No lifeguards

Posted 8/18/16

No lifeguards As a result of scheduling issues and the fact that many city lifeguards are preparing to return to college, lifeguard coverage at Conimicut Point and City Park beaches has ended for the season. Lifeguards will remain on duty at Oakland

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No lifeguards

Posted

As a result of scheduling issues and the fact that many city lifeguards are preparing to return to college, lifeguard coverage at Conimicut Point and City Park beaches has ended for the season. Lifeguards will remain on duty at Oakland Beach through the Labor Day weekend, a spokeswoman for the mayor said yesterday. Meanwhile, Warwick Police are continuing their investigation into the accidental drowning of 6-year-old Jamir Stewart of Providence Sunday afternoon at City Park beach, as pictured here yesterday about noon. The two lifeguards on duty at the time of the drowning were reassigned to other posts. Stewart’s body was found after those at the beach formed a human chain to search the shallow waters as police and fire personnel arrived. The boy’s family has been cooperative with the investigation, Col. Stephen McCartney said yesterday. 

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  • richardcorrente

    I am outraged!

    Avedisian "commended the two lifeguards on duty for their actions".

    Then, in the most cowardly act I have ever witnessed he eliminated the lifeguards for the remainder of the season! If 2 are not enough to keep our swimmers safe, how can NONE be a better solution to protect our citizens??? I called the State of Rhode Island Dept. of Parks and Recreation and learned that there are over 800 certified lifeguards in Rhode Island. Damn it Scott. Make the call! I am outraged that Avedisian chose to eliminate the liability of having a lifeguard on duty as opposed to increasing them to the number needed to make our swimmers safe. That's not leadership!

    Avedisian is a disgusting coward. He should resign. He doesn't care enough to protect our children. Add this humiliation to the David Laplante scandal, the Mario Atoyan scandal, the Pinworm outbreak, and the total lack of support to the teacher/School Committee contract dispute and you have a Mayor that just doesn't care. He just doesn't care.

    I am outraged.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, August 18, 2016 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Rich, why do you feel the need to speak on every article? election season cont come soon enough so maybe you will quiet down. Side note, now with no lifeguards parents will have to WATCH their own kids. Imagine that.

    Thursday, August 18, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    There you go again, Dick. Calling Avedisian a coward, when you have shown no willingness to answer for your own lies, like the ones exposed here: http://warwickpost.com/correntes-attacks-fail-on-the-facts/

    On this story: the lifeguards are going back to college; the mayor didn't "eliminate" anything -- and other beaches will keep their lifeguards, so you've failed -- again -- to prove anything.

    Unless Avedisian is the president of a university, he has nothing to do with controlling the schedule of when students go back -- just as he has nothing to do with the operations of the school department that you are so desperate to blame on him.

    It's clear that you haven't read enough about the state's separation of municipal and school operations, which has been set in law for nearly 100 years. And it's clear that you just don't care to educate yourself on anything when you can engage in childish name-calling and then run and hide whenever anyone calls you on your fabrications.

    I will credit you with one thing, Dick: You are continuing to show your true nature. Keep it up. You're doing all of the intelligent voters in Warwick a great service by showing your real temperament.

    Friday, August 19, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Lets clear some things up. The city has been 50% understaffed of lifeguards for quite some time. Many of the lifeguards here in the state are still high school kids so not all of them are "going back to school" . The problem is that the compensation for the job is not nearly adequate for the level of responsibility. These kids have a difficult job and go through a lot of training. They are severely underpaid which is why there is a shortage of guards. Having said that, look at the 4.7 million dollars of tax increases that the city just laid on us. 100% of that money went to raises and bonuses and new positions. The lifeguard pay hasn't changed in years. Maybe they should consider a starting pay for the part time lifeguards at $15/hr. You may get more kids to apply.

    As far as the dreadful accident that took place last week. It is tragic and no matter who attempts to pose culpability on whatever party or person, it will not bring back this child. The lifeguards are devastated, and these are really good kids. It is unfortunate that because of politics that beach, as well as others in the city, are clearly understaffed. This is just another example of the penny pinching that takes place while the city is being robbed blind. Given the length of that beach front there should have been 3 guards, an additional facilities manager for rotation of guards and duty breaks, and there should have been (and needs to be), a dedicated swim zone with a roped out area. Refer to Red Cross Standards.

    Removing the lifeguards was a ridiculous decision and furthermore, removing them prior to posting signs indicating

    "NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY, SWIM AT OWN RISK, placed the city in a liability predicament. Another example of the incompetence of this administration. Tragic circumstances for all.

    Friday, August 19, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    That's right, Thecaptain, drop your bilge and float away.

    Funny how you have all this knowledge about lifeguards that the mayor apparently doesn't. No, "funny" isn't the right word. It's sad, really, how much you and your angry little crew hate Avedisian, to the point that you continue to vent your impotent rage all over this site.

    Just 80 days or so until your next loss, Thecaptain. Get used to the idea.

    Friday, August 19, 2016 Report this