Lifeguards Heading Back To School

Escambia County Florida school kids head back to class next week. That is a sure sign summer is coming to an end. Another sign, empty lifeguard towers at area beaches. The number of lifeguards on Pensacola Beaches is already starting to drop.
The lazy days of summer are coming to a close. Nick Lanza has spent the last five summers guarding the beaches. "I come here in the summer, start in May and end at the beginning of August." Just like the summer, his job is coming to an end. "It's pretty much an all around great job. It's one of my dream jobs. It's awesome."
Area beaches are still crowded making it hard to believe the season is coming to an close, but with that end comes some big changes in the lifeguard stands.
"Most of our employees are college and high school students." Bob West is the director of public safety on Santa Rosa Island. "I've lost six already who have gone back to out of town colleges. This next week we'll lose about eight more and after that it depends on their school schedules."
That means empty towers on some f the four beaches lifeguards watch over. "We'll start not providing staff to the outlying beaches, We'll have lifeguards here at Casino Beach from ten to six through October 12th. We still have a month and a half season left, just realize the staff will be less."
There will still be a presence through the off-season and there are things according to Lanza, beach-goers can do to stay safe.
"Look out for the flags, green, yellow or red and pretty much for people out of town don't leave your brains at the state line," says Lanza.
Look for the towers to be full again, next spring.
Designated swimming areas at Park East, Fort Pickens Gate and Quietwater Beach will be staffed based on the availability of lifeguards. Casino Beach, the main public beach, will be staffed through October, 12th.