ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, Md. — Beachgoers to Assateague Island National Seashore this summer will notice a critical part of beach safety is missing — the lifeguards. Federal cuts and hiring freezes aimed at the National Park Service (NPS) earlier this year reduced staff by 24% and have left parts of this busy island beach — and its visitors — vulnerable.
More than 2.5 million people visit Assateague Island during the summer months. On the Maryland side, vacationers can head to the National Seashore or the Maryland State Park. Currently, only the state park portion of the island is covered by lifeguards.
Lifeguards were originally included in the hiring freeze. They were later exempted as seasonal workers, but despite having funds and permission to do so, the National Park Service has not hired lifeguards for the summer. Swimming is still permitted at this beach.
Maryland Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks co-signed a letter on Friday, July 11, to NPS urging the agency to fill the lifeguard positions.
“Lives are at risk with no lifeguards at Assateague. Rip currents, large waves and marine debris are significant hazards that can harm or endanger beachgoers,” the senators wrote. “The CDC estimates 4,500 Americans drown each year, and drowning is the number one cause of death in children ages 1–4 years old. Lifeguards are critical to preventing drownings and providing first-response care to beachgoers. Last year, lifeguards made at least 24 rescues at Assateague.”
The letter went on to say that NPS has no plans to hire lifeguards this summer and will instead rely on neighboring first responders in emergency situations. The closest first responders, the letter claims, are “well over 20 minutes away,” and this plan will “alter normal patrol routes.”
“These ad hoc measures are unacceptable; drownings happen in minutes, and there is no substitute for attentive lifeguards specifically assigned to monitoring water safety at Assateague. Furthermore, NPS’s current limited safety measures burden neighboring beach safety and emergency response efforts, stretching services too thin and making the entire area less safe for residents and visitors alike.”
Sens. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks urged NPS to reconsider this decision and hire lifeguards immediately to serve the beach for the rest of the summer.
NPS has not announced plans to hire lifeguards or publicly responded to the senators’ letter at this time.
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