Relief lifeguards fill in as others depart early
Jack Giles has worked as a relief lifeguard in recent years in Dewey Beach, filling in when other lifeguards leave near the end of the summer to return to college or high school activities.
Giles graduated in the spring from the University of Delaware with a finance degree. While he searches for a sales or finance job, possibly in Philadelphia or New York City, he is working for a seventh year as a lifeguard in Dewey Beach.
As the number of lifeguards available late in the season drops, beach patrols have to deal with the losses.
Some, like Dewey Beach, reach out to experienced lifeguards to fill the ranks. Others, including Rehoboth Beach, reduce the area protected so those still on duty can serve the public through the end of the season into September.
Southern colleges resume classes next week, and many high school students participate in summer or preseason sports camps, Dewey Beach Patrol Capt. Todd Fritchman said Aug. 12.
“In a couple more weeks, we’ll reach out to our former lifeguards and request anyone who doesn’t have anything going on to help out,” Fritchman said, noting other past lifeguards who are also in the area can be called on to help as well.
“I think we’re going to work out pretty well with the local high school and college students,” plus some relief lifeguards, he said.
Delaware state beaches end their season on Labor Day weekend, Dewey Beach on Sept. 11 and Rehoboth Beach on Sept. 21.
Jeffrey Giles, beach patrol captain for Rehoboth Beach Patrol, said the city stopped relying on relief lifeguards a couple of years ago.
“We are not hiring any relief guards,” said Giles, who is Jack Giles’ uncle. “It’s too expensive for the city to hire people for 15 days.”
So the beach patrol in Rehoboth Beach will reduce the number of lifeguard stands that are open, consolidating to the five-block area between Wilmington and Virginia avenues, he said.
“If I only have six guards, we will patrol a smaller area.” Giles said. “We’re going to keep it in-house and cover it with the lifeguards we have.”
Capt. Bailey Noel of the Delaware State Parks Beach Patrol said the state will not hire lifeguards to replace those who leave before the end of the season.
“We are not going to hire any other guards until the next season of 2026,” Bailey said in an Aug. 12 email. “We will still be fully staffed throughout our season, ending Labor Day [weekend].”
Jack Giles said Aug. 13 that Dewey Beach had 72 lifeguards during the summer, and that had dropped by about 30 in recent weeks. Relief lifeguards will begin after Labor Day.
Giles said relief lifeguard work has its pros and cons as the season winds down.
“I feel like when you’re a relief guard, it’s definitely mellowed out,” Giles said. “It’s not like the crazy summer crowd.”
But the weather can complicate the job, he said.
“You’ll still have days during the fall, especially, when it gets rough and the rip currents are bad,” Giles said. “You have to be ready for any of that. September is usually pretty gnarly.”
Kevin Conlon came to the Cape Gazette with nearly 40 years of newspaper experience since graduating from St. Bonaventure University in New York with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. He reports on Sussex County government and other assignments as needed.
His career spans working as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers in upstate New York, including The Daily Gazette in Schenectady. He comes to the Cape Gazette from the Cortland Standard, where he was an editor for more than 25 years, and in recent years also contributed as a columnist and opinion page writer. He and his staff won regional and state writing awards.
Conlon was relocating to Lewes when he came across an advertisement for a reporter job at the Cape Gazette, and the decision to pursue it paid off. His new position gives him an opportunity to stay in a career that he loves, covering local news for an independently owned newspaper.
Conlon is the father of seven children and grandfather to two young boys. In his spare time, he trains for and competes in triathlons and other races. Now settling into the Cape Region, he is searching out hilly trails and roads with wide shoulders. He is a fan of St. Bonaventure sports, especially rugby and basketball, as well as following the Mets, Steelers and Celtics.
