Lifeguard fired for doing his job

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miami — day @ beach comes expectation if drowning, lifeguard swing action , come rescue.

reason mr. lopez raced down beach quarter-mile comply big rule — rescuing swimmer — failed follow small rule. breached protocol running area outside beach zone without waiting supervisor arrive cover station, posing potential liability problem.

firing, took place monday, set off furor on social media. private company runs lifeguard operation in hallandale beach — unusual arrangement not exist in florida cities — pilloried letting mr. lopez go doing job. on thursday, company, jeff ellis management, offered him job back.

mr. lopez, soured bit experience, said did not want now.

“someone in danger,” explained mr. lopez, 21, lives in davie, in broward county, , started lifeguard job 4 months ago. “i wasn’t going choose job on in danger. job people in distress. moronic rule in opinion set up. understand liability issues, but. ...”

mr. lopez said aware of rule before set off running chose disregard it, fearing person drown in few minutes waited supervisor show up.

turned out, flailing swimmer being rescued 2 beachgoers pulled him out of water on boogie board. mr. lopez said waded ankle-deep water , helped carry man off board. turned man on side.

“he conscious , breathing coughing water , foam,” added mr. lopez, said nurse jumped in help. “he looked pale , disoriented.”

after, emergency medical technicians arrived , took man hospital. mr. lopez told file report on incident. after did so, fired supervisor, said.

3 lifeguards quit in solidarity after firing, including younger brother, mr. lopez said. next day 2 others fired, added.

“they had asked them if same thing did, , said would,” mr. lopez said.

jeff ellis, owner of company patrols stretch of hallandale beach, said lifeguards reinstated if chose come back.

change of heart, mr. ellis said, came after preliminary investigation concluded no other swimmers put @ risk after mr. lopez left station. fellow lifeguard down beach began supervise mr. lopez’s portion of beach.

mr. ellis said contract city of hallandale beach provides 4 lifeguards in 3 stands watch on length of beach size of 2 football fields. rest of beach designated unprotected.

lifeguards allowed rescue people outside boundaries long can see distressed swimmer. otherwise, supposed call manager. usually, 911 called respond in cases.

if leaves station unattended, mr. ellis said, “we compromising safety of swimmers in our zone.”

privatizing lifeguard duties unusual in florida. hallandale beach contracted out job company in 2003 save money, mr. ellis said. contract expires in october; said had not decided whether bid again.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/us/lifeguard-says-he-chose-saving-man-over-saving-job.html

 

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the reason mr. lopez raced down beach quarter-mile comply big rule — rescuing swimmer — failed follow small rule. breached protocol running area outside beach zone without waiting supervisor arrive cover station, posing potential liability problem.

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sorry, that's not "small rule." if drowns in designated area because he's off in area outside he's supposed working, that's huge problem.

kudos guy rescuing someone, can understand employer's position here.

 

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