Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Hampton reviews 2025 beach season: lifeguard staffing up, rescues higher at unprotected sites
Summary
Town officials reported 150 lifeguards employed in 2025, 98 rescues at protected beaches and 53 rescues at unprotected ocean locations (rip currents caused most incidents). Officials highlighted improved recruiting, QR links for beach wheelchairs, license‑plate reader parking enforcement and plans to expand adult 'Beach Guardian' water‑safety education.
Town officials on Oct. 21 presented a recap of the 2025 East Hampton beach season, describing staffing gains, rescue statistics and public‑safety measures that officials say helped keep beaches open amid challenging weather.
“Every year we qualify 31 lifeguards still‑water certified and 35 ocean certified,” Chief Lifeguard John Ryan Jr. said, adding the town employed about 150 lifeguards overall. Ryan said the town’s recruiting and instructor programs allowed every lifeguarded beach to remain open during the season — a first in his 45 years of service: “I think this is the only year I can ever remember all of our beaches staying open.”
The season’s numbers: officials reported approximately 171,335 beach patrons (up ~33,000 from the prior year), 98 rescues at protected beaches and 53 rescues at unprotected ocean locations. Lifeguards recorded 44 aided injuries; 13 required EMS response and 10 resulted in hospitalization. Officials said about 93% of rescues were related to rip currents.
Public‑safety measures highlighted by the advisory group included license‑plate readers and a mobile pay‑to‑park app that improved compliance in monitored lots, QR codes on signage linking to beach wheelchair reservations, wider distribution of AED and tourniquet kits, and coordination with marine patrol and police during storms and a Hurricane Aaron response.
Officials described pilot public training that taught adults how to read ocean conditions and improve comfort in open water; 53 parents participated in the Beach Guardian pilot this year and the program is planned for expansion next summer.
What’s next: staff will reapply for county beach permits and submit a comprehensive beach safety plan (a biannual requirement). The advisory committee recommended more targeted parking analysis at busy sites, further first‑aid training and continuing investment in lifeguard recruitment and equipment.
