowning was recently reported involving a male from out-of-town who had to be rescued after jumping from the boardwalk.</span>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">—</span>

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