Other places don’t allow chair-renting lifeguards. Myrtle Beach shouldn’t either
The City of Myrtle Beach wasn’t what it used to be in the 1950s.
That’s why between 1975 and 1980 the standards for lifeguards were updated to require training and greater safety procedures.
The city has progressed farther with seemingly more and more tourist visiting every year. Now, Myrtle Beach isn’t what it used to be in the 1980s, and lifeguard standards need to be revised again. The “dual role” model for lifeguards that was permitted nearly 40 years ago has to end.
As reported by The Sun News’ Adam Benson, the “dual role” lifeguard model allows guards to rent beach chairs and umbrellas while also serving as the person on rescue duty.
“South Carolina’s premier vacation stands alone as the only American city to operate a ‘dual role’ lifeguarding system that allows companies to profit from rental sales in exchange for providing trained rescuers via franchise agreements (with the city),” Benson reported. But the system is “faulty enough that the U.S. Lifesaving Association (USLA), the country’s largest aquatic safety group, refuses to accredit any program that engages in the practice.”
Orange Beach in Alabama and North Carolina beach towns Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach all have USLA certified lifeguard programs, with Orange Beach’s guards being a part of its fire department. Just a few miles up the road the City of North Myrtle Beach also has a certified program. North Myrtle Beach handles beach rentals in house and uses that money to fund the city’s lifeguards.
If those towns have such programs, the City of Myrtle Beach should too. Myrtle Beach city leaders need to have the same level of care and respect for tourists that other cities have. Myrtle Beach doesn’t need to be lesser than other cities.
Have some pride city leaders.
Without having a certified lifeguard program, Myrtle Beach risks the perception in the future that it’s beaches aren’t as safe, which could easily sway tourist to go elsewhere. Not only might this scare tourists, the “dual role” system might also make quality lifeguards seek employment or experience elsewhere.
“We are well aware of the public sentiment and perception of the dual role system,” said Steve Taylor, chairman of the city’s beach advisory committee. “At the same time, we feel like over the last seven years, Myrtle Beach has had a very safe oceanfront, and there’s no statistical evidence that doesn’t support that.”
Taylor isn’t wrong. Stats don’t show some disproportionate amount of drownings in Myrtle Beach.
Between 2015 and 2019, South Carolina averaged 1.56 drownings for every 100,000 people — ranking it 14th nationally over that span according to CDC data, Benson reported.
But Taylor and other city leaders should not be so shortsighted. They shouldn’t wait for a someone to lose their life to make a change.
City leaders should take reasonable steps to make the lifeguard system of Myrtle Beach better. Creating a system in which lifeguards aren’t also stomping around beaches picking up chairs and dealing with customers isn’t unreasonable. Far from it. It’s common sense.
The city needs to move its lifeguard system forward. It’s not 1980 anymore in Myrtle Beach.
This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Other places don’t allow chair-renting lifeguards. Myrtle Beach shouldn’t either."