This summer, a 10-foot shark washed ashore at Point Lookout Hamlet in Long Beach, New York, provoking much concern. Even this week, a man was reported having been bitten by a shark at Jones Beach.
“Lifeguards who work summers on Long Island beaches have traditionally been expected simply to keep an eye out for the occasional dorsal fin and assess the validity of reports from jittery beachgoers who swear they just saw the second coming of “Jaws.”
But now, lifesaving departments on Long Island —at the same time facing staffing issues among a national lifeguard shortage — are taking the shark situation more seriously.”
Many other Long Island departments have adapted new shark monitoring methods because of the numerous shark sightings and attacks. Lifeguards started using online tracking methods and used drones to spot any dorsal fins skimming the water.
The town of Hempstead beaches hired more lifeguards this summer to spot sharks and has a mobilized shark patrol on jet skis and a drone squad. In addition to water rescue techniques and C.P.R., the town’s lifeguards are also trained to see the difference between shark species and to identify ones that are more dangerous to swimmers.
Lifeguards have always watched out for sharks in the past. However, with the number of sharks near beaches lifeguards have taken an additional step for security by adding drones and various tracking devices to help. This way, the number of shark attacks can be drastically reduced, leading to fewer injuries and deaths.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/nyregion/sharks-ny-lifeguards.html
“Lifeguards who work summers on Long Island beaches have traditionally been expected simply to keep an eye out for the occasional dorsal fin and assess the validity of reports from jittery beachgoers who swear they just saw the second coming of “Jaws.”
But now, lifesaving departments on Long Island —at the same time facing staffing issues among a national lifeguard shortage — are taking the shark situation more seriously.”
Many other Long Island departments have adapted new shark monitoring methods because of the numerous shark sightings and attacks. Lifeguards started using online tracking methods and used drones to spot any dorsal fins skimming the water.
The town of Hempstead beaches hired more lifeguards this summer to spot sharks and has a mobilized shark patrol on jet skis and a drone squad. In addition to water rescue techniques and C.P.R., the town’s lifeguards are also trained to see the difference between shark species and to identify ones that are more dangerous to swimmers.
Lifeguards have always watched out for sharks in the past. However, with the number of sharks near beaches lifeguards have taken an additional step for security by adding drones and various tracking devices to help. This way, the number of shark attacks can be drastically reduced, leading to fewer injuries and deaths.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/nyregion/sharks-ny-lifeguards.html