It’s everybody into the pool, insofar as the East Hampton Town and Hampton Lifeguard Association’s Nipper, junior lifeguard, and senior lifeguard programs are concerned.
And, for the first time in two years, John Ryan Sr., who persists in his drive to “waterproof” the town, said this week, newcomers to the 6-to-8-year-old Nipper and to the 9-to-15-year-old junior lifeguard programs will be welcome, in contrast to the past two Covid-restricted years.
At the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter Sunday there are to be testing and training sessions for new and returning junior lifeguards from 1 to 1:45 p.m. and from 1:45 to 2:30. Returning junior guards must pass a swim test that includes, for the 9-through-12-year-olds, a timed 100-yard freestyle swim that must be done within 2 minutes and 15 seconds, and a 200-yard untimed combination swim “using freestyle, sidestroke, and breaststroke.”
The returning 13-through-15-year-olds must swim 150 yards in good freestyle form within 3 minutes and 10 seconds, and must swim in good form — though not against the clock — 300 yards using the above-mentioned strokes.
There also will be a pretest (a 50-yard freestyle swim, five minutes of treading water, and 10 to 15 yards of underwater swimming in the deep end) as well as stroke evaluations for all trainees.
Prospective and returning still-water lifeguards, who must be 15 by July 1, and prospective and returning ocean lifeguards, who must be 15-plus, are to take part in the first of six Sunday sessions at the Y from 2:30 to 4 starting this week. The Sunday training sessions for the younger swimmers are to last through June 19.
All participants, Town of East Hampton Recreation Department fliers say, must register online through ehamptonny.gov. The junior lifeguard training is free; the skills and conditioning training for those 15 and up costs $50. All participants have been asked to bring a mask, cap, and goggles.
A one-and-a-half-hour Sunday afternoon course for still-water guards is to be given at the Y’s pool from April 24 through May 29. Nipper training and testing sessions are to be held there from May 8 to June 25. The ocean lifeguard course is to begin at the Maidstone Club on May 31 and will run through June 14. The still-water lifeguard course at the Y and Albert’s Landing Beach in Amagansett is to span May 31 and June 14 also.
“The idea behind the junior lifeguard program is that we’re trying to save lives,” said the elder Ryan, whose son, John Jr., chief of East Hampton Town’s 100 lifeguards, is expected to continue to work closely with East Hampton Village’s beach manager, Drew Smith, who oversees some 40 guards. John Ryan Jr. and Smith are on the 60-member East Hampton Village Ocean Rescue squad as well.
“We’ve never had a drowning at a protected beach,” said John Ryan Sr., though the knowledge that there have been several drownings at unprotected beaches in this area over the years won’t let him rest when it comes to his efforts to waterproof the town.